In a recent conversation with CIO&Leader, Saurabh Saxena, Regional Vice President at OpenText, discussed the company’s technology focus and upcoming expansion plans.
Regional Vice President,
OpenText
OpenText, a global solution provider in enterprise information management (EIM), is making significant strides in AI and automation to help organizations re-imagine the future of work. The Indian arm of this Canadian IT solutions provider is making substantial investments in AI capabilities, with several key initiatives being developed and deployed locally in India.
Following its acquisition of Micro Focus in 2023, OpenText has expanded its portfolio to include next-generation tools in areas such as cybersecurity, IT operations management, application modernization, and AI & analytics. These additions have strengthened OpenText’s offerings in digital operations, cybersecurity, and developer support. Recently, OpenText secured a multi-million-dollar deal with a major telecom customer in India. Its successes also include strategic partnerships with L&T Technology Services, as well as collaborations with key government institutions and organizations such as ITC, GAIL, IOCL, and ONGC.
In a recent conversation with CIO&Leader, Saurabh Saxena, Regional Vice President, OpenText, outlined the company’s strategic focus and plans. He discussed how OpenText’s AI and automation solutions are enabling businesses to transform operations, streamline information retrieval, reduce information overload, and boost productivity by automating repetitive tasks. Saurabh is responsible for driving revenue, aligning regional business strategies, and delivering value to customers by helping them leverage information for a competitive advantage. His work centers on empowering organizations with AI-driven innovation, automation, security, and connectivity. Excerpts from the interaction follow.
CIO&Leader: As OpenText moves toward 2025 with plans for expanded market share and profitability, how has the early completion of the Micro Focus integration positioned the company for accelerated growth? What strategies and operational efficiencies are driving this momentum?
Saurabh Saxena: The integration of Micro Focus in early 2023 significantly expanded OpenText’s global footprint, particularly in India, where headcount nearly doubled. This acquisition allowed us to leverage Micro Focus’ products and talent to better serve clients during their digital transformation journeys. By aligning Micro Focus’ product roadmap with customer expectations, OpenText was able to accelerate its performance, scale operations, and expand its market reach.
This strategic positioning has helped us create a more robust portfolio that addresses the evolving needs of organizations seeking to digitize and improve operational efficiencies. Our alignment with high-value business sectors strengthens our potential for sustained growth.
Our strategy focuses on enhancing productivity and profitability through automation and streamlined processes. These initiatives optimize performance, conserve resources, and contribute to cost reduction and greater agility. The integration of Micro Focus is designed to accelerate cost synergies, improve service delivery, and solidify OpenText’s competitive position in the market. To maintain momentum, we are expanding our cloud services and boosting customer engagement through combined integrated offerings.
CIO&Leader: The 2nd Annual CIO & Leader State of Enterprise Technology Survey reveals that Indian enterprises are ramping up AI and machine learning investments. How are they addressing challenges like security, culture, and ROI, and what role does OpenText play in this process?
Saurabh Saxena: Indian enterprises are prioritizing AI and machine learning, but face challenges around security, cultural adoption, and ROI. To address these, companies are implementing robust security frameworks, ensuring AI systems align with local cultures, and developing clear metrics to track ROI from AI investments.
We play a critical role in supporting these efforts by providing innovative AI solutions and leveraging local talent for digital transformation. We ensure robust security in our Private Cloud Aviator by leveraging Google Cloud Platform’s (GCP) certifications and security infrastructure. Key measures include encryption, network segmentation, access controls, and continuous monitoring to protect customer data. Importantly, data used for AI training remains private, reinforcing data integrity and privacy. These security protocols are crucial for businesses with stringent data protection requirements, ensuring compliance and safeguarding sensitive information.
Culturally, enterprises are developing AI systems that align with local languages and cultural nuances. This approach goes beyond mere translation, aiming for AI solutions that resonate with India’s diverse landscape. Organizations are fostering a culture of collaboration between technology and human expertise to ensure successful adoption. Encouraging a mindset that embraces technological change is essential for maximizing AI’s benefits and ensuring employee acceptance.
Measuring and improving ROI is a priority for Indian enterprises. Companies are adopting performance metrics and business success indicators to assess the value of AI initiatives, focusing on use cases that promise quick wins. OpenText Aviator, a family of trusted generative AI capabilities, works seamlessly with our existing information management solutions to support these efforts.
