Companies are reshaping their workforce with the rise of generative AI (GenAI). The anxiety among employees is palpable as firms pivot towards automation. This shift follows decades of IT outsourcing, sparking fears of layoffs and job evolution.
Indian IT firms, like Hexaware, are leading the charge. They’re betting big on AI. Hexaware’s head of EMEA, Amrinder Singh, stated they aim for 50% of their work to come from "digital labor" by 2030. Singh claims this won’t shrink the workforce but will slow its growth.
HCLTech echoes this trend. Their CTO, Vijay Guntur, noted a business growth of 5% but with a headcount reduction of 3%. Expect similar trends over the next two years. 
The impact isn’t limited to tech roles. Roles like accounting and legal assistance will be significantly affected, according to research from OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania. Goldman Sachs predicts 300 million jobs across sectors could be exposed to AI.
Amrinder Singh warns:
There is no future for single-skilled people. Unless you are multi-skilled with domain understanding, as well as an understanding of how to use AI and technology, you will not survive.
Amrinder Singh, Hexaware
Retraining is key. HCLTech has already trained about 100,000 staff in AI tools. Guntur plans to scale this initiative further.
Suppliers are not just selling AI solutions; they’re adopting them internally. HCLTech utilizes AI for recruiting, streamlining CV sifting and interview processes. Their system rates CVs and suggests interview questions, cutting down manual labor significantly.
“Now we can process more CVs on any given day,” Guntur said.
AI is also transforming how HCLTech responds to customer requests, enhancing efficiency and quality of replies.
The future is clear—IT firms are leaning on AI, transforming roles and reshaping their workforce in unprecedented ways.
