AI demand forces Indian IT firms to merge specialist roles
Indian IT companies are having a tough time finding Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs), the folks who actually set up and customize AI solutions for clients.
With demand for AI booming, roles like on-site AI leads and embedded engineers are now essential, says Gaurav Parab, principal IT analyst at consultancy NelsonHall.
To keep things moving, companies are combining multiple specialist jobs into one FDE role.
Clients denied promised technical support
Yugal Joshi, partner at Everest Group, points out that these merged roles often mean clients don't get the technical support they were promised, even though billing rates stay high.
While this helps companies cut costs, it can disappoint clients and make their AI projects less effective.
As Joshi puts it, enterprises and clients not really getting what they are paying for.
The rush to meet growing AI demand is causing some unintended headaches for both sides.