MAM
SmartConnect earns prestigious title of Xiaomi Internet Business 2023 Agency of the Year
Mumbai: Amidst the vibrant January of the year 2024, the Xiaomi Internet Partner Conference (MIPC) unfolded, weaving a narrative of collaboration and acknowledgement. Departing from its conventional format, this year’s summit metamorphosed into a leadership gathering under the guidance of senior executives from Xiaomi Group. It provided an exclusive forum for the dissemination of Xiaomi’s strategic enhancements and novel plans for Xiaomi’s Internet business to industry partners.
At this zenith event, SmartConnect was unveiled as the esteemed Agency of the Year for 2023 by Xiaomi’s Internet Business Department. This recognition underscores SmartConnect’s steadfast dedication to excellence, innovation, and notable contributions to the expansion of Xiaomi’s internet business. The endorsement from Xiaomi solidifies SmartConnect’s pivotal role as a core agency, heralding an exciting journey of partnership ahead.
A notable highlight was the comprehensive exposition provided by Song Qiang, General Manager of Xiaomi’s International Internet Business Department, elucidating Xiaomi’s internet business.
In his address, Song Qiang underscored Xiaomi’s pledge to expand its international Internet service territory, forge a multi-terminal hardware ecosystem, and construct an Internet ecological platform centred around applications, games, content, and advertising. He spotlighted Xiaomi’s overseas application store GetApps and the game distribution brand Mint Games, both of which have experienced substantial growth and engagement.
SmartConnect, as one of the first market participants focusing on OEM inventories, provides mobile marketing services globally in a variety of different segments, such as mobile games, mobile applications, cross-border e-commerce and other Internet industries. In terms of scale, SmartConnect provides international services for more than 150 global advertisers, covering more than 200 countries and regions across the world.
SmartConnect is honored to receive the Agency of the Year 2023 award which is a testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence and our resolve to foster growth and innovation in partnership with Xiaomi. SmartConnect eagerly anticipates sustaining fruitful collaboration and contributing to Xiaomi internet business’ global expansion endeavours.
As Xiaomi’s International Internet Business Department continues to expand its international Internet platform strategy, SmartConnect remains dedicated to working closely with Xiaomi and other partners to cultivate a sustainable and mutually beneficial ecosystem.
SmartConnect’s acknowledgement as Xiaomi’s 2023 Agency of the Year is not merely an accolade; it’s an invitation for partners and clients to embark on a journey of innovation and success. As encapsulated by the theme of the MIPC 2024, it’s time to “Grow with Xiaomi,” and SmartConnect stands poised to be a driving force in this exhilarating chapter of Xiaomi’s Internet platform odyssey.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
