An Economic Times article recently talked about how India is redefining global enterprise value through GCC-service provider partnerships. What started as a cost-efficient talent hub has now become a global engine for growth and transformation. Today, India is a sought-after hub for AI-enabled Global Capability Centers.
GCCs here do more than support tasks from afar; they build core tech and AI systems for the world. Firms across the world today see India as a place to create and innovate, not just run basic back-office IT jobs. Read further as we delve into the top reasons why India is the preferred base for AI and engineering GCCs in 2026.
India as a Growing GCC Hub
India hosts over 1,800 GCCs in 2026. These centers employ 1.9 million people, with growth hitting 12% each year. Cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad lead the way. GCCs here design products and solve hard problems, shifting from back office to front-line innovation spots.
Global firms like Microsoft and Google are expanding their teams in India fast, building AI models and cloud systems at scale. Here are some growth drivers for the $50 billion investment in Indian GCCs:
- Tech parks offer world-class space. Fast internet and power keep work smooth while teams focus on code, not fixes.
- Eased visa rules allow expats to join local talent quickly. Such a mix brings much-needed global perspective to innovation projects.
- The growing startup scene in India feeds GCCs with thousands of AI firms training experts who can jump to enterprise roles immediately.
Why India Attracts GCC Investments
Firms are increasingly choosing India for skills, not just low pay. According to the EY GCC Pulse Report 2025, 92% of leaders affirm that GCCs now contribute far beyond cost arbitrage, driving business transformation, operational excellence, and value creation at enterprise scale.
In today’s day and age, costs matter less than output. Here’s why India has become a global HCC hub for AI and engineering:
- Maturity in Engineering Talent: India trains 1.5 million engineers yearly. IITs and NITs top global ranks, with graduates coding in Python and Java, and tackling real problems from day one. Teams have the capability to build full apps and systems, and experience spans finance to healthcare.
- Talent Strengths: The depth of talent India offers beats other nations hands down. From English-speaking skills to diverse resources that bring fresh ideas and speed solutions. Continuous training via courses in AI and DevOps further ensures skillsets evolve with time.
- Growing AI System Expertise: AI talent is exploding in India. Today’s graduates master LLMs, building cutting-edge models for enterprise use. AI labs are a common sight in GCCs in India that test on live data sets and deploy solutions quickly to production. Bringing best-in-class technologies and methodologies, GCCs help build scalable and extensible artificial intelligence and machine learning architectures and models for modern cloud stacks.
- Time-Zone Advantages: Geographically, India is placed such that it can offer 24/7 support across countries. Whether in the US or the Philippines, innovation cycles run around-the-clock without breaks. Workhours overlap ensures quick fixes to problems and projects get completed weeks ahead of deadline.
- Experience Handling Enterprise-Scale Complexity: Talent in India is developing hands-on experience handling enterprise-scale complexity across projects. Engineers now plan for spikes from the start, minimizing outages from impacting innovation results. From microservices to DevOps, teams are able to build quick prototypes and pilots for speedy trials, roll daily updates safely, and keep risks low.
How Wissen Can Help
Wissen sets up GCCs with an AI and engineering focus, hiring top talent from tier-1 colleges like IITs and NITs. We build teams that start strong and scale fast, empowering clients to launch in months, not years.
Our processes are built for growth, and we offer continuous training that matches enterprise needs. Ongoing support keeps the edge sharp, and we enable companies to turn plans into running hubs. When it comes to AI, we can help build complex solutions utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs) and Gen AI APIs. We have tools for fine-tuning pre-trained models, creating custom models, and connectors for integrating AI capabilities into existing systems.
According to EY, the future of GCCs in India will be shaped not from the back office, but from the global boardroom, where intelligent talent and intelligent automation work side by side.
So, begin your GCC journey today with Wissen. Set up a full team of AI and engineering experts from scratch with Wissen. Leverage the skills and capabilities of AI pros with skills that match project needs. Onboard teams in weeks, design workflows for scale, and upskill teams to stay ahead of your rivals.
FAQs
Why base GCCs in India over others?
India gives deep talent, AI skills, time zone advantages, and scale at a high value.
How does Wissen launch a GCC?
Wissen hires experts, sets processes, and grows teams for AI and engineering success.
What AI work do India GCCs do?
GCCs build deploy-ready AI models, pipelines, and systems for global enterprise use.
