Artificial Intelligence: The X factor for Global Capability Centres in India

As Global Capability Centres in India become more integral to the Indian services sector, both in terms of revenue as well as employment generation, the latest industry report points at how GCCs are leveraging AI to transform from ‘execution to ownership hubs’. The  Nasscom- Zinnov report titled ‘The GCC Value Orbit’, says that India has seen a 32% growth in the number of GCCs since FY21, with currently over 2,117 GCCs and 3,728 GCC units operating in the country, generating nearly $98.4 billion in revenue. The sector employs an estimated 2.36 million people, with 64% of India site leaders also holding global mandates.  

As AI adoption becomes integral to the technology evolution at enterprises, GCCs in India are becoming more integral on the much-needed development of applications and the engineering side of AI adoption. In numbers, the report says, over 1,200 GCCs are focussed on AI and ML, and over 250 companies have dedicated AI/ML Centres of Excellence. Even in terms of workforce, Indian GCCs account for 28% of the global GCC AI talent pool, the second highest globally with AI hiring outpacing the US in H2 of FY25.  

Pointing to a fundamental reset in the GCC ecosystem, Rajesh Nambiar, President, Nasscom, said, “The shift from scale to value is now well underway, with AI acting as the catalyst. GCCs are increasingly taking ownership of global products, platforms, and business outcomes, positioning India as a strategic nerve centre for enterprises worldwide. The next phase of growth will be defined by how effectively these centres can drive enterprise-wide transformation and deliver measurable impact.” 

What sets apart the Indian GCCs is the strength in applications and chip design, with nearly 50% of GCCs now operating at a high maturity stage, and 96% of post-FY21 GCCs launching with a product or portfolio mandate. With the ecosystem maturing, GCCs in India are also building active partnerships with service providers, startups, academia, and governments to accelerate innovation and reduce time to capability.