Global Capability Centres, or GCCs, are no longer the exclusive playground of large multinational corporations. A growing number of emerging enterprises are now turning to the GCC model to scale faster, sharpen digital capabilities, and compete globally without stretching resources. India sits at the centre of this shift.
By September 2025, more than 610 emerging enterprises had set up GCCs in India, together employing over 4.6 lakh professionals. This number is expected to cross 950 by 2030, underlining how deeply the model is now embedded in the growth plans of mid-sized global firms.
Why Emerging Enterprises Are Making the Shift
- Agility and Innovation
Speed is everything for younger businesses. Indian GCCs allow emerging enterprises to build focused teams across AI, cloud, data engineering, and machine learning without restructuring their core organisations. These centres operate as innovation engines, helping companies test ideas, adapt quickly, and bring products to market faster. - Lower Costs and Faster Setup
Cost efficiency still matters, but it is no longer just about saving money. India offers a rare mix of competitive operating costs and deep technical talent. For emerging enterprises, this means global expansion without heavy upfront investments. Faster setup timelines and scalable operations make GCCs a practical growth lever rather than a long-term bet. - Building a Digital Workspace
Remote and hybrid work are now permanent features of global business. GCCs play a central role in building digital-first workplaces through cloud infrastructure, collaboration platforms, and secure systems that connect teams across geographies. Indian centres have become critical to maintaining seamless global operations. - Business Continuity and Time-Zone Advantage
Distributed teams across time zones allow companies to run round-the-clock operations. Indian GCCs support continuous workflows, quicker response times, and consistent service delivery, without burning out teams in headquarters markets. - Access to a Wider Talent Pool
GCCs give emerging enterprises access to a broad, diverse talent base. Engineers, data scientists, product specialists, and digital leaders in India are increasingly shaping global strategies, accelerating innovation and strengthening organisational resilience.
Emerging Enterprises and the GCC Inflection Point
As of September 2025, emerging enterprise GCCs in India generated revenues of $14.23 billion. Nearly 64 percent of new GCCs established since 2020 were backed by private equity, highlighting strong investor confidence in the model.
India’s GCC ecosystem now includes more than 1,800 companies. Of these, around 34 percent belong to the $50 million to $2 billion revenue segment. This group alone accounts for over one-third of India’s GCC landscape. What was once a structure designed for large corporations has become a strategic choice for companies in their growth phase.
Tier-2 cities are also gaining traction. Locations such as Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Vizag, and others now account for around 14 percent of all GCCs. These cities offer cost advantages, lower attrition, and strong local talent pipelines, making them attractive alternatives to traditional metro hubs.
Emerging Enterprises Now Command a Significant Share
- Total companies with GCCs in India: 1,800+
- Companies with revenue below $50 million: 10%
- Companies with revenue between $50 million and $2 billion: ~34%
- Companies with revenue above $2 billion: ~56%
- Emerging enterprises with GCCs in India: 610+
The data makes one thing clear. Emerging enterprises are no longer peripheral players. They are shaping the future of India’s GCC ecosystem.
Latest Trends Shaping GCCs for Emerging Enterprises
- Digital Transformation Leadership
Indian GCCs are leading cloud migration, automation, and platform modernisation for emerging enterprises. These centres help companies bypass legacy systems and accelerate transformation at scale. - AI-Driven Operations
GCCs are evolving beyond support roles. Many emerging enterprises now base their core AI and deep-tech teams in India. These teams work across the full AI lifecycle, from model development to business integration. - Shift from Cost to Value
The focus has moved decisively from cost savings to value creation. GCCs are now central to product development, platform innovation, and market responsiveness, rather than being back-office extensions. - Faster Leadership Opportunities
Compared to large corporations, GCCs in emerging enterprises offer flatter structures and broader responsibilities. Professionals gain quicker exposure to leadership roles and play a direct part in global decision-making. - GCC Incubator Model
Many companies are adopting the GCC incubator approach. This allows them to start small with lower compliance and capital requirements, stabilise operations, and scale once the model proves successful.
The Road Ahead
As AI and digital technologies become central to business strategy, GCCs will move from supporting roles to strategic leadership positions. In India, these centres will not just execute plans but help define them, shaping products, operations, and long-term growth. For emerging enterprises looking to scale smartly, India’s GCC ecosystem is no longer an option. It is a strategic necessity.
