How Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are Changing the Game for IT Careers in India

For years, IT careers in India were largely defined by outsourcing giants and service-based projects. While these roles offered stability, they often revolved around delivery and execution, leaving little room for end-to-end ownership or strategic influence. That landscape is now changing rapidly with the rise of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), the dedicated offshore hubs of multinational corporations that are no longer just support units. They’ve become innovation powerhouses, driving digital transformation and influencing business strategy on a global scale.

The rise of GCCs has created one of the most exciting career paths for IT professionals today. With over 1,900+ GCCs already operating in India and projections that the market will hit USD 100 billion by 2030, the momentum is unmatched. Employment in the sector is expected to grow from 1.9 million to nearly 2.5 million jobs within the same timeframe. Simply put, GCCs are not just an option- they’re fast becoming the north star for ambitious IT talent.

Global Benchmarking: Why India Leads the GCC Story

While countries like Eastern Europe and the Philippines have developed strong GCC ecosystems, India continues to set the benchmark globally. Unlike many hubs that primarily support transactional or back-office functions, India’s GCCs are increasingly tasked with end-to-end product ownership and enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives. The combination of a vast tech talent pool, cost efficiency, and a mature innovation ecosystem positions India not just as a participant, but as the global leader in the GCC movement.

Why GCCs Are Different from Traditional IT Roles

Traditional IT jobs have often focused on project-based delivery and maintenance. GCCs, on the other hand, are increasingly positioned as Centres of Excellence (CoEs), focused on building long-term strategic value. Think AI/ML engineering, cybersecurity, advanced data analytics, and product R&D. These are not support functions; they’re the backbone of global innovation. Unlike outsourcing firms, they reflect long-term strategic investments by global enterprises. This gives IT professionals career stability, clear growth paths, and the chance to work on impactful innovation.

It is worth mentioning that GCCs in India are increasingly focused on building AI capabilities and driving the AI transformation for their internal enterprise. A talent pool of over 1.2L AI/ML professionals and over 185 dedicated AI/ML COEs is currently helping build specific use cases within GCCs.

For IT professionals, this shift translates into richer career experiences. Here’s how GCCs stand apart:

• Core Innovation over Execution: Instead of only implementing client projects, GCCs drive product development, R&D, and digital transformation.
• End-to-End Ownership: Professionals get to design solutions with full accountability, not just a slice of delivery.
• Direct Business Alignment: GCC teams work closely with global leadership, ensuring IT efforts directly impact strategy and revenue.
• Cutting-Edge Technologies: GCCs invest in next-gen skills. Instead of supporting legacy systems, you get hands-on exposure to building future-ready solutions.
• Career Growth & Visibility: Working in GCCs often provides better access to leadership roles and cross-functional work.

To deep dive into the advantages of working in GCCs, you can tune in to our podcast episode titled ‘Why GCCs represent the future of top technology jobs in India’.

Choosing the Right GCC Model for Your Career

Not all GCCs operate in the same way, and the model an organization adopts can shape the kind of work environment and opportunities you’ll have. Understanding these structures can help IT professionals pick roles that align with their career goals.

• Managed and Assisted GCCs: These GCCs are owned by the parent company, but a partner manages operations such as recruitment, compliance, or infrastructure. IT professionals get to directly work on core business initiatives and enjoy more direct alignment with global teams and greater visibility.
• Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT): In this model, a partner sets up and runs the GCC before handing it over to the parent company. IT professionals here often get the thrill of working in a startup-like setup, by building teams, systems, and practices from scratch while still having the backing of a global enterprise.
• Fully-Owned GCCs: These are set up and run directly by the parent company. For IT professionals, this means greater exposure to enterprise-wide initiatives and access to long-term career pathways that mirror the parent company’s growth journey.

What This Means for IT Professionals

The rise of GCCs is more than just a hiring trend. It is reshaping what an IT career can look like in India. Depending on where you are in your professional journey, GCCs offer unique pathways for growth and impact:

For Fresh Graduates: GCCs give young professionals an early chance to work on real product development and emerging technologies, rather than being limited to support or maintenance tasks. They also provide structured training and mentorship in cutting-edge areas like AI, cybersecurity, and cloud-native engineering.

For Mid-Career Professionals: This is where GCCs shine the most. Mid-level engineers, architects, or managers often find opportunities to step into end-to-end ownership roles that may not exist in outsourcing setups. The opportunity to collaborate directly with global stakeholders also accelerates career growth and widens cross-functional mobility.

For Senior Leaders: Many global organizations are grooming Indian GCC leaders to take on regional or even global leadership roles. The number of global roles operated from India-based GCCs surged 30% to over 6,500 in 2024 within 3 years. Thus, senior leaders now get the chance to define roadmaps and influence global technology strategy.

Future skills GCCs are likely to prioritise in the next 3 to 5 years

Research and employer feedback point to a cluster of capabilities that GCCs are actively investing in. The list below highlights the most frequently mentioned areas and what they mean in practice:

• Cloud-native engineering — building cloud-first, scalable and resilient systems (microservices, containers/Kubernetes, platform engineering and observability). These skills enable teams to deliver faster, more reliable services at scale.
• Generative AI & applied machine learning — moving beyond experiments to using AI and GenAI for concrete business outcomes: automation, personalization, knowledge augmentation and productivity tooling.
• Data governance, data engineering & cybersecurity — creating reliable, compliant data pipelines and strong security controls (privacy, lineage, model risk management and secure ML) so data can be used with confidence across the organisation.
• Product mindset & design thinking — end-to-end product ownership: user research, rapid prototyping, outcome-focused metrics and continuous iteration so technology work translates into measurable business value.
• Agile ways of working & cross-functional collaboration — operating in multidisciplinary squads, running rapid experiments, and aligning tightly with stakeholders to prioritize outcomes over outputs.

Note: Demand will vary by sector (BFSI, healthcare, retail, ER&D) and by a GCC’s charter (R&D vs transactional functions).

GCCs aren’t just creating jobs; they’re shaping the blueprint for future tech careers. Professionals who upskill in these areas will be best positioned to lead the next wave of digital transformation.

Final Thoughts: GCCs as the Future of IT

The IT industry in India is undergoing a major transformation, and GCCs are at the heart of it. What started as cost-efficient delivery hubs have now evolved into CoEs that handle digital transformation on a global scale. By joining a GCC, you don’t just execute projects- you shape platforms, solve real business challenges, and influence the way enterprises run worldwide. For IT professionals, this shift means more than just jobs- it unlocks careers that are richer in scope and recognition.

Whether you’re a fresher eager to make an impact, a mid-career professional looking for ownership, or a senior leader ready to shape organizational strategies, GCCs provide the platform to thrive. If you’re planning your next career move in tech, make sure GCCs are on your radar- they might just be the smartest bet for your future.

Check out our open GCC roles and apply today!