Wipro makes 'Analytics' a new service line

Wipro on Monday confirmed the Bengaluru-based information technology (IT) services company was creating a new service line to deal with all new-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, advanced analytics, and big data. To be known as Wipro Analytics, the new unit will replace the Advanced Technologies & Solutions service line, currently headed by Jeff Heenan-Jalil, senior vice-president.

The line would come into effect from April 1, and would be headed by Heenan-Jalil, the company told the Business Standard.

It had recently decided to take out the mobility part of the business from the Advanced Technologies & Solutions line and merge it with the Application Services and Strategic Alliances service line, headed by B M Bhanumurthy. Similarly, the cloud business from the Analytics & Information Management line was taken out to be made a part of Global Infrastructure Services line, headed by G K Prasanna. Both Bhanumurthy and Prasanna, who were chief executives of their respective lines, have been promoted to presidents, with effect from April.

“Wipro sees the analytics business as the natural convergence of systems of record and systems of engagement,” the company said.

In a recent meeting with analysts, Wipro’s chief executive, T K Kurien, had said the company was looking at making digital a separate business unit, as the nature of the business was quite different from the traditional business.

“The biggest thing we are betting on in the next few years is digital. We don’t believe we can do it in a traditional manner because the culture in digital is going to be speed,” Kurien had said.

Wipro said the company was planning to train more than 15,000 people in technologies supporting analytics.

Wipro’s larger peer, Infosys, is eyeing the digital space. Infosys has built a platform called the Infosys Information Platform. The latter has seen early success with clients. It has enabled them to make real-time decisions, by churning data in real time using open-source analytics.

Wipro Technologies (Wipro Ltd)