Digital

Why Is India Emerging as a Global Hub for GCCs?

India checks every box modern enterprises care about: deep digital talent, competitive costs, thriving infrastructure, and 24/7 productivity. More importantly, India enables companies to go beyond execution. It allows them to co-create and innovate from within.

India is no longer just a back-office destination. It is now the brain of global enterprises.

With over 1,600 Global Capability Centers (GCCs) already operating and more than 500 new GCCs expected by 2026 (according to a NASSCOM-Zinnov report), India has firmly positioned itself as the world’s preferred hub for high-value global operations. These centers are responsible for strategic functions including AI innovation, data engineering, customer experience, and enterprise automation.
Why are companies moving away from traditional outsourcing and toward GCCs in India? Because enterprises want more than cost savings. They want control, speed, innovation, and resilience. GCC India offers all four at scale.

Global leaders like Microsoft, Bosch, SAP, and Goldman Sachs are no longer setting up support centers. They are building Centers of Excellence in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune that drive product strategy, innovation, and global impact.

Why Are Companies Setting Up GCCs in India?

India checks every box modern enterprises care about: deep digital talent, competitive costs, thriving infrastructure, and 24/7 productivity. More importantly, India enables companies to go beyond execution. It allows them to co-create and innovate from within.

Today’s GCC companies in India are built for end-to-end ownership, enabling global firms to establish dedicated teams for product development, cloud engineering, data science, AI/ML, and advanced customer operations, all under their direct control.

What Is Driving the GCC Boom in India?

GCCs in India are not only growing in number but also evolving in purpose. Unlike traditional outsourcing models, today’s GCCs reflect the core culture and ambitions of their parent companies. These centers are involved in strategic decision-making and play a key role in digital transformation.
Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai are now home to multi-function GCCs serving over 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies. These GCC companies in India are building enterprise platforms, running agile product teams, and delivering AI-powered insights that drive growth.

Why Is India a Preferred Destination for GCCs?

Access to World-Class Talent:

India produces more than 1.5 million engineers every year, many of whom are trained in AI, cloud, and analytics. The country also ranks among the top three globally in developer talent availability.

Cost Efficiency Without Compromise:

Running a GCC company in India can be 30 to 50 percent more cost-effective than operating in North America or Europe, while maintaining high-quality outcomes.

English Proficiency and Business Compatibility:

India’s workforce offers strong communication skills and global business fluency, making collaboration with Western HQs smoother.

Digital Infrastructure and Tech Hubs:

India’s Tier 1 cities offer modern office spaces, reliable internet connectivity, and thriving tech ecosystems, making them ideal for high-scale operations.

Time Zone Advantage:

India supports around-the-clock workflows that align with global business timelines, enabling faster delivery and real-time support.

What Are the Key Benefits of Setting Up a GCC in India?

Greater Control Compared to Outsourcing:

GCC India allows companies to maintain full control of talent, technology, and intellectual property, unlike outsourced vendor models.

Accelerated Innovation:

Many GCC companies in India now house Centers of Excellence in AI, cybersecurity, and automation, contributing directly to innovation and R&D.

Strategic Alignment with Global Goals:

With tight alignment on governance and KPIs, Indian GCCs operate as an extension of the enterprise, not a siloed partner.

Operational Flexibility:

Whether you’re scaling from 50 to 500 or launching a new function, India provides the talent and infrastructure to support growth at any pace.

Compliance and IP Protection:

Modern GCC consulting firms in India adhere to GDPR, SOC 2, and ISO standards, ensuring enterprise-grade data governance and security.

Top GCC Setup Firms in India

Setting up a successful Global Capability Center requires more than just cost planning—it demands deep operational know-how, local talent intelligence, and strategic alignment with global goals. Below are the top firms in India enabling global enterprises to build and scale high-performing GCCs.

