How Kyndryl is shaping the new metrics for GCC-IT collaborations

Beyond cost-efficiency, partnerships between GCCs and IT service providers should be evaluated on metrics that capture strategic value, innovation, and talent development.

- By Shrikanth G

In this exclusive conversation with Dataquest, Manjula Ramaswamy, VP and GCC Head, Kyndryl India, shares how the tectonic plates beneath India's tech ecosystem are shifting. Global Capability Centres (GCCs), once viewed through a lens of competition, are now emerging as strategic collaborators — reshaping the very foundation of how digital transformation is delivered.

With a significant number of digital initiatives being powered through GCCs, the narrative is no longer about cost or scale alone. It's about co-creation, speed, and strategic depth. As GCCs evolve into nerve centres of innovation, they're turning to IT service providers like Kyndryl to bring in advanced capabilities - be it in IT infrastructure, cloud, or digital workplace transformation.

This synergy is not just driving operational efficiency; it's unlocking new pathways for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage - marking a bold new chapter in India's digital leadership story. Excerpts.

What's prompting IT companies to view GCCs as strategic partners in digital transformation, and how are both sides navigating overlapping capabilities to build genuine, win-win partnerships instead of competing?

India’s GCCs are no longer just offshore support arms - they've become the nerve centres of digital transformation for global enterprises, leading advances in AI, cloud, analytics, and more. But as the demand for speed and scale grows, so does the need for deeper expertise. That's where IT services firms step in. With the ability to scale quickly, deploy cross-functional talent, and deliver complex technology at pace, they're becoming trusted partners rather than competitors in the GCC growth story. Startups and IT firms associated with GCCs gain the ability to scale their operations and solutions globally, leveraging the networks and resources of MNCs.