Hyderabad’s 400+ GCC boom powers QualiZeal’s 71% growth as AI-led testing demand surges

Hyderabad’s rise as a global capability centre (GCC) powerhouse is creating a fresh growth engine for companies operating in the artificial intelligence-led software testing and quality engineering space. Among the beneficiaries is QualiZeal, which says its Hyderabad operations have expanded at a 71% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since 2021, driven by surging enterprise demand for AI-led testing and quality assurance solutions.

The company, which operates three Global Capability Centres in Hyderabad and employs more than 850 engineers in the city, is positioning itself at the centre of India’s rapidly expanding GCC ecosystem. Hyderabad currently hosts over 400 GCCs employing more than 300,000 professionals, while the broader technology ecosystem supports nearly one million IT and ITeS workers, according to the company.

AI adoption reshapes quality engineering demand

The momentum comes as enterprises accelerate adoption of generative AI and agentic AI systems, increasing the complexity of software quality management and governance. A whitepaper jointly published by QualiZeal and Everest Group noted that enterprises are grappling with challenges such as model drift, non-deterministic outputs and explainability failures as AI deployments scale.

The report added that 58% of GCCs are already investing in agentic AI technologies, while India’s GCC sector is projected to grow to $105 billion by 2030 from $64.6 billion in 2024. The shift is expected to significantly increase demand for automated and AI-driven quality engineering platforms.

“Hyderabad has always punched above its weight in technology, but what is happening here today is different,” said Pradeep Govindasamy, co-founder, president and CEO of QualiZeal. “The convergence of world-class talent, a rapidly expanding GCC ecosystem, and an accelerating shift to AI-driven software delivery has created a demand for Quality Engineering unlike anything we have seen before.”

Platform-led growth drives expansion plans

The company’s AI-led product stack includes QMentisAI, a GenAI-powered testing co-pilot that it claims can reduce testing cycles by up to 60% with nearly 95% accuracy, alongside ValidAIte, an AI assurance platform aligned with global governance frameworks such as NIST AI RMF and ISO/IEC 42001.

Industry analysts say the company’s platform-driven approach is helping it gain traction among enterprises seeking end-to-end AI testing capabilities. Everest Group recently named QualiZeal a “Leader and Star Performer” in its Quality Engineering Specialist Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2025, while Frost & Sullivan recognised the company in the GenAI Quality Engineering Platform category earlier this year.

QualiZeal, which currently operates at an annual revenue run rate of over $50 million, has set a Vision 2028 target of reaching $100 million in annual revenue, with Hyderabad expected to remain its primary growth hub.