What Is a Global Capability Centre (GCC)? Benefits and Real-World Examples

If you have heard large companies talk about “setting up a Global Capability Center,” it may sound complicated. But the idea is actually simple. Companies across the world are now searching for stable, skilled and affordable places to run their operations. That is where the concept of a GCC global capability center comes in.

What Is a Global Capability Center?
It is your own office in another country, fully owned by your company, built to handle important work like technology, support, finance, customer service, analytics and innovation. This centre works only for your parent company, not for outside clients.

You may also hear people say, “What is a GCC?” or “Global Capability Centers meaning in business?” All these phrases refer to the same model.

Today, India has become the world’s favourite place to set up these centres. We will share why and how first. Let’s break GCC down for you in simple language.

What Is a Global Capability Center?

A GCC is like your company’s “brain office” outside your home country. Instead of outsourcing work to another company, you build your own office in a country like India. This office can handle many things:

• Modern technology development
• IT support
• Mobile and web product development
• Marketing operations
• Finance and accounting
• HR and recruitment towards tech departments
• Research and analytics
• Cybersecurity
• AI and automation
• Salesforce, Microsoft ERP & CRM operations

So when you ask Techcronus: “What is a GCC?”, the simplest answer is: A dedicated managed office in another part of the world that helps the business work faster, cheaper and smarter. Because it would centralize your global operations in one high-skill location.

Why Are Companies Moving to India? Real Facts & Stats

India has become the world’s top destination for building GCCs. Here’s why:

• 65% of all new GCCs in Asia are set up in India.
• Talent cost in India is 40–70% lower than in the US or Europe.
• India produces 15 lakh+ engineers every year.
• More than 50 Fortune 100 companies run their Global Capability Centers in India in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and NCR.
• The GCC industry in India is expected to touch USD 60–70 billion by 2026.
• Projections also indicate that the number of GCCs in India could exceed ~2,100 by FY28, growing at about 8% CAGR with ~150 new centres added annually.

For foreign companies, India is not just cheap; it is smart. New India that is tech smart = Skilled people + fast execution + lower cost. The quality of engineers, designers, marketing teams, data experts, cloud engineers and cybersecurity specialists is extremely high. 

Which Companies Can Have a GCC

Companies that want lower costs, faster delivery and direct control should build a GCC. Mid-size firms, startups scaling globally, and large enterprises all benefit. A Global Capability Center works best for businesses needing steady talent, secure operations and long-term growth without relying on outsourcing.

Benefits of a Global Capability Center 

1. Lower Costs Without Lowering Quality

A GCC can save up to 65% of operational cost compared to hiring in the US, UK, Europe and Dubai. The best part? The quality is often higher because India has world-class talent in IT and analytics.

2. Control and Security

Unlike outsourcing, you own the centre. You set the rules. You decide how data is handled. This gives more control over quality, innovation and security.

3. Faster Work, Faster Delivery

Indian teams work across time zones. A project that takes two days in the US can be delivered in one day through the follow-the-sun model.

4. World-Class Talent Access

India has specialists in:

• AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• Cloud 
• Cybersecurity
• Mobile apps
• Software development
• Automation
• Salesforce & Microsoft technologies
• Data engineering

This means your company grows faster without struggling to hire in your home country.

5. Innovation Hub

Many CEOs today say, “India is not just our back office; India is our innovation engine.”

GCCs have become centres for:

• Product R&D
• AI model building
• Digital transformation
• Predictive analytics
• Customer experience platforms
• New business model testing

Real-World Stories Where Techcronus Stepped in as GCC and Propelled the Teams

Let’s understand GCCs through two simple case studies where we ensured we have their back! 

A European Pharma Firm Modernizes Operations with Salesforce & Microsoft Dynamics 365 Through a GCC in India

A mid-sized pharmaceutical company in Germany was struggling to manage clinical data, patient reporting, supply chain workflows and regulatory documentation. Local hiring for Salesforce Health Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain and analytics specialists was extremely costly and slow.

Their leadership finally asked, “What is a GCC and can it help centralize our digital operations?”

They decided to establish a small Global Capability Centers India unit in Hyderabad with 25 certified experts across Salesforce, Dynamics 365 and data engineering.

Within two years, the impact was clear:

• They automated four major clinical trial workflows inside Salesforce and Dynamics 365, reducing manual work by nearly one-third.
• End-to-end research and documentation timelines improved by 30%, thanks to the GCC’s unified data model.
• The team built an AI-driven adverse-event risk prediction system using Salesforce Einstein and Microsoft Azure, preventing costly delays and saving millions.
• System integration across R&D, supply chain and field teams became smoother, with 24×7 global support coming straight from their GCC global capability center.

The Chief Innovation Officer said,
“Now we truly understand the meaning of the Global Capability Centers. For us, a GCC is not just about cost advantage,  it is about speed, control and digital growth.”

Case 1: A German Pharma company hired Techcronus as their GCC partner.

A pharmaceutical company in Germany needed affordable specialists in Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 to manage clinical data, supply chain workflows and research analytics. They asked us, “What is a GCC and can it support global R&D?” and after a discussion, we helped them open a Global Capability Center India unit in Gujarat with 25 certified experts. 

Within one year, they:

• Automated four major clinical trial workflows
• Cut research timelines by 30%
• Built an AI-based adverse-event risk prediction system using Salesforce Einstein and Azure, thereby saving millions of dollars. 

Their CIO said, “Now we understand the Global Capability Centers’ meaning, it’s not just cost saving, it’s digital growth.”

CASE 2: A US Retail Company Cuts Costs by 55%

A mid-sized retail company based in Chicago was struggling with rising salaries, high IT expenses and a shortage of skilled developers. Their website was slow, they were unable to scale, and customer complaints were growing.

The CEO heard a consultant explain, “What is a Global Capability Center? It is simply a dedicated office in India to run your main operations.”

They decided to set up a small, 40-member GCC in Ahmedabad.

Within 12 months:

• IT costs dropped 55%
• Website performance improved 300%
• Customer queries were resolved 40% faster
• They built two new digital products, which they had been delaying for 3 years

The CEO later said, “Our decision to build a GCC global capability center in India saved our business.”

Why GCCs Beat Outsourcing – Straight Logic

Companies globally are shifting their outsourcing work into their own Global Capability Centers, because…

Outsourcing gives you ONLY:

✔ Work
✔ Cheaper labour

But a GCC gives you:

✔ Talent
✔ Control
✔ Ownership
✔ Security
✔ Long-term stability
✔ Innovation

How Techcronus Helps Companies Build GCCs in India

At Techcronus, we have seen companies ask us every day: “What is a Global Capability Center, and can you help us set it up?”

Our answer is always simple:  Yes, and we make it easy.

We help companies with:

• Finding the right Indian city
• Hiring skilled teams (IT, data, cloud, support, engineering, finance)
• Business setup
• Infrastructure and office planning
• HR compliance, payroll, legal
• Full technology and staffing support
• Running the centre with KPIs
• Scaling teams from 10 people to 500+ people

Future of GCCs (Where the Market Is Going)

Over the next 5 years, every mid-size company, not just Fortune 500, will explore the benefits of a Global Capability Center and consider India as its base.

• More than 500 new GCCs will be created in India
• AI and automation capabilities will move fully into GCCs
• Tech companies will double their Indian engineering teams
• GCCs will become “innovation labs,” not just support units

Conclusion:

Global competitors are already cutting 60% costs through GCCs. If you delay, you lose talent, speed and market share. Build your GCC now, before your rivals outrun you. Connect with us today!