The company’s strong performance sent shares surging 6.5per cent  in early trading on Thursday. 

Businesses worldwide are accelerating their adoption of AI-powered tools to enhance growth, streamline operations, and bolster data security. Accenture has positioned itself as a leader in this transformation, using GenAI to optimise client operations across various sectors. 

During a post-earnings call, the company highlighted key use cases for its AI services, including predictive maintenance in manufacturing and automating workflows in advertising. The company's GenAI segment recorded $1.2 billion in new bookings and contributed approximately $500 million to first-quarter revenue. 

Accenture reported $17.7 billion in first-quarter revenue, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $17.12 billion. Growth was particularly strong in the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) regions, as well as in public service and healthcare industries. 

New bookings, a critical indicator of future revenue, rose to $18.7 billion from $18.4 billion a year earlier. The IT consulting giant has expanded its data and AI workforce to 69,000 and aims to increase this number to 80,000 by 2026, signaling continued demand for its services. 

The company raised its annual revenue growth forecast to a range of four  per cent - seven per cent, up from its previous 3 per cent -6 per cent estimate. However, the midpoint of this range is slightly below analysts' projections of 5.63per cent, according to data from LSEG. 

For the second quarter, Accenture forecast revenue of $16.2 billion to $16.8 billion, with a midpoint below the average analyst estimate of $16.63 billion. 

Accenture’s success in the AI services space underscores a growing trend as enterprises invest in cutting-edge technologies to stay competitive. The company’s strategic focus on generative AI and digital transformation has not only boosted revenue but also positioned it for sustained growth in a rapidly evolving market.