The Global Capability Centre (GCC) landscape is undergoing one of its most significant transitions to date. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a promising technology to a strategic foundation that determines how global enterprises innovate and scale. India’s GCC landscape has expanded to nearly 1,700 centres, reflecting a decisive move away from cost-led models. The momentum is unmistakable, and the growth outlook only amplifies it. The industry is estimated to reach USD 105 billion by 2030, driven by rising AI investments and expanded functional mandates.
While GCCs integrate AI into core enterprise processes, they are assuming broader responsibilities, managing complex global operations, and building platforms that power future-ready business models. This transformation signals a turning point: AI is not merely enhancing GCC performance; it is transforming and revolutionising their identity and influencing across the global enterprise landscape.
A New Operating Model: From Cost to Capability Ownership
AI is pushing GCCs toward value-creation models in which business outcomes, adaptability, and platform thinking take precedence over cost efficiencies. Traditional workflows are being replaced by intelligent operating frameworks that automate decision-making, anticipate change and allow enterprise-wide digital execution. According to industry data, 92 per cent of GCCs today aim to deliver value beyond cost. On the other hand, 87 per cent are moving toward end-to-end process ownership.
Nevertheless, this transition is uneven. Despite rapid expansion, only 8 per cent of GCCs currently qualify as top performers, demonstrating maturity across market advantage, innovation and enterprise efficiency. To support this shift, GCCs must strengthen governance, clarify AI ownership, redesign processes, and build cross-functional teams that combine domain depth with AI engineering, MLOps, and product capabilities. This alignment will set the foundation for scaled AI programmes rather than fragmented, pilot-driven initiatives.
Scaling AI Adoption: Automation, Compliance and Predictive Value
AI’s immediate impact is visible in hyper-automation. GCCs across finance, HR, procurement, IT and customer support are automating complex workflows. Moreover, they are embedding prediction, risk modelling and intelligent decisioning. In regulated sectors such as BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), where India hosts 170–175 GCCs employing over 295,000 professionals, AI strengthens fraud detection, compliance checks, and global risk analytics.
The advantages speak for themselves: reduced errors, quicker processing, sharper interpretation of unstructured data and improved regulatory alignment. With broader deployment, responsible AI becomes non-negotiable, relying on verifiable models, transparent decision logic and continuous monitoring to keep transformation on track without overwhelming regulators or internal assurance functions. Additionally, responsible AI frameworks have become important for ensuring AI strengthens enterprise performance rather than introducing new risks. Strong governance is also required to enable scalability while ensuring AI models can be safely deployed across markets, functions, and regulatory environments without compromising trust.
Talent, Culture and Retention: Building the AI Workforce
The shift toward AI-first work requires a transformed talent architecture. GCCs are investing heavily in capability development: 81 per cent are upskilling teams in GenAI, 71 per cent prioritise reskilling, and 66 per cent are strengthening deep domain expertise. Alongside this, 63 per cent of GCCs in India are hiring for niche AI and ML roles. In contrast, 54 per cent of them are expanding data engineering and BI talent pipelines.
This marks a move from task-driven roles to positions that demand analytical judgement, model oversight, experimentation, and enterprise problem-solving. India’s cultural adaptability, hybrid work strengths, and deep digital talent pool help GCCs remain competitive in attracting and retaining specialised AI talent.
Strengthening India's Advantage Through Partnerships and Infrastructure
GCCs cannot build every advanced AI capability internally, making partnerships with hyperscalers, AI vendors, startups, academia and specialised tech firms essential accelerators of scale. India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem enables faster prototyping, co-creation and deployment. They significantly contribute to GCCs’ evolution from implementation hubs to strategic partners while shaping global technology roadmaps. This partnership-led model is reinforced by India’s expanding digital public infrastructure, private cloud growth and high-performance computing. Engineering and R&D GCCs have grown 1.3x faster than the overall sector. In addition, tightening US H-1B visa norms and the rise of tier-2 hubs further strengthen India’s competitive edge.
All in all, AI is redefining what GCCs are, how they operate and the value they deliver. With rising functional scope, modernised talent structures and expanded innovation mandates, GCCs are shifting from support units to intelligence-led engines that power enterprise transformation. As the industry continues to evolve, AI is poised to shape the next era of GCC growth. It will not only make it agile, but also predictive, platform-driven and deeply embedded in global decision-making.
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