We enable organizations to leverage their data, make informed decisions, and adapt with intelligent tools that continually learn. It elevates information automation, supporting businesses in a seamless transition to AI and helping them overcome both current and future challenges.
CIO&Leader: What measurable benefits have OpenText’s AI solutions delivered to Indian enterprises?
Saurabh Saxena: AI in business has introduced a new mindset—an innovative way of thinking, a renewed appreciation for trust and data, and a fresh outlook on unlocking human potential. OpenText Aviator ushers in this new era with predictive AI-led analytics, AI-powered conversational search, and generative AI. Customers trust our information management solutions to manage private data sets—from B2B transactions to operational content, application code, and intellectual property. Now, without moving their data, customers can leverage our AI capabilities to extract maximum value from their information.
By consolidating data management tools, businesses can make more informed, strategic decisions. AI-driven analytics have helped Indian enterprises gain deeper insights into their operations, leading to better planning, execution, and overall performance.
Our AI solutions, particularly OpenText Aviator, have empowered Indian enterprises to unlock new business value. By automating tasks and optimizing data usage, organizations have reduced manual work and improved operational efficiency. Companies report enhanced workflows, faster decision-making, and a better understanding of their operations through AI-driven analytics.
Additionally, our AI tools help businesses boost customer engagement through personalized communication and faster response times. Predictive analytics aids in reducing downtime and improving proactive maintenance, ensuring smoother operations and better resource utilization. These measurable outcomes are driving faster, more agile digital transformation across industries in India.
CIO&Leader: How will OpenText’s AI and automation capabilities in Business Clouds address key pain points and unmet needs?
Saurabh Saxena: By leveraging generative AI, OpenText helps organizations streamline information retrieval, reduce information overload, and improve productivity by automating repetitive tasks. In Experience Management, AI tools personalize customer interactions and automate content generation, enhancing engagement and satisfaction while cutting down response times. For IT Operations Management, AI integration in ticket handling and self-service support accelerates issue resolution, reducing operational friction and increasing efficiency for IT teams.
Our Aviator’s integration into Business Clouds is revolutionizing how businesses manage content, experiences, and IT operations.
Our focus on scalability, security, and customization ensures that AI and automation tools address the unique needs of businesses while keeping data secure and enabling greater performance.
CIO&Leader: Could you elaborate on OpenText’s roadmap for integrating Generative AI into your solutions? What challenges and opportunities does it present?
Saurabh Saxena: OpenText is deeply committed to driving innovation through generative AI. With the launch of opentext.ai in August 2023, we’re integrating advanced AI capabilities—like predictive analytics and conversational search—into our information management solutions. Our vision is to help organizations transform customer engagement, optimize operations, and enhance decision-making using AI and Large Language Models (LLMs).
Generative AI presents huge opportunities for industries by enhancing creativity, automating complex tasks, and improving personalization. However, it also raises challenges, such as data security, model accuracy, and ethical concerns. We are dedicated to addressing these through responsible AI practices, ensuring transparency, and maintaining high standards of data privacy.
CIO&Leader: You’ve announced plans to expand your workforce in India by 25% and open a new office in Hyderabad. What innovations are planned, and how does this expansion support OpenText’s broader goals?
Saurabh Saxena: India is central to OpenText’s growth strategy. Our team here drives product development, AI innovations, and serves as a hub for cloud services, cybersecurity, and IT operations. The new Hyderabad facility will further support the development of OpenText’s Business Clouds and AI capabilities, while also nurturing local talent through internships and graduate programs.
This expansion will accelerate our innovation and enhance the value we deliver to clients globally, particularly as we scale AI-driven solutions and strengthen our product offerings in the Indian market. With a robust local presence, we are well-positioned to forge deeper connections with customers and help them stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
OpenText now employs over 6,000 people in India, part of a global workforce of more than 23,000, across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. A significant portion of our work in India focuses on product development and professional services, spanning OpenText’s AI, Content, Experience, Business Network, Cybersecurity, Developer, DevOps, and IT Operations clouds. Engineers at the Hyderabad development center lead critical product initiatives for OpenText’s Business Clouds and play a key role in advancing the company’s global AI innovations.