From Tax Suits to Tech Suites, it's a Recalibrate@Big4
That slow return has since turned into a full-fledged pivot — with India leading globally in both scale and pace of shift. 'Consulting is now the new frontier,' said Sanjeev Krishan, chairman of PwC India.
Among the top four professional service firms, 60% of Deloitte's India workforce and 45% of EY's now comprise the tech consulting vertical, while PwC and KPMG both have approximately half of their India headcount dedicated to this business.
Recruitment will be dominated by technology consulting in FY26. Deloitte plans to hire another 6,000-8,000 people in this vertical. At KPMG, nearly 45 of every 100 new hires in FY26 will be in technology roles. PwC will hire 6,000-7,000 in tech consulting in the fiscal year.
Sathish Gopalaiah, president, consulting, at Deloitte South Asia, said the firm had hired over 7,300 people as of April 2025, and by the end of May, that number will be close to 8,000. 'Our total headcount will cross 22,000 by then,' he said. 'Last year, our tech consulting business grew by 38%, and this year, we're on track to grow at 27% by the end of May.'
Back-of-the-envelope estimates indicate that IT consulting generated over ₹20,000 crore of the Big Four's combined ₹38,500-crore India revenue in FY24—a trend expected to hold in FY25 as well, once all books are closed.
Accelerating this business is India Inc's tech transformation drive gaining serious momentum, with large-scale projects underway at companies such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Shell, Unilever, HSBC, and several public sector units (PSUs).
'The Covid-19 crisis was a watershed moment, ushering in an unprecedented era of tech-led transformation powered by cloud, data and analytics,' said Rohan Sachdev, managing partner for consulting at EY India. 'Today, AI-driven change is taking centre stage.'
A look at tech transformation requests for proposals (RFPs) points to strong deal momentum in the consulting space—with over 30 RFPs valued above ₹100 crore, more than 50 above ₹50 crore and upwards of 75 proposals exceeding ₹25 crore. The firms now have built capabilities to provide services across the IT value chain.
'Iconic transformation happens at the intersection of consulting, technology & digital, and data & analytics. We're helping our clients move from opportunities to business outcomes by offering the best customised solution and service set,' said Sanjay Dawar, lead partner, One Consulting, at PwC India.
But why are clients increasingly turning to the Big Four? Akhilesh Tuteja, national leader, clients and markets and technology, media & telecommunications (TMT), at KPMG India, explained, 'The top firms now have deep domain expertise, inhouse consulting capabilities, a technology advisory setup and strong collaborations with global tech alliances, making them one-stop partners for digital transformation.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Why hundreds of US MBAs are leaving high-paying jobs to clean air ducts and fix plumbing
The US MBA shift: From corporate careers to cleaning ducts and fixing plumbing. (AI Image) A growing number of MBA graduates in the United States are choosing to leave traditional corporate careers to purchase and operate small, often unglamorous, businesses in sectors such as HVAC, plumbing, and car washing. This trend is part of a model known as Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), more commonly referred to as "search funds". It offers young professionals a pathway to business ownership without having to start from scratch. Search funds have gained significant momentum, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, as thousands of MBA students have increasingly opted to acquire existing businesses rather than launch new start-ups. According to Stanford research cited by Business Insider , from 1984 to 2019, investors deployed a total of at least $1.4 billion into search funds and the companies acquired through them. In just the four years since, an additional $1.5 billion has been invested. Many of these MBAs are turning to industries traditionally overlooked by elite professionals, including duct cleaning, grease trap maintenance, and septic tank services. Dan Schweber's shift from consultancy to ownership Dan Schweber, a former healthcare consultant and startup employee, enrolled in Columbia's Executive MBA programme in search of a more autonomous and rewarding career path. After exploring multiple business ideas, he discovered Columbia's elective course on search funds. As reported by Business Insider , Schweber decided to pursue the ETA model, drawn to the concept of acquiring a business with existing revenue, staff, and customers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo To finance his search, Schweber raised $480,000 from 18 investors, which covered a two-year period of outreach, due diligence, and personal living expenses. He estimated that he would need to send 4,800 outreach emails per year to generate 500 introductory calls, leading to 50 in-person meetings and two signed letters of intent. His first attempt to acquire a fire safety business fell through after months of negotiation. From failed deals to air duct cleaning With nearly two years into his search and no acquisition completed, Schweber shifted his focus from the healthcare industry to home and commercial services. He searched for HVAC-related businesses around Washington, DC, eventually identifying Atlantic Duct Cleaning. After 11 unanswered emails, he received a response to his 12th attempt. The owner, Tom Keys, had founded the company in 1995 and built it into a profitable enterprise generating $4 million annually. While private equity firms had made offers, Keys preferred to sell to someone who would maintain the business's integrity and staff. Following a three-month due diligence process, Schweber secured financing from 15 of his original 18 investors, along with a loan from a private lender. The transaction was finalised on May 31, 2022, although the purchase price was not disclosed. Business Insider noted that the median price for companies bought by investor-backed searchers in 2022 and 2023 was $14.4 million. High returns drive investor interest Search funds have become attractive to investors, largely due to the historically high returns. As per data reported by Business Insider , searchers have delivered an average return of 4.5x on capital, with an annual internal rate of return of 35%. This compares favourably with traditional asset classes such as the S&P 500, which typically yields 10% annually. The funding model allows investors to gain preferential access to deals once the searcher acquires a business. Challenges after acquisition Despite the potential for high returns, 31% of searcher-led acquisitions result in losses for investors. Risks include undetected operational issues, macroeconomic downturns, or poor performance by first-time CEOs. Business Insider reported several cases where new owners faced financial strain, emotional stress, and the possibility of bankruptcy within the first year. Growth and future plans Schweber now serves as CEO of Atlantic Duct Cleaning, overseeing over 60 employees and a fleet of 30 trucks. As reported by Business Insider, his goal is to grow the company to $25 million in annual revenue by 2028, aiming to become the largest air duct cleaning firm on the East Coast, if not in the entire country. The rise in search funds reflects a broader shift in US business education and entrepreneurship, where owning a plumbing or duct cleaning business is now viewed as a viable—and potentially lucrative—career path for elite MBA graduates. