Salesforce India’s Chairperson and CEO, Arundhati Bhattacharya, announced that the company has doubled its workforce in India over the past few years. Speaking at Dreamforce 2024 in San Francisco, she emphasized the company’s growth, which includes providing 65,000 internships as part of its broader vision.
Salesforce Hiring In India Expands
The US-based tech giant, Salesforce has significantly ramped up its presence in India. According to Bhattacharya, the company has more than doubled its workforce over the past two years, now employing over 13,000 people. This reflects Salesforce’s growing reliance on India for leadership and talent.
“We hire many senior leaders from India who manage global teams. India has become a key hub for Salesforce’s operations,” Bhattacharya stated.
Internship Initiative with AICTE
Salesforce has provided 65,000 internships across the country in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), with a larger goal of offering 200,000 internships.
“These internships are three months long, with the first half conducted virtually and the second half on-site,” Bhattacharya explained. The program aims to equip students with practical experience and technical skills.
India’s Crucial Role in Salesforce’s Global Strategy
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff underscored India’s importance in the company’s global strategy, describing the country as entering an “incredible phase” with vast opportunities for growth and innovation.
“We’re entering a transformative era for India. Our investments here have been substantial,” Benioff remarked, adding that India is a hub for engineering and support and a critical market. Major Indian companies like Bajaj have successfully adopted Salesforce’s platform.
Building Skills with the Trailblazer Community
Bhattacharya highlighted Salesforce’s commitment to developing India’s workforce through its Trailblazer community, which has grown to over 2 million members, making it the largest outside the US.
“We don’t just provide tools to build on our platform; we also create a community where people can connect and grow. Through events, members receive training on AI and the latest platform developments,” Bhattacharya said.
Salesforce has also partnered with over 2,500 colleges across India. Many courses offered on its learning platform, Trailhead, are certified by the National Occupations Board and available as credit electives in engineering colleges. Additionally, Salesforce has signed MOUs with three state governments to make these courses mandatory in government-run engineering institutions.
Salesforce’s Broadening Impact in India
While Bhattacharya didn’t disclose specific revenue numbers for Salesforce’s India operations, she noted that the company’s India unit has been its fastest-growing business for the past two years. However, she also acknowledged the competitive landscape, noting that maintaining this leadership is a continuous challenge.
Salesforce has made inroads across various sectors in India, including banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI), automotive, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and travel. This broad industry reach underscores Salesforce’s critical role in India’s digital transformation.
Salesforce’s Long-Term Investment in India
Salesforce’s ongoing investments in India—from doubling its workforce to providing 65,000 internships—emphasize the country’s strategic importance to its global plans. With a growing presence in several industries and a strong focus on skill development through initiatives like the Trailblazer community, Salesforce is well-positioned to leverage India’s potential as a hub for innovation and talent. As Bhattacharya and Benioff highlighted, India is on the verge of a significant growth phase, and Salesforce is set to be a key player in shaping its future.
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