Both software giant SAP and pharmaceutical behemoth Novo Nordisk are laying off workers globally, including Indian workers, as they shift to AI-driven expansion.

The global workforces of Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk and German software giant SAP are being reduced, which will also affect Indian employees. As the industry quickly moves toward AI and cloud technologies, Novo announced plans to eliminate roughly 9,000 jobs globally, while SAP is undergoing reorganization. SAP claimed to be making strategic investments in areas of growth while consistently streamlining its structures and procedures.

More than 4,500 people work at Novo Nordisk's Global Business Services (GBS) hub in Bengaluru, which collaborates with international teams throughout the pharmaceutical value chain. It supports drug development and provides data management, biostatistics and programming, medical writing, publishing, safety surveillance, and medical communication for both marketed products and clinical trials. The layoff announcement comes as India approves Ozempic, a medication that contains semaglutide, for adults with type 2 diabetes. People and organization, quality, legal, chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC), product supply, R&D, and finance are among the various departments that are thought to be affected by the layoffs.

The Bengaluru team may see mid- and senior-level positions affected as early as next week, according to sources who spoke to TOI about the cuts that occurred in Denmark. When TOI contacted the pharmaceutical giant, a representative informed us that they had declared that they planned to cut about 9,000 employees worldwide. They won't divulge any more information about specific locations or regions out of consideration for the participating staff. Their top priority is to support their employees, and this process takes time.

The company's premier Ozempic program has benefited greatly from the Bengaluru GBS teams. The India team collaborates closely with headquarters on the semaglutide medication, helping with pharmacovigilance, data management, biostatistics, clinical trials, and worldwide safety.

It is believed that SAP India started layoffs two weeks ago, affecting some mid-level positions. Both outplacement assistance and a substantial severance package have been extended to them. TOI was unable to confirm the precise number of impacted individuals. When TOI contacted SAP India, a representative stated that the company is intent on making strategic investments in future capabilities and continuously optimizing its processes and structures as its industry is undergoing a significant transformation due to AI and cloud technologies. They are investing in new hires and training programs in crucial growth areas, as was declared in July. They also announced in July that they are planning targeted measures that will impact roughly 1% to 2% of their global workforce by 2025.