The 2024 Best Firms to Work For: Infosys Consulting

CLIENT INDUSTRIES SERVED: Services, Utilities, Resources and Energy, Financial Services and Insurance, Health Care and Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Communications, Media and Technology, Consumer Products, Retail and Logistics

CONSULTING SERVICE LINES: Strategy and IT Consulting

Infosys Consulting is a global management and technology consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations leverage emerging technologies to transform their enterprises for improved agility, speed, customer satisfaction and financial return.

Founded in 2004 as a subsidiary of Infosys Limited (a top-5 global powerhouse IT brand), it has emerged as a leading player in the consulting industry, known for its innovative solutions and technological expertise. Infosys Consulting has a global footprint to serve marquee brands across the world, with offices and digital innovation hubs in 50+ countries across EMEA, North America and APAC.

The Infosys Consulting organization and its services sit at the intersection of robust industry knowledge, innovative business strategy and cutting-edge technology. By combining industry expertise with domain best practices across technology, supply chain, big data, generative AI, people, culture and sustainability, Infosys Consulting creates a 360-degree end-to-end approach to transformation that helps clients realize immense business value and ROI.

CMAG: What characteristics and elements would you attribute to your firm's inclusion as a Best Firm to Work For?

Infosys Consulting attracts consultants who bring an entrepreneurial spirit to client service. Consultants have the freedom to explore their interests and ideas on the cutting edge of the technologies that are changing both business and society and are able to achieve at a level constrained only by their own readiness and ability.

Infosys is "powered by intellect, driven by values." The organization is engaged in creating an intentional culture that values inclusion, client focus, leadership at all levels, integrity, fairness and excellence. Employees at all levels are engaged in making Infosys a better place to work, through participation in dozens of initiatives sponsored each year by local and global leaders.

Leadership at Infosys Consulting is accessible and down-to-earth. Employees have access to leaders and leaders routinely engage with consultants in daily work.

The company is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome a highly diverse set of skills, experiences, perspectives and backgrounds, which help us drive creativity and innovation for our clients. We strive to create an environment in which everyone can thrive. Making Infosys a great place to work is one of the four pillars of our business strategy, which begins at the top, with our CEO, and permeates all levels of the organization. We do this through:

• DE&I Programs: Internal DE&I events for all colleagues, with dedicated employee resource groups and formalized mentoring across the organization.
• Inclusive hiring practices
• Education and awareness training
• Accountability for adherence to DE&I standards, policies and goals

CMAG: Are there any specific programs or initiatives that contributed to you being included as a Best Firm?

We are continually making investments in key initiatives that support our mission of making Infosys Consulting a great place to work. These include:

• Values refresh, combined with Values Ambassador program to drive values through every practice and region.
• Culture renewal – creating an intentional culture that supports our values and business strategies for an AI-first world.
• DE&I programming and education.
• Succession planning, mentoring and leadership development programs.
• Region-specific employee care and community initiatives.

As part of Infosys, our employees also benefit from corporate reward and recognition programs such as:

• ACE – Awards for Consulting Excellence – Winners receive special recognition from the IC leadership team as well as monetary incentives as an extra element of appreciation for their achievements. Industry recognition – We regularly submit our outstanding consultants for industry awards to recognize their expertise, dedication, leadership and trailblazing innovation.
• InfyGold+ – Infosys Consulting benefits from our InfyGold+ rewards app where employees are being rewarded points for excellence in their projects. Employees can redeem these points across 2000+ brands.
• Career rewards – Infosys focuses on early career growth of employees with incentives such as "early career rewards" so that employees are clear about their growth path within the organization in the first few years itself.
• Leadership institute – For promising leaders, we have an esteemed program in partnership with world-class universities and learning partners.

CMAG: In describing your firm, what would you say sets it apart from other consulting firms?

We are part of one of the world's largest and most respected technology companies, and our ability to leverage the best of that organization with a 'One Infosys' value proposition gives us unparalleled access to leading clients in every industry and to disruptive transformation programs that energize and excite our workforce.

Our clients tell us that our humble and hands-on approach is a quality they appreciate so much and is often what separates us from the competition. This goes along with our commitment to collaboration and teaming – both within the consulting organization and with the ecosystem of other Infosys units and external partners that we leverage to deliver client work.

When we talk to consultants who have left Infosys and come back they often cite a small number of key differentiators:

• Great colleagues and teamwork, driven by excellence rather than ego.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and opportunities to participate in truly game-changing client work.
• Entrepreneurial culture that favors initiative and ability, more than hierarchy and title

CMAG: Where your workforce is concerned, what would you say your priorities look like for the upcoming year and beyond?

The rapid pace of technological advancement necessitates a workforce equipped with the skills of tomorrow. Organizations must transform into learning organizations, prioritizing continuous development. Some of the areas we are looking to focus on include:

• Skills modeling: We are undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the skills required for current and future roles, identifying potential gaps and surpluses.
• Personalized learning paths: We are using Infosys' digital learning platform LEX (commercial name Wingspan) to deliver personalized learning paths tailored to individual career aspirations and performance needs.
• Relevant upskilling: We offer opportunities for all consultants to build skills in digital technologies, data and analytics, agile and AI. We are also increasing our offerings in sales skills, contract management, leadership and people management.

CMAG: What opportunities do you see as the most promising?

In today's dynamic environment, technology-fueled growth remains a top priority for the C-suite. CEOs and business leaders are faced with a reinvention imperative, but embracing innovation often means diving into the unknown and challenging long-held assumptions about what drives success. As a result, they are seeking partners who can bring innovative thinking and help them define the strategies and roadmaps required to unlock future value.

Emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, augmented reality, IoT, and quantum computing can help organizations scale, improve resiliency, minimize infrastructure investments, and rapidly deploy new products and services. These technologies are at the forefront of our offerings portfolio. In addition, clients need their own workforces to become future-ready, so we see continued opportunities in workforce transformation combining strategic solutions with technological enablement.

CMAG: What market forces do you see as the most challenging?

The business landscape is constantly evolving, and the next 12 months promise to be particularly dynamic. Several market forces will likely pose significant challenges for businesses across various sectors. Inflation, a persistent thorn in the side of businesses and consumers alike, is expected to remain a key challenge. As central banks tighten monetary policy to curb price rises, businesses face increased borrowing costs and a potential slowdown in consumer spending. Recessionary fears are also casting a long shadow, with the potential to dampen demand and investor confidence.

The global supply chain, already strained by the pandemic, continues to face disruptions. Geopolitical tensions, labor shortages, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events are exacerbating these challenges. Businesses must find ways to build more resilient supply chains and mitigate risks associated with disruptions.

The relentless pace of technological advancement is both a blessing and a curse. While innovation drives growth, it also necessitates significant investments in digital transformation. Businesses that fail to adapt risk being left behind. Moreover, the evolving threat landscape means cybersecurity has become a paramount concern, with data breaches and ransomware attacks posing significant risks.

CMAG: What impact do you think Best Firm to Work For honors will have on your employees? The firm overall? Clients?

Being named a "Best Firm to Work For" is a coveted accolade that will impact both our employees and our brand.

On the employee front, the recognition will boost morale, foster loyalty and attract top talent, helping our employees to feel valued, engaged, and proud to be part of a winning team. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, productivity and creativity.

For the firm, a strong employer brand enhances recruitment efforts, reduces turnover and strengthens client relationships. As employees thrive, so does the company culture, leading to increased innovation, better problem-solving and ultimately, improved performance.