Girish Pai

Girish Pai asked about client demands for increased savings in AI-driven renewal deals and how these savings are reinvested. He also questioned Wipro's strategy for managing potential liabilities from AI hallucinations and cybersecurity incidents, and the anticipated impact of H1B visa changes on subcontractor costs and on-site utilization.

Answer

Srinivas Pallia, CEO and MD of Wipro, explained that clients seek cost optimization, speed, and AI-led efficiency, reinvesting savings into business innovation, AI advisory, data architecture, and industry-specific platforms like AutoCortex, PayerAI, and WealthAI. Hari Shetty, Chief Strategist Officer, highlighted Wipro Intelligence's responsible AI guardrails and contractual commitments to manage liabilities from AI hallucinations and cybersecurity. Saurabh Govil, President & CHRO, stated that Wipro's largely localized U.S. workforce (over 80%) and reduced H1B dependence (250-odd H1Bs in past 4-5 years) mitigate H1B visa change impacts on subcontractor costs or on-site utilization.

Girish Pai from BOB Capital Markets inquired if clients are demanding greater savings in renewal deals, particularly with AI integration, and if these savings are being reinvested into new work that Wipro is securing. He also raised concerns about potential liabilities for vendors like Wipro from AI hallucinations or cybersecurity incidents, asking about contractual safeguards. Lastly, he questioned the potential impact of H1B visa changes on subcontractor costs or on-site utilization.

Answer

Srini Pallia, CEO and MD, Wipro, confirmed clients' focus on cost optimization, vendor consolidation, and AI-driven efficiency, which Wipro addresses with its Vega AI and Winx platforms. He noted that savings are reinvested into business innovation, AI advisory, data architecture, and industry-specific platforms. Hari Shetty, Chief Strategist Officer, Wipro, highlighted the 'responsible AI guardrails' in Wipro Intelligence as a differentiator and confirmed contractual commitments and risk management controls. Saurabh Govil, CHRO, Wipro, stated that Wipro's U.S. workforce is over 80% localized, with reduced H1B dependence, thus foreseeing no significant impact on subcontractor costs or utilization.

Girish Pai from BOB Capital Markets inquired if there were any 'silver linings' or new opportunities, such as supply chain solutions, arising from the macroeconomic situation around tariffs, and asked whether clients have separate budgets for AI.

Answer

CEO Salil Parekh responded that Infosys is actively positioning its portfolio to help clients with cost efficiency and supply chain optimization in response to the tariff situation, leveraging both its consulting and tech solutions. Regarding budgets, he noted that while AI spending was initially distributed, he anticipates it will increasingly be funded from a single, central technology budget within client organizations.

Girish Pai inquired about the mega deal pipeline compared to 2023, whether the TCV-to-revenue conversion rate has changed, and asked for examples of value-based pricing under Project Maximus.

Answer

CEO Salil Parekh stated that the company does not share specific data on the mega deal pipeline. CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka noted no significant change in deal signing or revenue conversion timelines. Regarding Project Maximus, he mentioned it includes multiple tracks like new-age pricing and ensuring proper rates for change requests, which have contributed significantly to price realization, but did not provide specific examples.