'Have strong pipeline of AI-led deals'

Mid-sized IT services company Sonata Software expects to grow above industry rates with growth bouncing back in the second half of the current financial year. JAGANNATHAN CHAKRAVARTHI, chief financial officer, Sonata Software, talks about the outlook for FY25, deal pipeline, and artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, in an interview with Ayushman Baruah in Bengaluru. Edited excerpts:

- JAGANNATHAN CHAKRAVARTHI

What is Sonata Software's outlook for FY25 and what are the factors driving it?

The industry is expected to witness a 5-6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in FY25. At Sonata Software, we are confident of beating this guidance handsomely. The first two quarters (H1FY25) could witness softness as a result of macro-economic uncertainties, delay in decision-making due to cautionary spends, time to ramp up new deals in Quant Systems (the company it acquired last year), and the seasonal impact of business in Quant. We remain optimistic about our long-term growth prospects, bouncing back in H2FY25 with sturdy growth and improved margin performance.