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Startup co-founder was afraid to be CEO; until she took over and sparked a 10x revenue boom
When Jacqueline Tatelman co-founded State Bags in 2013 with her husband Scot, she wasn't ready to call herself a CEO. The brand, built not just on fashion but on social impact—providing for American families in need—had passion at its heart, but not yet structure. So instead of stepping into the driver's seat, Tatelman took charge of product and creativity, trusting outside consultants and eventually a hired CEO to manage the business. For a while, that seemed to work. But when cracks started to show in the company's foundations—overreliance on wholesale partnerships, unmanageable budgets, and sluggish sales—Tatelman found herself watching the dream she helped build slide into instability. When the Crisis Hit, She Put On Her Bathrobe and Picked Up the Pieces By 2020, State Bags was in dire straits. The company's second CEO, a former CFO who had helped implement much-needed reforms, suddenly stepped down—right in the middle of a global pandemic. With no one left to steer the ship, Jacqueline stepped in, quite literally from her living room, to take control of the business. 'I spent all of COVID in my fuzzy bathrobe,' she told Inc., recalling how she hustled to keep production running in China and scraped together just enough to keep the lights on. The team was furloughed, the office shut down, and every dollar counted. 'If we had a $1,000 day, we were celebrating,' she said of those early moments. But that personal plunge into leadership changed everything. You Might Also Like: From Symbiosis MBA to HUL's new CEO: Priya Nair follows two golden rules in her career She Was Scared to Be CEO; But It Changed Everything Her decision to stay in command wasn't immediate. But after her back-to-school hustle paid off and a kids' luggage collection she designed pre-pandemic turned into a runaway hit, Tatelman realized something profound: she didn't just have to lead the company—she could. 'Right now, I am the person to lead us,' she said. 'I have all of the tools, and I have all of the determination. I am fully equipped to be our leader. I love being our leader.' And the numbers backed her up. Since she took over in 2020, State Bags has seen a tenfold increase in revenue—reaching eight figures and earning a spot at No. 1,198 on the Inc. 5000 list. In 2021, the company raised $2 million in seed funding, validating not just the product, but the person steering it. The Gut Knows Before the World Does Looking back, Jacqueline admits the only thing ever holding her back was fear. 'My intuition was always like, I should just step into this, but I'm too afraid,' she said. Today, her story is not just about building a successful brand—it's about reclaiming confidence, listening to your inner voice, and embracing leadership when the world least expects it. You Might Also Like: Mindtree founder Subroto Bagchi has donated hundreds of crores but a Re 1 SBI cheque is his 'biggest wealth of life' In the end, Tatelman's biggest business breakthrough came from what she once considered her biggest weakness. As she puts it: 'Listening to yourself, tapping into your gut, trusting yourself—it's so powerful.'
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
New Zealand plans to double global student market by 2034, eases work rules
New Zealand has unveiled an ambitious plan to double the size of its international education sector by 2034, aiming to position the country as a global hub for talent and New Zealand government announced new steps to boost its foreign student numbers by easing work regulations and increasing its global appeal to high-potential education sector, which suffered major setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to be worth NZ$6 billion annually by 2034, up from the current NZ$3.7 International student enrolment growth is expected by the government from 83,700 in 2024 to 105,000 in 2027 and 119,000 by 2034 and double its value to the WORK RULES FOR GRADUATESIn a bid to attract international students, the government has decided to relax employment rules for Minister Erica Stanford said, "With international student enrolments steadily increasing since 2023, the government wants to 'supercharge that growth track' to reach NZ$7.2 billion ($4.32 billion) by 2034."The new regulations will allow international students with a bachelor's degree or higher qualification to stay and work in the country for up to three years after AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTHThe strategy also involves improving visa settings, creating new policies that target global talent, and ensuring that graduates contribute to sectors that benefit the national economy."In the short term, Education New Zealand will focus its promotional efforts on markets with the highest potential for growth," Stanford updated approach follows a steep decline in international enrolments during the pandemic, when New Zealand enforced strict border sector has been a major source of revenue and talent for universities, polytechnics, and schools across the country.A HIGH-VALUE EDUCATION SECTORAccording to the plan, New Zealand will work to attract students from diverse countries, not just its traditional markets. The government wants international graduates to feel welcomed and supported, with clear employment opportunities government is also seeking stronger partnerships with education institutions and employers to align education programmes with industry these changes, New Zealand hopes to rebuild its global reputation as a trusted and attractive destination for international students and skilled migrants.(With inputs from Reuters)- Ends
