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The Hindu
09-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
How is AI reshaping India's infotech sector?
The story so far: Recent announcements from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) — a reported freeze on experienced hires, and the planned removal of 12,000 employees — have sent ripples of anxiety across the Indian tech sector. The Indian IT industry, which generates $280 billion in revenue and employs more than 5.8 million people, is at a crossroads. Why is a shake-up happening? While headlines often sensationalise these events as a direct consequence of AI (artificial intelligence) 'culling jobs', a far more complex scenario is playing out. 'These developments are not isolated incidents but rather critical indicators of AI-catalysed transformation sweeping through software development and IT services, demanding a holistic re-evaluation of business models, talent strategies, and the very nature of work,' says Avinash Vashistha, former MD, Accenture India, and currently Chairman & CEO, Tholons, a New York-based technology, innovation and investment firm. At the heart of this transformation is AI's capacity to drive unprecedented efficiencies across the entire software development lifecycle. Why is AI gaining momentum now? In a climate where most deal wins are being led by cost-optimisation initiatives, demonstrating efficiency is paramount for investor confidence, and AI-led productivity is helping companies do that, Mr. Vashistha says. AI-powered coding assistants, code generation tools, and intelligent debuggers are already enabling over 30% productivity boosts. The impact extends powerfully into the critical, often resource-intensive domains of testing and maintenance. AI in software testing is a game-changer. AI-driven tools can minimise human error and enhance the overall accuracy of test results by leveraging data-driven insights. How will it impact jobs? AI is no longer a futuristic technology limited to labs and startups. It is becoming the very fabric of how work gets done in global enterprises. In 2025 alone, more than $1 trillion is expected to be spent globally on AI infrastructure, model training, and application development. 'From generative AI chatbots to intelligent automation in back-end systems, AI is now shaping everything — how customer service is delivered and how decisions are made in boardrooms. This shift has already started to impact hiring and organisational structures. In the U.S., the CEO of Wells Fargo remarked that 'attrition is our best friend', after the company reduced its workforce for 20 straight quarters,' points out V. Balakrishnan, Chairman, Exfinity Ventures, a venture capital firm, also former CFO at Infosys. AI, automation, and low-code platforms are creating environments where fewer people can do more and do it faster. Does this mean more business for India? Most large global firms grapple with legacy infrastructure, poor-quality data, and fragmented systems which are major barriers to rolling out intelligent solutions at scale. Also, with global AI regulations like the EU's AI Act coming into force, companies will need to demonstrate responsible AI usage, privacy compliance, and algorithmic fairness. 'This is where Indian IT can play a pivotal role. By helping global clients clean and organise data, modernise old systems, and build compliant AI solutions, Indian firms can reposition themselves as indispensable partners for the AI era. Rather than being disrupted by AI, they can become the very agents that help their clients adopt it effectively,' says Mr. Balakrishnan. What's the message TCS is sending? Industry experts say TCS, with its vast workforce of 6,07,979 employees as of March 2025, is an industry bellwether. Its recent announcements are a strategic message to the stock market, to employees, and to global clients, Mr. Vashishta says. For the stock market, such moves signal a disciplined approach to cost optimisation and a proactive stance in adapting to a changing market. For clients, TCS's actions communicate its commitment to delivering highly efficient, AI-catalysed solutions. To employees, the message is one of heightened expectations and the need for continuous skill transformation. For more than three decades, India's IT services industry — spearheaded by TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and their peers — has been the bedrock of its global digital identity, earning India its place as the 'back office of the world'. But that era is 'sunsetting', says Sharad Sharma, co-founder of the ISPIRT Foundation. A seminal shift, which Andrej Karpathy, former technology head of Tesla, calls Software 2.0 & 3.0, 'will change things fundamentally and reduce the advantage of scale'. India's tech future will not be built by coding armies billing hours for legacy systems. It will be built by lean, AI-native small firms solving complex problems in healthcare, defence, fintech, sustainability, education, and beyond. 'Tech firms no longer need a large IT park to serve global clients. A team of 50 can out-innovate a team of 5,000,' Mr. Sharma says. What does this mean for Indian techies? AI is not likely to replace coders/system engineers who code in C++, which is used to build operating systems, gaming, graphics, and critical secure applications. Wherever human ingenuity, critical thinking, and imagination is needed, AI is yet to make a huge practical impact. B.S. Murthy, CEO, Leadership Capital, says, 'AI will not immediately replace domain competencies like tech architects, dev ops, UI/UX, product management, robotics & embedded systems. Talent high on math and imagination will rule the roost in this decade.' Developers should evolve into supervisors and collaborators who focus on strategic decisions, ethical considerations, domain-specific logic, security planning and creative problem-solving that AI cannot replicate, Mr. Murthy adds. Mr. Vashishta notes that the 'TCS situation, therefore, is not a harbinger of doom, but a potent call for every stakeholder in the Indian tech ecosystem to adapt, evolve, and thrive in the age of AI.' Why is the tech sector is no longer just about scale? The Indian tech sector remains a powerhouse, contributing significantly to India's GDP and exports. It employs an army of people and is a global leader in IT services, driven by a large pool of skilled talent, government support for digitisation, and a vibrant startup ecosystem. India continues to be a major hub for multinational corporations setting up GCCs for various business functions. However, the sector is no longer just about scale; it's about specialised expertise and leveraging cutting-edge technologies. The current flux, while challenging, presents an unparalleled opportunity for the Indian IT sector to shed its 'stuffy image,' embrace AI as a core competency, and solidify its position as a global leader in the new era of intelligent automation and digital innovation. 'As AI begins to transform global workflows, business priorities, and customer expectations, the foundational strengths of India's IT sector—people, processes, and predictability — are being put to the test,' says Mr. Balakrishnan.
