MAM
VML Qais wins digital duties of HealthFore
MUMBAI: The Indian arm of VML, VML Qais, has won all the digital duties for Religare Technologies’ Healthcare IT service offering – HealthFore.
The agency will be responsible for developing the digital roadmap of all the B2B services of the HealthFore brand – including website builds, social media and SEO.
Covering the entire gamut of healthcare operations for providers on all levels, HealthFore provides robust, scalable and efficient IT platforms across a wide spectrum of care delivery including a unique mHealth service where patients can talk to medical practitioners on their Airtel mobile phones.
VML Qais CEO Tripti Lochan said, “We are extremely excited to be working with HealthFore on this unique and dynamic service offering. Healthcare in India is growing exponentially, and we are proud to have been chosen as the agency that will partner HealthFore in their growing thrust towards bettering healthcare services in the country.”
“We are delighted to be working with VML Qais as we grow and expand the healthcare market in India. As we move forward, digital will play an increasingly key role is helping us reach out to the right audience and educate users on our various products. We found VML Qais to be the right partner, in both capability and spirit, to take us where we want to go,” said Healthfore CEO Pankaj Vaish, CEO.
VML Qais’ portfolio of clients in India includes Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Revlon India, Tata Motors and Mahindra 2 Wheeler.
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.