Intellectyx

Intellectyx specializes in building innovation-driven GCCs with a strong focus on AI, data and digital. The company partners with mid-size and large enterprises to design and execute Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), captive, or hybrid GCC models that scale across functions like product engineering, platform development, and intelligent operations.
Website: www.intellectyx.com

Zinnov

Zinnov is a leading strategy and management consulting firm known for helping Fortune 500 companies set up GCCs focused on digital engineering, ER&D, and innovation labs. Their research-driven approach makes them a trusted advisor in location strategy and scale planning.
Website: www.zinnov.com

Everest Group

Everest Group offers global advisory services with a sharp focus on GCC maturity models, operational benchmarking, and talent strategy. Their clients include enterprises looking to pivot from outsourcing to in-house strategic operations.
Website: www.everestgrp.com

EY India (Ernst & Young)

EY provides integrated GCC setup services including legal entity structuring, tax optimization, and transfer pricing compliance. Their clientele includes finance, pharma, and consumer goods enterprises.
Website: www.ey.com/in

Deloitte India

Deloitte supports multinational clients in building future-ready GCCs with a focus on technology, audit-readiness, and cross-border compliance. Their services extend to operational transformation and automation within Indian GCCs.
Website: www.deloitte.com/in

KPMG India

KPMG supports global enterprises across the full GCC lifecycle—from entry and expansion to transformation and compliance. Known for their financial services and shared services GCC specialization.
Website: www.kpmg.com/in

Nexdigm (formerly SKP Group)

A niche consulting firm focused on setting up mid-sized and agile GCCs for companies in manufacturing, life sciences, and BFSI. Strong focus on compliance and business process transformation.
Website: www.nexdigm.com

What Challenges Do Companies Face When Building a GCC in India?

Regulatory Hurdles:

Understanding Indian labor laws, SEZ policies, and taxation can be complex without the right legal and local guidance.

Competitive Talent Market:

India’s tech talent is in high demand, making it critical to invest in strong employer branding and retention strategies.

Cultural Integration:

To fully align teams across geographies, companies must invest in onboarding, leadership development, and cross-cultural communication.

Real Estate and Infrastructure Decisions:

Choosing the right location, IT infrastructure, and facility management requires local insights and partnerships.

Transitioning from Vendors to GCC:

Shifting operations from outsourced partners to internal teams involves change management, training, and process reengineering.

Why Choose Intellectyx to Launch Your GCC in India?

Intellectyx goes beyond execution. We partner with you to build high-impact, scalable GCCs in India that accelerate business transformation.

Strategy and Setup:

From legal entity formation to roadmap creation, we help you align your GCC company in India with your enterprise goals.

Flexible Engagement Models:

Choose from Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), captive center, or hybrid models that provide the right balance of speed, ownership, and cost control.

Targeted Talent Acquisition:

Our recruitment teams help you build leadership and tech teams across AI, cloud, product management, and data engineering.

Governance and Risk Management:

We implement strong compliance frameworks and operational controls to ensure your GCC is secure and audit-ready.

Ecosystem Access and Innovation:

Tap into India’s startup ecosystems, university partnerships, and innovation labs to stay ahead of the curve.

Why Now Is the Time to Build Your GCC in India

The next generation of global growth will be led by companies that innovate from anywhere. GCC India is becoming their strategic command center. With its unique blend of talent, cost advantage, infrastructure, and innovation, India is the ideal destination to build a future-ready GCC.

The next generation of global growth will be led by companies that innovate from anywhere. GCC India is becoming their strategic command center. With its unique blend of talent, cost advantage, infrastructure, and innovation, India is the ideal destination to build a future-ready GCC.

But success does not happen by chance. You need a partner who understands the complexities, risks, and opportunities of building in India.

Intellectyx, a leading GCC company in India, helps enterprises like yours set up resilient, agile, and innovation-driven GCCs from day one. Talk to our GCC experts today to explore your readiness, define your roadmap, and launch with confidence.

Ready to Set Up Your GCC in India?

Schedule a Consultation

FAQs

A GCC company in India is a dedicated global operations center set up by an international enterprise to handle functions like R&D, AI, analytics, and operations within the Indian market.

Because India offers top-tier digital talent, lower operational costs, excellent infrastructure, and strong alignment with global business culture making it a magnet for GCC companies.

Key advantages include ownership of IP, faster product cycles, cost efficiency, 24/7 delivery, and scalable innovation capabilities.

Challenges may include navigating local regulations, hiring talent in a competitive market, and integrating global culture into Indian operations.

Intellectyx offers end-to-end GCC services from strategy, legal setup, and hiring to governance, operations, and scaling making it a trusted partner among GCC consulting firms in India.

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