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Business Standard
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
From kitchen to Cloud: How Ajay Vij is steering Accenture's India engine
Shivani Shinde Listen to This Article Getting a gourmet Italian restaurant to open exclusively for lunch is rare in Mumbai. But for Ajay Vij, senior country managing director, Accenture India, all it takes is a phone call. And why not? Before he entered the tech industry in 2000, Vij was a chef with Oberoi Group — and hospitality, clearly, still follows him. We meet at Romano's, the Italian specialty restaurant at JW Marriott Sahar, which is usually shut for lunch. Today, it has opened just for Vij. That's not all. The chef has rolled out a special three-course menu: Beetroot roulade to start, followed by truffle
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Accenture to promote 15,000 Indian employees in June, 43,000 in FY25
New Delhi, Global IT firm Accenture will promote around 15,000 employees in India as part of a global promotion drive of nearly 50,000 staff in June this year. "I am writing to share and celebrate with you that Accenture will promote almost 50,000 people around the world in June, including approximately 15,000 people in India. In total, across all of FY25, more than 43,000 of our people in India will have received a promotion," Accenture India Senior Country Managing Director Ajay Vij wrote in an internal memo to employees, seen by PTI. Accenture follows a September-August financial year. In December, Accenture did some stay-at-level (base pay) increases for some employees. Between June and December, a majority of Indian employees will have got base pay increases. "As a reminder, bonus and performance equity decisions for those eligible will continue to be made as part of the December cycle, and we will also continue to evaluate the opportunity for stay-at-level increases at that time," Vij added. Promotions and base pay increases will be internally communicated to employees between May 26-29. In September 2024, the Ireland-headquartered firm permanently shifted its promotion cycle from December to June, citing better visibility of client spending and demand. "We've now permanently shifted that promotion cycle, so we will do our big promotion cycle in June, and our smaller one in December, to better match when our clients are setting their budgets and we have better visibility, and that's what we're seeing again. "The justification for that is clear that we'll really know IT spending and spending on our services in the budgets in January and February," Accenture CEO Julie Sweet had said during the company's earnings call in September. Accenture is one of the largest employers in the Indian IT services sector , with over 3,00,000 staff. Its global employee count stands at 7,74,000. Accenture reported revenues of $64.90 billion in FY24.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI School's in session: India Inc says 'everyone must learn' as machines get smarter
Recognizing AI's transformative power, numerous companies like Vedanta, Schneider Electric, and Accenture India are proactively extending AI training to their entire workforces. These initiatives aim to equip employees with essential AI skills, fostering innovation and ensuring relevance in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: Call it the need of the hour, a growing number of companies are extending AI training to all employees, rather than a select few, as they seek to stay relevant in the ongoing AI-driven transformation. These include top corporates such as Vedanta Group Schneider Electric , Accenture India, Sap Labs India, Indian Energy Exchange , Sterlite Electric, Resonia, and Serentica Renewables. Some are working in phases to cover their entire is searching for an AI specialist to implement the latest technologies and AI capabilities at the natural resources company. It is also in the process of setting up an AI & digital R&D innovation centre. Schneider Electric is introducing 30 minutes "AI for all" training for all 150,000 Labs India, which upskilled half of its workforce in AI, is now moving forward to train the remainder. Accenture has identified 14 future-fit data and AI practitioner skills for the gen AI Accenture has steadily expanded its data and AI workforce to around 72,000, pushing with its goal of 80,000 by this FY26-end."Success with AI and generative AI requires investing in people as much as in technology," said Mukesh Chaudhary, lead-data and AI, advanced technology centers global network and global delivery lead for data at firm is coaching its AI/ML engineers, gen AI developers, and architects on agentic AI, said is upskilling both functional and leadership roles on AI across operations. "As a leading critical minerals, energy and technology company, we see AI as a key enabler for operational excellence, sustainability, and value creation," said Madhu Srivastava, CHRO, Vedanta. Specific roles include plant managers, process engineers, analysts, automation leads, digital transformation officers, and frontline P&L leaders. Vedanta is giving priority to skills in AI/ML, predictive analytics, generative AI, digital twins, and intelligent automation."We have committed significant investments towards building internal AI & Digital R&D centre, partnerships with global firms & platforms," she R&D wing of SAP, SAP Labs India has multiple skilling programmes like Learning Fest and Joule Agentic Acceleration to equip employees with AI capabilities that can be applied to build real-life solutions, said MD Sindhu Gangadharan, also the chairperson of industry body Nasscom. It also has 'AI Foundation'-an upskilling programme for developers to get hands-on AI expertise. SAP Labs India has over 17,000 companies are also partnering with institutes. For instance, Accenture is collaborating with IIM Bangalore and IIIT prepare for the AI-driven transformation, Indian Energy Exchange has adopted a structured, two-phased approach to upskill its staff. In the first phase, all employees will be introduced to foundational concepts of AI and gen AI, along with real-world applications, said Brijesh Narang, vice president, second phase will focus on function-specific training. In this phase, targeted programmes will be delivered to different strategic business units, Narang AI learning journeys tailored for project managers, engineers, and business analysts will soon be rolled out at Sterlite Electric, Resonia, and Serentica Renewables, said Ruhie Pande, group CHRO. "These will focus on real-world applications such as predictive maintenance, AI-assisted trading, and data-driven decision making."Sterlite Electric is actively investing in AI upskilling through platforms like Sterlite Electric Learning Academy and Sterlite Electric Projects Academy. These are helping employees with foundational and role-specific AI capabilities, she Electric is upskilling its employees on AI through the "Data & AI Upskilling@Scale" programme to familiarise its 150,000 global employees with AI.
