India is poised to witness an influx of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in the coming years, driven by the country’s pool of engineering talent and robust capability in innovation and digital transformation, Srikanth Srinivasan, vice president and head of membership and outreach at Nasscom told FE.
“The growth trajectory of (GCCs) in the last few years has been phenomenally high. It’s important to understand why these organisations choose India—it’s largely because of the progress in engineering talent and the country’s transformation into a hub for innovation and digital processes,” he said.
India is at present, home to 1,580 major GCCs, with more than 2,700 centers spread across multiple cities. These centers are not limited to the traditional Fortune 500 companies but also include those within the Fortune 1000 and Fortune 2000. Industries as diverse as financial services, healthcare, engineering, automotive, consumer packaged goods, retail, and aerospace now host GCCs in India.
The expansion of GCCs in India has also significant collaboration with local startups. “GCCs are increasingly collaborating with startups to leverage agile and innovative solutions,” Srinivasan said. This collaboration not only aids the GCCs in enhancing their operational capabilities but also provides startups with crucial industry exposure and growth opportunities on a global scale.
In terms of employment, the demand for skilled professionals in emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning continues to rise, Srinivasan said. “The hiring trend continues to be strong because there is a lot of significant work that needs to be done for the parent company here in India. This includes not only AI but also other emerging technologies,” he added.
As GCCs continue to evolve, they are increasingly seen not just as cost centers but as critical hubs of innovation and excellence within their parent organizations. This shift is expected to further drive their growth in India.