Coworking firms bet big on GCC demand with specialised, premium centres

Indian coworking operators are shifting gears to capture the booming demand from Global Capability Centres (GCCs).

- PRACHI PISAL

Moving beyond their traditional base of startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), players such as Awfis Space Solutions, WeWork India, Smart-works, and Cowrks by Brookfield are designing large, premium centres tailored to multinational enterprises, complete with high-end amenities, enterprise-grade security, and flexible leasing structures while commanding extra premiums on rents.

The GCC story in India has grown significantly in recent years. Multinational firms are no longer restricting their centres to IT (information technology) and BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) functions; they are increasingly establishing hubs for engineering, manufacturing, e-commerce (ecom), research and development (R&D), and artificial intelligence (AI).

“There has been a growing presence of GCCs of multinational companies in the Indian office space market over the last few years. While the top seven Indian cities are currently on the top radar of these companies for leasing, the government's support offered in the Union Budget 2025-26 is further propelling demand in Tier-II and -III cities as well,” said Peush Jain, managing director — commercial leasing & advisory, Anarock Group.