HFS PODCASTS

Bridging the Gap: Healthcare AI Aspirations vs. Ground Realities: In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, Rohan Kulkarni, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research, sits down with Nikhil Mendhi, President and COO of Exponential AI, to explore the disconnect between healthcare organizations’ AI ambitions and the reality of implementation.

Key discussion points include:

• Healthcare buyers aspire to prioritize predictability, risk management, and maximizing the potential of AI.
• Real buying behaviours are informed by past approaches and traditional challenges.
• The gaps are a function of time, and there are key considerations for healthcare leaders to execute on.

The conversation highlights the critical need for greater AI awareness across healthcare enterprises and calls for bold leadership to take decisive action.

Watch now to gain practical insights into navigating the future of AI in healthcare.

In this videocast, Joel Martin, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research, sits down with Cedric Foray, Global and EMEIA Telecommunications Sector Leader at EY, for an insightful conversation on the evolving telecom landscape.

Together, they explore how accelerating transformation in the telecom industry demands a strategic realignment of AI and operations, driven by outcomes, not just activity. Cedric shares EY’s perspective on sector-oriented transformation and the importance of integrating AI into the core of telecom strategy.

Key themes discussed include:

• EY’s sector-specific approach to telecom transformation
• The critical role of speed in driving innovation
• Strategic alignment of AI and operations
• Embedding corporate strategy into service execution
• Shifting from effort-based to outcome-focused delivery models

Read more in HFS's Telecom Services Horizon 2025 report here: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research-category/horizons-report/

Bosch’s Vision for Software-Defined, Outcome-Led Engineering in the Age of AI. In this engaging and forward-looking conversation, Ashwin Venkatesan, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research and Digant Shah, Chief Revenue Officer, Software and Digital Solutions at Bosch explored how Bosch is reimagining engineering and R&D (ER&D) in an era dominated by software innovation and artificial intelligence.

As industries accelerate their digital transformation journeys, Bosch is at the forefront with a software-defined, outcome-led engineering approach that leverages Generative AI, sustainability frameworks, and a robust global delivery model. This session delves into Bosch’s strategic shift from traditional engineering to a software-first mindset, highlighting how this transformation is enabling the company to deliver more meaningful outcomes and adapt swiftly to changing client expectations.

Key discussion points include:

• The shift toward software-defined engineering to drive innovation at scale
• How Generative AI is redefining R&D processes and boosting productivity
• Integrating sustainability as a core pillar in product and platform design
• Leveraging a global delivery model to support agility, speed, and localized client outcomes

Learn more about this Horizons report to see how service providers are powering the next wave of engineering-led growth: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-the-best-of-engineering-research-and-development-service-providers-2025/

In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, Saurabh Gupta, President, Research and Advisory Services at HFS Research, sits down with Deepak Arora, SVP of Financial Services at HCLTech, to explore the dynamic transformation sweeping through commercial banking. From macroeconomic volatility to regulatory complexity and rapid digital disruption, banks are being pushed to act—not wait—for change.

Deepak unpacks how leading institutions are tackling modernization with purpose and urgency, backed by real-world case studies. From overhauling working capital systems to streamlining trade finance using AI and GenAI, the conversation brings to life the practical steps banks are taking to future-proof their business. Deepak also lays out a clear, actionable roadmap for moving from operational resilience to sustainable growth.

Key highlights of the discussion include:

• From Resilience to Growth: Commercial banks are evolving from a defensive posture to a growth-oriented, future-ready mindset.
• Balancing Legacy with Innovation: Modernization strategies must protect the stability of legacy systems while introducing digital agility.
• Use Cases That Matter: HCLTech is driving transformation in areas like trade finance, working capital optimization, and cash management.
• AI with Purpose: AI and GenAI are being applied intentionally to solve core business problems, not just for experimentation.
• Accelerated Tech Adoption: Macroeconomic and regulatory pressures are pushing banks to embrace change faster than ever.
• Beyond Point Solutions: Success lies in embracing platform-led transformation with integrated, scalable workflows.
• The New Playbook: Winning strategies center on platform investments, workflow redesign, and strong business-tech collaboration.

Trust at the Core: Efficiency matters—but trust, experience, and purpose are now key pillars of transformation.

Tune into this must-listen conversation for insight into how commercial banks are redefining their future today.

