Persistent opens AI innovation centre in Melbourne

Persistent has opened an innovation centre in Melbourne as it expands its presence in Australia and New Zealand and targets demand from large organisations for AI and cloud modernisation services.

The Melbourne Innovation Centre will serve as a regional hub for engineering delivery and client programmes focused on modernising legacy systems and building new digital products. The facility will also support work on platform transformation and enterprise AI adoption.

Persistent operates in India and works with customers across multiple markets. In Australia, it already partners with several ASX-listed companies in banking, manufacturing and telecommunications on what it describes as mission-critical modernisation work.

Regional expansion

The launch supports Persistent's broader push in Australia and New Zealand. The company said the move is part of its ANZ expansion strategy, with plans to build locally anchored delivery and innovation programmes connected to its global engineering footprint.

Australia has become an active market for cloud migration and AI projects, as organisations move from small-scale trials to wider deployments across business functions. This shift has increased demand for systems integration, data work and operating-model changes alongside software development.

The Melbourne site will be used for customer workshops and co-creation programmes. Persistent also plans to run ideation sessions as part of its client engagement model in the region.

AI-first focus

The centre aligns with what Persistent calls an AI-first strategy. It outlined four pillars: Engineering Hyper-productivity, Business Hyper-productivity, Enterprise Data Readiness and Responsible AI Infrastructure.

Work from the Melbourne hub will span software and platform engineering. Persistent said this includes cloud-native refactoring, microservices and data modernisation, as well as automated observability using generative AI and intelligent agents.

The company also linked the centre to its partner ecosystem, including hyperscalers, and expects to use industry-focused AI solutions and outcome-based models with clients.

Large enterprises adopting AI at scale often face constraints related to data quality, governance and integration with legacy systems. These programmes also typically require ongoing monitoring once models and applications move into production. Persistent said the Melbourne centre will address these needs through engineering delivery and structured client programmes.

Hiring and skills

Persistent plans to expand engineering and AI capability in Australia through targeted hiring and partnerships. It will also run industry-focused hackathons and training programmes through Persistent University, its internal learning platform.

The company said it will connect industry needs with academic collaboration and hands-on innovation programmes, and pointed to competitive problem-solving initiatives as part of its skills plan.

Demand for engineering talent remains strong across Australia, with organisations seeking software skills alongside data engineering and AI expertise. Employers and service providers have increased investment in training as the market tightens, particularly for roles that combine cloud engineering with governance, security and operational readiness.

Persistent's move adds another local innovation facility to Melbourne's technology landscape, which includes global services firms, cloud providers, universities and a growing set of AI-focused start-ups. For large clients, local delivery centres can shorten engagement cycles and improve access to in-person workshops and technical teams.

"Our growth strategy is centered on helping enterprises accelerate transformation through AI-led engineering, platform-driven modernization and strong data and engineering foundations. The Melbourne Innovation Centre strengthens our presence in ANZ and reflects our continued investment in the region as a strategic growth market. It enhances our ability to partner closely with clients through localized expertise, helping them adopt AI more effectively, modernize core systems and build scalable digital platforms that drive long-term growth," said Jaideep Vijay Dhok, Chief Operating Officer - Technology, Persistent.

Persistent expects the Melbourne site to support further growth in the ANZ region, alongside continued hiring and an expanded schedule of client workshops and skills programmes.