Indian IT Firms Leverage Global Capability Centers for Large-Scale AI Initiatives

India's IT Services Companies Bet Big on Global Capability Centres

India's largest IT services companies, including Infosys, Cognizant, HCLTech, and Hexaware Technologies, are doubling down on the growing Global Capability Centres (GCC) opportunity in the country. The move comes as the demand for building AI and agentic AI solutions continues to surge.

According to recent data, the majority of top technology services players had spun off dedicated GCC business units by the end of calendar year 2025. These companies are now hoping to capitalize on their strategies in FY27, despite the uncertain global business environment due to trade tariffs, ongoing wars, and rising AI costs.

Traditionally, IT companies would help multinational clients set up local captives by offering support functions, supplying talent, and consulting services. However, the industry is shifting towards an ongoing partnership model, where MNC clients are looking to co-develop Agentic AI solutions and products.

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GCCs Becoming Large Deal Conversations

GCC-related work is becoming a significant and growing part of large-deal conversations, although it's still more about value than volumes at this stage. As GCCs take on product lines and critical operations instead of support functions, the engagements get larger, longer, and more strategic, resulting in more value.

HCLTech has introduced a new playbook that centers on flexible models requiring co-innovation partnerships, built around five pillars: shared enterprise vision, operating excellence, resilient GCC governance, talent, and technology-led innovation. The company has over 250 GCC clients, including Evernorth Health Services, Western Union, and Optum.

AI-Led Partnership Expansions

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Infosys has unveiled its "AI-first GCC model" to offer co-innovation solutions through Infosys AI Agentic Foundry and Infosys Topaz. The company has over 100 engagements with local GCC entities across industries, including setting up and managing GCCs for enterprises such as Lufthansa Systems, zooplus, and Danske Bank.

Hexaware wants to focus solely on its GCC category and has already built and operated about 35 GCCs, 15 of which have been transferred to the parents. The company is now looking to help GCCs become agentic enterprises by 2030, requiring significant tech effort.

Market Opportunity

According to Nasscom's latest report, India hosts 2,117 GCCs generating $98.4 billion in revenue and employing 2.36 million professionals. With AI as the defining growth theme, over 1,200 GCCs have already embedded AI/ML capabilities.

However, the actual revenue coming from GCCs alone is still small, although it's expected to grow in the coming fiscal years. According to UnearthInsight's data, as of FY26, IT services revenue coming from GCCs in India is under 5 percent. The data adds that the existing India GCC market scale is mammoth at $90-100 billion in 2026, offering an addressable opportunity of $12-15 billion for IT services companies and GCC consulting firms to capture.

"The partnership dynamic between IT companies and GCCs has fundamentally shifted in FY27. The conversation has moved from competition to co-creation... IT firms with AI engineering capability are positioning themselves as a reasonable choice in this regard," said Arindam Sen, GCC Sector Leader – Technology, Media & Entertainment and Telecommunications, EY India.