Read the full report HFS Horizons: The Best Service Providers for Commercial Banks, 2025 here: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-the-best-service-providers-for-commercial-banks-2025/

In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, Saurabh Gupta, President of Research and Advisory Services at HFS Research, chats with Gil Rosen, Chief Marketing Officer at Amdocs. They discuss Amdocs' bold move into broader IT services with the launch of Amdocs Studios. Gil explains how Amdocs is uniquely positioned to lead the emerging "services as software" revolution by leveraging its product-led heritage, deep R&D capabilities, and extensive experience in large-scale digital transformations.

The conversation explores how Amdocs is working to transcend its telecom roots and redefine the future of IT services.

Key discussion points include:

• Amdocs Studios Launch: Amdocs’ strategic expansion beyond telecom into broader IT services, with a focus on digital transformation, cloud, and user experience.
• Leading Services as Software: How Amdocs’ robust R&D foundation empowers it to lead the "services as software" movement.
• Rise of AI Agents: Amdocs’ vision for the future of customer engagement through AI-driven agents and personality engineering.

Publics Sapient has been named a Horizon 3 Market Leader for a second time in the HFS Generative Enterprise Horizon report. In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, HFS Executive Research Leader David Cushman and Publicis Sapient’s EVP and CPO Sheldon Monteiro discuss how the firm’s 'non-conflicted' approach helps enterprises break free from legacy constraints—accelerating their ability to embrace AI at scale.

Publicis Sapient wasn’t built to maintain the legacy world but to transform it fundamentally. With new strategies, up to 80% of the effort is being redirected from maintenance to innovation—empowering organizations to build industrial-grade AI platforms grounded in enterprise standards, security, industry expertise, and contextual intelligence.

Access the full report on HFS Horizons: Generative Enterprise Services, 2025: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-generative-enterprise-services-2025/

In this insightful conversation, Phil Fersht, CEO and Chief Analyst at HFS Research, sits down with Angan Guha, CEO & MD at Birlasoft and a global tech and services industry veteran. With over 30 years at Wipro and now leading a fast-growing mid-sized IT firm, Angan shares his unique perspectives on leadership, global capability centers (GCCs), the evolving role of Indian IT, and how GenAI is reshaping the workforce.

From navigating geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainty to preparing talent for the AI-driven future, this discussion is packed with practical wisdom, career advice for the next generation, and reflections on what it takes to differentiate and thrive in a rapidly changing industry.

A must-watch for anyone interested in digital transformation, talent strategy, and the next wave of innovation in tech services.

Subscribe to stay up to date with our visionary research, insights, and upcoming events: https://www.hfsresearch.com/subscribe/

Financial stability for health plans remains a priority as transformation and healthcare model evolutions take place around the world. In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, Rohan Kulkarni, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research, engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Kim Dalla Torre, Global and Americas Health Leader at EY.

Key discussion points include:

• The imperative for service providers to engage with the largest and fastest-growing segment in the industry.
• The increasing role of self-insured employers
• A re-evaluation of value-based care and emerging business models
• The workforce crisis and the pressing need for systemic transformation.

For more in-depth information, check out the full report: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-healthcare-payer-service-providers-2024/

David Cushman, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research, sits down with Alan Flower, Executive Vice President – CTO & Global Head, AI & Cloud Native Labs at HCLTech, to explore how HCLTech is driving real return on investment (ROI) from Generative AI at scale.

Key highlights from the discussion include:

• Clients now understand the use cases and focus on becoming AI-native enterprises by re-engineering their business models around AI.
• HCL developed an AI Clinical Advisor for a major U.S. healthcare provider. It saved 3 minutes per 20-minute consultation, translating to $50M/year in labor cost savings.
• Agentic AI introduces new HR/organizational complexities, including who "manages" AI agents and how to measure or assign responsibility for their performance.

Read the full HFS Generative Enterprise Services Horizon report for how 40 service providers are delivering AI-led transformation: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-generative-enterprise-services-2025/

A Spotlight on Innovation: Penske’s AI-Driven Transformation with Hitachi Digital Services - Penske, in collaboration with Hitachi Digital Services, is setting a new benchmark for the future of fleet management through AI-led innovation. This strategic partnership has focused on enhancing vehicle uptime, operational efficiency, and customer experience by transforming maintenance practices from reactive to predictive.

Penske and Hitachi Digital Services co-developed cutting-edge, AI-powered fleet solutions that have already demonstrated significant impact. These solutions have prevented over 90,000 breakdowns and enabled more than 117,000 efficient repairs. This transformation has reduced operational disruptions and delivered measurable business value, highlighting the power of AI in real-world applications.

To explore the full case study and learn how this collaboration is reshaping the transportation and logistics landscape, please visit: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hitachi-digital-services-penskes/