'New labour codes unlikely to disrupt IT sector hiring'

Indian enterprises are navigating a decisive moment in regulation, says Sindhu Gangadharan, MD of SAP Labs India and chairperson of Nasscom. In a conversation with Ayanti Bera, she explains how the new labour codes won't disrupt hiring in the IT sector and how domestic firms have been proactive on data privacy, sovereignty, and are ahead of the curve in adopting AI. Excerpts:

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As Nasscom chairperson, how do you see the new labour codes impacting IT hiring and wages?

The industry has always believed in fair wages for the right roles. The new labour codes won't significantly disrupt hiring. The focus remains on skilling and ensuring the workforce is future-ready. Nasscom is working with academia and government to align skills with industry needs.

After the DPDP Act, how have Indian clients approached data privacy and AI governance?

Indian enterprises have been proactive. We recently released the SAP Value of AI Report 2025, which found that 93% of Indian customers expect ROI gains from AI in the next three years, far higher than the global average. We’ve also launched a sovereign cloud for India, which ensures data privacy and sovereignty for sensitive verticals.

SAP has been embedding AI across its suite of business applications. How has that evolved this year?