India-centric IT services vendors focused on protecting margins to survive rough market conditions

Select vendors pursue alliances and deals in the growing cloud market to offset choppy financial performance

During the first couple quarters of the pandemic, Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), HCL Technologies (HCLT), Infosys (NYSE: INFY), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro (NYSE: WIT), the India-centric vendors covered in TBR’s IT Services Vendor Benchmark, looked to form partnerships and sign new deals, especially those around cloud capabilities, with strong patterns of continued growth in cloud implementation, migration and advisory to offset deteriorating areas in traditional outsourcing engagements. For example, Wipro’s partnerships with cloud infrastructure experts, such as Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), will allow Wipro to build solutions off these technologies and pair them with its advanced AI and automation capabilities to strengthen its position in the market.

To mitigate the damage caused by COVID-19, the India-centric vendors will also make resource management improvements, such as enhancing their training and hiring efforts, and solidify existing client relationships by supporting clients through optimization and digital transformation offerings as they transition to digital business practices. Cognizant must secure alliances to bolster the company’s cloud and analytics capabilities while focusing on internal stability.

HCLT performed rather well financially, all things considered, and should utilize its cloud and software power to further develop its portfolio mix, leading to improved client satisfaction. TCS, on the other hand, should capitalize on its global presence as well as its diverse portfolio to gain traction and improve its financial performance. Wipro also struggled during 1H20, but its financial performance is expected to improve if the vendor focuses on acquisitions, similar to its recent purchase of Europe-based 4C, to add new sources of cloud services revenue in the region while driving portfolio investments around cybersecurity. Similar to HCLT, Infosys came through 1H20 mostly unscathed, due to its healthy pipeline and a strong first quarter. The company should continue to tap into new areas of opportunity, such as digital transformation and blockchain, using its recent partnerships with Essential Utilities and the National Bank of Bahrain.

True to their business models even in a pandemic, India-centric IT services vendors prioritized margin protection as a primary damage control strategy during COVID-19. To adjust management operations and combat growing company expenses, IT service vendors will likely increase employee training and look to hire internally to fill positions. Additionally, TBR believes it is imperative for vendors to continue their focus on upselling to existing clients and leaning on strategic partnerships to offset revenue losses due to geographic macroeconomic disruptions.