HCLSoftware Expands AI Capabilities with €9 Million Robotiq.ai Acquisition

HCLSoftware, a branch of IT services giant HCL Technologies, will acquire Robotiq.ai, a supplier of corporate robotic process automation (RPA) platforms located in Croatia. The deal was cracked in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of 9 million euros (or approximately INR 98 crore), as announced on September 28.

A regulatory filing states that the deal would be finalised through HCL Technologies Austria GmbH, a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of HCLTech, which will purchase all of the firm's outstanding equity.

HCLSoftware Building its AI Arm

HCLTech reported that there has been an increase in the demand from enterprises for AI systems that can dependably reason and carry out operations in complicated business settings. The guiding principle behind Robotiq.ai, according to CEO and co-founder Darko Jovisic, was a basic belief: that automation should be practical, easy to implement, and dependable in production. With HCLSoftware's help, its technology can now access enterprise-level resources and capabilities.

Jovisic elaborated by saying that while working with HCLSoftware, clients receive automation that isn't task-specific but rather integrated into an enterprise-wide orchestrated and governed process. The Zagreb-based startup Robotiq.ai was founded in August 2018 and serves major financial institutions, insurance companies, and telecom companies with enterprise-level automation solutions. Revenue for Robotiq.ai was 1.4 million euros in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, up from 0.9 million euros in the previous two years. It is anticipated that the acquisition will be finalised by the conclusion of November 2026.

Google Slashes HCLTech Contract

Over the course of more than a decade, HCLTech seamlessly oversaw a substantial portion of Google's engineering and application development efforts. There has been a recent shrinkage in that relationship. Reports in the media indicate that Google has reportedly cut its outsourcing contract with HCLTech by approximately $50 million annually.

This change occurs as the tech behemoth continues to consolidate its vendors and increase its use of automation. It is anticipated that the general business of HCLTech will be relatively unaffected by the transfer. This decision has far-reaching consequences for India's $315 billion IT services sector, since it sends the message that long-term contracts are not guaranteed in the age of artificial intelligence.

The reported cut is from a contract that had an annual value of almost $200 million. HCLTech has been overseeing this project for Google for close to a decade. As a result of the reduced scope, HCLTech anticipates a yearly revenue drop of around $50 million, or about 0.3% of its overall revenue. Experts in the field predict that this factor might explain as much as 6% of the incremental growth the firm anticipates for the current fiscal year.