As the rapid advancement of AI-led automation is transforming the workforce, recruiters are now focusing on quality hiring over volume hiring, reflecting a changing mindset that prioritizes a quality workforce that is smaller in number but deeper in capability, says Manikandan Ekambaram, Senior Vice President, RPS Consulting, NIIT Ltd., who envisions a future where specialized AI agents collaborate and transform human work.
Manikandan, in an interaction with Enterprise Times, talks about how RPS Consulting, with its 32 strategic partnerships, is providing outcome-driven training mode solidifying NIIT’s position as a technology-skilling centre.
Enterprise Times: How do you foresee AI-led automation skills influencing mass recruitment trends in the near future? Can you elaborate on the impact of AI Agents and Generative AI (GenAI) on enterprise workforce transformation?
Manikandan Ekambaram: We are already noticing a shift in hiring trends. Recruiters are now prioritizing quality hiring over volume hiring. Instead of large-scale recruitment for transactional roles, enterprises are expected to increasingly look for individuals who bring in-depth expertise and the ability to effectively collaborate with the AI agents to deliver the outcomes. Hiring will be anchored less on static skillsets and more on demonstrable, real-world capabilities.
AI-led automation is also set to redefine traditional roles. Considering an example, software engineers may evolve into product designers, developers into vibe coders, analysts into AI-augmented insight curators, while new roles such as AI cloud architects and GenAI DevOps engineers will emerge. This transition reflects the changing mindset of having a quality workforce that is smaller in number but deeper in capability.
Another critical factor is AI literacy; a baseline understanding of AI tools, ethics, and best practices will become a core expectation across job functions and not just limited to the AI specialists, but for the wider workforce.
On the skill development front, training is expected to shift from fixed, one-time sessions to real-time, flexible formats. Jobs like AI mentors, AI coordinators, and prompt engineers will become more important, and there will be more need for experts who can manage AI in specific fields. Companies will need to find the right mix between using new technology and changing how their team works.
Enterprise Times: How has RPS Consulting added value to NIIT’s portfolio post the acquisition with its enterprise-led expertise and experience?
Manikandan Ekambaram: RPS Consulting has brought a distinct edge to NIIT’s portfolio and strengthened its position as a technology-skilling Centre of Excellence. RPS has strong OEM engagements and an enterprise-first approach, which complements NIIT’s broader vision. With over 32 strategic partnerships, RPS supports leading GSIs, GCCs, and consulting enterprises in solving business challenges around emerging digital and AI competencies.
We at RPS are expanding and catering to the entire spectrum of enterprise needs, whether it is multi-cloud, security or AI skilling and work with talent across all levels. See, from fresh graduates entering the workforce to senior leadership. This ability to address skilling holistically across the technology landscape has allowed NIIT to extend its impact on enterprise talent transformation in a meaningful way.
Enterprise Times: Could you share how your organisation is able to design and deliver customised courses for operational teams within 24 hours? What impact does this agility have on learning readiness and project delivery timelines
The strength lies in providing industry-seasoned solutioning experts and a large pool of delivery SMEs who bring deep industry experience, and the processes and systems we have built to support them. This expertise, supported by well-established processes and systems, enables us to respond to customer requirements with speed and precision.
For operational teams, this flexibility makes a real difference. It means training happens when it’s needed most, matching current business goals, which helps people get ready faster and keeps projects moving without delays. In many cases, this fast response sets teams apart, giving them the skills they need exactly when they need them to stay on track and meet business goals.
Enterprise Times: RPS Consulting collaborates with OEM partners across leading technology stacks. How do these partnerships enable you to provide comprehensive, end-to-end training solutions for your clients?
Manikandan Ekambaram: Our OEM partnerships with Microsoft, AWS, Google, VMware, Red Hat, etc. are the backbone of our outcome-driven training model. By working closely with leading technology providers across multiple stacks, we can go beyond standard certifications or off-the-shelf training. These deep collaborations give us access to the latest tools, frameworks, and expertise, which we then leverage to design curated and customized programs tailored to each client’s business context.
This approach ensures that the training is not just technical in nature but outcome-oriented. helping enterprises build the right capabilities, accelerate adoption of new technologies, and stay competitive in a fast-evolving digital environment. It’s this combination of breadth in partnerships and depth in engagement that allows us to offer true end-to-end skilling solutions.
Enterprise Times: With the changing demand affected by automation for highly skilled professionals in cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and DevOps, how does RPS Consulting ensure rapid and effective training led by domain experts?
Manikandan Ekambaram: Being in the knowledge services space, we recognize that staying current with industry developments is critical. At RPS Consulting, we continuously invest in adopting emerging technologies to keep our offerings relevant. For instance, we are already leveraging AI within our delivery platforms, whether in content creation, scoping, or enhancing the learning experience itself.
Equally important is our focus on people. We ensure our SMEs are consistently upskilled across cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and DevOps, while also onboarding experts in newer technologies that align with our customers’ business outlook. This combination of technology-led innovation and domain expertise enables us to deliver training that is both rapid and effective, preparing professionals to meet the demands of automation-driven roles.
Enterprise Times: Can you share some insights into the scale of RPS Consulting’s operations, including the number of associates trained and enterprise clients served, particularly with reference to your work with over GCCs and GSIs across various industries?
Manikandan Ekambaram: RPS Consulting today operates at a significant scale, with nearly 90% of our customers coming from the GCC and GSI segments. We work with over 300 enterprise clients, spanning industries such as BFSI, technology, consulting and services, and manufacturing.
In terms of impact, we trained close to 12 million learners in the last financial year alone. This scale reflects both the depth of our enterprise relationships and the trust placed in us to deliver large, complex skilling programs that address the evolving needs of global enterprises.
Enterprise Times: Tell us more about the future growth and expansion plans of RPS Consulting, and how you see some growing trends in AI upskilling.
Manikandan Ekambaram: Our growth strategy is closely aligned with the shifts we see in the industry. Looking ahead, we are aligned with our group’s strategy of driving 3X growth in the next three years, with AI upskilling expected to be one of the strongest growth levers.
As enterprises face wide disruption, talent and skills have become the most critical differentiators. What is changing, however, is how those skills are acquired and developed, and our business model is designed to address exactly that.
While we will continue to offer standard courses, the larger focus for us is on outcome-oriented programs that directly support business objectives. A key part of our roadmap is skilling in emerging areas such as AI and EV, where we don’t just provide generic training but customize it to the customer’s business context and even to specific learner personas.
