A major shift is taking shape in India’s technology services sector as enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence is set to drive a new growth cycle in 2026. According to Uniphore CEO Umesh Sachdeva, AI-led transformation is moving from experimentation to scaled deployment, reshaping demand for Indian IT services globally.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Uniphore chief Umesh Sachdeva said Indian IT services are poised for a renewed growth spurt in 2026, powered by enterprise AI adoption. He highlighted growing demand for AI-driven customer experience, automation, and analytics solutions across global enterprises.

Sachdeva noted that clients are shifting budgets from discretionary digital projects toward core AI deployments that deliver measurable productivity gains. Indian IT firms, with their scale, domain expertise, and global delivery models, are increasingly positioned as implementation partners rather than back-end vendors. This evolution marks a strategic pivot in how global enterprises engage Indian technology providers.

The development aligns with a broader trend across global markets where artificial intelligence is transitioning from hype to operational necessity. After a period of cautious enterprise spending in 2023–24, many organisations are now under pressure to justify AI investments through tangible business outcomes.

India’s IT sector, historically driven by application development, maintenance, and outsourcing, has been navigating slowing growth and margin pressure. The emergence of generative AI and enterprise-grade automation has created an opportunity to reset growth trajectories.

Geopolitically, rising protectionism and supply-chain realignments have increased the strategic importance of trusted global service providers. Indian IT firms, with established client relationships in the US and Europe, are leveraging AI platforms, partnerships, and talent upskilling to move up the value chain and capture higher-margin work.

Industry analysts say the shift toward AI-led growth represents a structural change for Indian IT services rather than a short-term cycle. Experts argue that enterprises now expect service providers to bring proprietary AI capabilities, domain-specific models, and measurable ROI.

Executives across the sector echo Sachdeva’s view that AI adoption is accelerating, particularly in customer experience, contact centres, and enterprise workflows. Analysts caution, however, that success will depend on execution integrating AI responsibly, managing data security, and reskilling large workforces.

From a global perspective, India’s IT industry is increasingly seen as a critical enabler of enterprise AI transformation, especially as companies seek cost-efficient ways to scale AI without building everything in-house.

For businesses, the anticipated AI-led growth could redefine vendor selection, with enterprises favouring IT partners that combine scale with advanced AI capabilities. Investors may view this shift as a positive inflection point for Indian IT stocks after a period of muted performance.

From a policy standpoint, the trend underscores the importance of AI skilling, data governance, and regulatory clarity in India. Governments and industry bodies may need to accelerate initiatives around AI education, infrastructure, and ethical frameworks to sustain competitiveness.

For C-suite leaders, the message is clear: AI adoption is no longer optional, and execution partners will play a decisive role in outcomes.

Looking ahead, decision-makers will watch whether enterprise AI spending translates into sustained revenue growth for Indian IT firms in 2026. Key indicators will include deal sizes, margins, and the pace of large-scale AI deployments. While optimism is rising, uncertainties around regulation, talent availability, and global macroeconomic conditions remain critical variables.

Source & Date

Source: CNBC-TV18
Date: January 2026