IT industry struggles as lockdown intensifies

As the coronavirus pandemic pushes India into a lockdown, the call centres and IT services firms that function as the world’s back office are struggling to piece together work-from-home solutions and other business-continuity plans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday ordered 1.3 billion Indians to stay at home for 21 days to stem the spread of the coronavirus, following earlier lockdown orders in many Indian cities and states.

Many of the companies that provide business services such as call centres, information technology services and business process automation were not prepared for work-for-home arrangements, according to interviews with more than a dozen employees of several companies.

That raises questions about whether one of India’s showpiece industries can function smoothly amid the coronavirus crisis.