AI advancements in Indian GCCs turning them into pioneers of AI innovation?
India's Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are making a significant mark in the world of artificial intelligence (AI), transforming from cost-focused units to innovation hubs that are driving the future of intelligent businesses.
The Indian government's emphasis on AI development, including funding AI Centers of Excellence and programs like the IndiaAI Mission, has established the framework for independent AI infrastructure and innovation governance. This support, combined with the extensive use of AI technologies and unparalleled access to highly qualified personnel in Indian GCCs, is positioning them to shape the future of intelligent businesses worldwide.
Indian GCCs are now leading in AI innovation, creating next-gen AI and generative AI labs for end-to-end innovation. Nearly 90% of India's top-performing GCCs have already established AI Centers of Excellence, incorporating technologies like GenAI, prompt engineering, and intelligent automation into daily operations.
The synergy of India's skilled talent, AI adoption acceleration, innovation-first mindset, supportive ecosystem, and strategic global collaboration is propelling Indian GCCs to the forefront of AI innovation globally. Karthikeyan VS, Director & Head of Asia at Expleo, states that Indian GCCs are spurring innovation in AI around the world by combining local tech talent with focused investments.
Ritesh Sharma, Country Head of SA Technologies, notes that Indian GCCs are focusing on an unparalleled concentration of tech talent and a robust STEM ecosystem. Through hybrid collaboration models and partnerships with startups and tech partners, Indian GCCs are hastening AI uptake and solutions delivery.
Indian GCCs are no longer just supporting arms, but are shaping the next generation of enterprise intelligence. They are owning entire product development cycles and building industry-specific digital platforms. Decentralization and the availability of talent outside of traditional metro areas are causing smaller GCCs in Tier-2 cities to scale more quickly.
The collaboration between Indian GCCs, IITs, and Indian research labs is accelerating software development and business outcomes. This collaboration, along with the strategic adoption of AI-driven intelligent automation and advanced technologies, is enabling Indian GCCs to be intelligence hubs of enterprise-wide AI transformation.
International businesses are taking notice of the rapid growth of AI innovation in Indian GCCs. Pankaj Tripathi, Founder & CEO of Vernost, states that Indian GCCs are co-creating AI-driven solutions that power business transformation in various sectors, including the BFSI, aviation, and retail.
India houses 16% of the global AI talent pool—the second-largest worldwide—with the highest AI skill penetration, including leadership in women AI professionals, according to the Stanford AI Index 2024. This talent advantage enables GCCs to move beyond operational arbitrage and fragmented AI adoption, toward holistic, strategic AI integration that drives innovation and business outcomes.
In summary, India is rapidly becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence, with over 1,800 Global Capability Centers (GCCs) operating and nearly two million professionals working there. The transformation of Indian GCCs into global leaders in AI innovation is driven by several key factors: a large and highly skilled technology talent pool with strong AI capabilities, increasing integration of AI into operations, evolution from cost-focused units to innovation hubs, supportive government and industry ecosystem, and the strategic adoption of AI-driven intelligent automation and advanced technologies.
The strategic adoption of advanced technologies and AI-driven intelligent automation in Indian GCCs is enabling them to be innovation hubs of enterprise-wide AI transformation.
Indian GCCs, with their unparalleled access to highly qualified personnel and extensive use of AI technologies, are positioning themselves to shape the future of artificial-intelligence businesses worldwide.
