MAM
HCL Technologies reports strong Q2FY25 with 8 per cent revenue growth
Mumbai: HCL Technologies showcased a robust financial performance for the second quarter of FY25, ending 30 September 2024, with an 8 per cent year-over-year growth in revenue, driven by solid gains across its key business segments. The company’s board of directors, during a meeting on 14 October, approved the unaudited financial results and declared an interim dividend of Rs. 12 per share. This underscores HCL’s commitment to delivering consistent value to its shareholders amid the dynamic global tech landscape.
The company recorded consolidated revenue from operations amounting to Rs. 28,862 crore, an increase from Rs. 26,672 crore during the same period last year. The growth was fueled by a rise in demand across IT & business services, which contributed Rs. 21,544 crore, and the engineering and R&D services segment, with revenues of Rs. 4,545 crore. HCL software also posted a healthy rise, achieving Rs. 2,773 crore in revenue.
Profit before tax for the quarter stood at Rs. 5,687 crore, while the net profit reached Rs. 4,237 crore, showing an increase compared to Rs. 3,833 crore in Q2FY24. “Our strong financial performance in Q2FY25 is a testament to the resilience of our diversified business portfolio and our focus on delivering customer-centric innovations,” stated HCL Technologies, CEO and MD, C. Vijayakumar.
The approved interim dividend of Rs. 12 per share is set to be paid out on 30 October 2024, to shareholders on record as of 22 October 2024. The company’s ability to sustain dividend payouts reflects its solid financial health and cash flow management.
HCL Technologies reported a total comprehensive income of Rs. 4,793 crore for Q2FY25. The company’s cash flow from operations reached Rs. 9,349 crore for the six months ending September 2024, underscoring its liquidity position. Total assets amounted to Rs. 99,763 crore, with an equity base of Rs. 68,887 crore.
The balance sheet showed a slight increase in current liabilities to Rs. 21,626 crore, which aligns with seasonal trends in the technology sector. Non-current liabilities also rose marginally to Rs. 9,250 crore, reflecting increased lease obligations.
Segment Performance:
– IT and Business Services: This segment continued to be the primary revenue driver, witnessing a 8.2 per cent growth year-on-year, reaching Rs. 21,544 crore. The segment also recorded improved profitability due to efficiency enhancements.
– Engineering and R&D Services: The segment saw an impressive 5.9 per cent rise in revenue to Rs. 4,545 crore, buoyed by increased investment in digital engineering initiatives.
– HCL Software: Showing resilience, the software segment’s revenue increased to Rs. 2,773 crore, backed by strong licensing activity and cloud adoption trends.
The quarter also marked the divestment of the company’s stake in a joint venture with State Street, generating a gain reflected in the Q1FY25 financials. This strategic move allows HCL to focus on core competencies while streamlining its portfolio.
Looking forward, HCL Technologies remains optimistic about sustaining growth through digital transformation initiatives, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and cloud services. While challenges such as global economic uncertainties and fluctuating exchange rates persist, the company’s diversified service offerings and strategic investments are expected to support stable growth.
Pix courtesy HCL Tech annual report
You have spent weeks researching, test driven a few options, finalised the colour and variant, and are now days away from taking delivery of your new car. It feels like the hard part is over. But there is one step that most buyers skip entirely, and it is the one that protects everything else. Understanding what PDI meaning covers and why it matters could save you from discovering a Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000 problem after you have already signed the papers.
PDI stands for Pre-Delivery Inspection. It is a structured check that happens before your car is handed over to you. A proper PDI car service covers everything from paint quality and panel alignment to electrical systems, fluid levels and tyre pressure. Dealers are supposed to conduct this before delivery, but the depth of the check varies widely. And if the buyer does not know what to look for, problems slip through.
What Does a PDI Actually Cover?
A thorough PDI checks the car across four broad categories:
| Category | What Gets Checked | Common Issues Found |
| Exterior | Paint quality, panel gaps, glass, lights, tyres | Paint chips, uneven panel alignment, scratched glass |
| Interior | Seat upholstery, dashboard, AC, infotainment, switches | Loose trims, non-functional buttons, squeaks and rattles |
| Mechanical | Engine bay, fluids, battery, brakes, steering | Low fluid levels, minor leaks, battery not fully charged |
| Electrical | All lights, windows, central locking, sensors | Malfunctioning sensors, flickering displays, USB ports |
Each of these categories can hide issues that are minor at delivery but expensive if left unaddressed. A small paint chip near a door edge, for example, can lead to rust in a humid city like Mumbai or Chennai within 12 to 18 months.
What It Can Cost You to Skip the PDI
Here is a realistic look at what buyers have discovered after delivery that a proper PDI would have caught before:
• Paint defects requiring respraying: Rs 8,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on the panel
• Misaligned panels or doors that need workshop adjustment: Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000
• Non-functional infotainment unit needing replacement: Rs 15,000 to Rs 40,000
• Scratched windshield that needs full replacement: Rs 6,000 to Rs 18,000
• AC not cooling properly due to low refrigerant: Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000
• Tyre with a slow puncture from storage damage: Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000
The total exposure from a single missed PDI can range from Rs 5,000 for minor issues to Rs 80,000 or more if multiple problems are found post-delivery. More importantly, proving that a defect existed before delivery becomes significantly harder once you have taken the keys.
Why Dealer PDIs Are Not Always Enough
Most dealerships do conduct a pre-delivery check on their own, but the process is not always as rigorous as it should be. There are a few reasons for this:
High Delivery Volumes
During festive season or at the end of a financial year, dealerships handle a surge in deliveries. When a service team is processing 15 to 20 cars a day, the depth of each check inevitably suffers.
Incentive Misalignment
Dealership staff are often incentivised on delivery speed and customer satisfaction scores. Finding a defect and sending a car back for rework delays delivery and affects scores. The incentive to look harder is not always present.
Buyer Unawareness
Most buyers arrive at delivery excited and in a hurry to leave. Without knowing what to look for, they miss things that a trained eye would catch immediately. Dealers know this, and the pressure to be thorough is lower when buyers are not asking questions.
What You Should Check Yourself at Delivery
Even if the dealer has completed their PDI, spend 20 to 30 minutes doing your own check at delivery. Here is a quick reference:
Check How to Do It Time Required Walk around in daylight Check all panels for scratches, chips and dents 5 minutes Open every door Check seals, check for rattles, test all windows 3 minutes Check interior thoroughly Test every button, switch and screen 5 minutes Start the car Look for warning lights, check AC, check all lights 5 minutes Check the boot Look for spare tyre, tools, jack and damage 2 minutes Inspect tyres Check pressure and look for sidewall damage 3 minutes
The Bottom Line
A PDI is not a formality. It is the last line of defence between you and a problem that the manufacturer or dealer should have fixed before you paid for the car.
Take the time to understand what the check involves, ask your dealer for confirmation that it has been completed, and do your own walkthrough at delivery. Twenty minutes of attention at this stage can save you weeks of workshop visits and tens of thousands of rupees down the line.
