Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have quietly transformed how enterprises operate, innovate, and scale. Once seen as offshore extensions for cost savings, GCCs today are deeply embedded in the digital strategies of Fortune 500 firms and mid-market players alike. They’re helping organizations prototype AI solutions, drive product development, and create global talent pipelines that didn’t exist a decade ago.
India remains at the heart of this movement—with over 1,700 GCCs employing 1.9 million professionals and generating $65 billion in revenue as of FY2024. But this is a global story now. More than 300 new GCCs were launched in 2023 alone, across regions including Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
So what separates a high-performing GCC from the rest? A few things stand out:
- Location strategy matters – India leads, but regional hubs like Poland, Mexico, and Singapore play key roles in multi-hub models.
- Funding and operating models vary – Captive, partner-assisted, and hybrid models each have strengths depending on your priorities (speed, control, or scale).
- Talent is the foundation – Compensation arbitrage is still real, but companies now pay a premium to attract top-tier digital talent. GCCs often manage 30–40% of their parent’s global workforce.
- Maturity is earned – The best GCCs move from task execution to full product ownership to enterprise transformation. Many now house global P&Ls, drive AI R&D, and lead innovation programs.
- Best practices are well established – From playbooks and onboarding models to governance structures and innovation labs, there’s a growing body of benchmarks and lessons from the field.
Over the past several months, I’ve been speaking with GCC leaders, partners, and executives to understand how the model is evolving—and what’s working. The result is an upcoming research report on “Global Capability Centers: Strategy, Talent, and Innovation in a Multipolar World.” It covers everything from legal frameworks and talent strategy to benchmarking success and real-world case studies.
I’ll be publishing the full report soon. If you’re planning a GCC, already running one, helping a client, or simply want to understand how global operating models are changing—this report is for you.
I would love to hear your thoughts. If you have feedback, use cases, or lessons to share, feel free to reach out.
