INNOVATING LOCALLY, IMPACTING GLOBALLY

From back office to boss made, Global Capability Centres in India now power global innovation, exports, and enterprise strategy

- 

India’s emergence as a hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) marks one of the most important structural shifts in global business operations over the last two decades.

Once seen primarily as low-cost service delivery arms, these centres have evolved into strategic units delivering core business value. Today, India stands as the undisputed global leader in this space.

It currently hosts nearly 2,000 GCCs, more than any other country. These centres employ approximately 1.9 million professionals and contribute greatly to the economy through revenue generation and employment. In FY24-25, GCCs in India generated around US $76 billion in direct output. When supply chain and consumption effects are included, their total economic contribution rises to nearly US $241 billion. This means GCCs now account for roughly 2% of India’s GDP and nearly 4% of the GDP from the services sector.

This scale of impact did not happen overnight. In the early 2000s, multinational companies began experimenting with offshore service delivery in India to reduce costs. The country’s English-speaking workforce, favourable time zone, and improving digital infrastructure made it an obvious choice. Over time, the role of these centres expanded from cost arbitrage to high-value functions such as data analytics, product development, cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture.

Today, more than 65% of Fortune 500 companies have GCCs in India. These include major global banks like JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and HSBC; technology giants such as Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Intel; automotive leaders like Mercedes-Benz and Ford; pharmaceutical firms including Pfizer and Novartis; retail majors like Walmart and Target; and energy players such as Shell and BP. These companies now rely on their India-based centres not just for operational support but also for driving global innovation, managing risk, and developing next-generation digital solutions.