US-based technology and management consulting firm ZS is doubling down on India as pharmaceutical and life sciences companies rapidly establish and expand their Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in the country. With 70% of its workforce already based in India, the company is positioning itself as a strategic partner in building, scaling, and transforming GCC operations.
India at the Center of ZS’s GCC Play
According to CEO Pratap Khedkar, nearly half of the world’s pharmaceutical companies now operate GCCs in India. ZS recently opened a rapidly growing office in Hyderabad, leveraging local talent and supporting global firms in designing and executing GCC strategies.
In 2025 alone, ZS hired 3,800 people globally, with the majority joining its India operations — demonstrating the company’s commitment to growing in key GCC markets.
Core Offerings for GCC Transformation
1. Strategy & Operating Model Design
ZS partners with GCC leadership on:
- Operating model setup
- Capability transition roadmaps
- Business unit vs. vertical vs. hybrid structure decisions
- Governance, integration, and scaling plans
The firm applies its own 20-year GCC experience to help clients choose the right structure from day one.
2. Managed Operations & Talent Enablement
ZS supports GCCs beyond planning, helping:
- Build operational processes
- Train GCC employees
- Deploy data, analytics, and technology teams
ZS functions as both a service partner and capability builder, ensuring long-term sustainability.
3. Software Licensing & Tech Enablement
ZS has a 1,000-person consulting software division, most located in India.
Instead of expensive custom solutions, many GCCs opt for productized platforms with licensing models that allow teams to scale rapidly.
“Just pay the license fees and we are off and running,” Khedkar noted.
Data, Analytics, and Life Sciences Expertise
A significant share of ZS’s work sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and analytics. The company:
- Provides tactical, data-driven insights
- Implements AI and analytics solutions
- Helps GCCs build in-house capability for long-term digital transformation
ZS positions itself as a full lifecycle transformation partner — from strategy to analytics execution to innovation.
The GCC Maturity Journey: ZS Perspective
Khedkar highlights a 3-stage GCC evolution path:
- Labour Arbitrage:
Cost efficiency-driven offshoring and process consolidation. - Decision-Making from India:
GCCs move from execution to leadership-level decision support. - Innovation from India:
Indian teams drive product development, R&D, and digital transformation.
“Your talent bar must be very different for the second and third stage,” he said, stressing India’s deep talent pool and the need for mission-level commitment.
Conclusion
With 40 global offices and two-thirds of its workforce in India, ZS embodies the GCC model it promotes. As pharmaceutical and life sciences GCCs scale across India, ZS is shaping operating models, supplying technology, and helping global enterprises transition from offshore execution centers to innovation engines led from India.
Visit Our News section and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter
Read more full news: Here
