BENGALURU: India’s GCC story continues to shine this year too. India is expected to welcome more than 120 new mid-market global capability centres (GCCs) by 2026, according to research by Bengaluru and US-based ANSR, which has set up over 135 GCCs in the country. This expansion demonstrates the growing appetite from medium-sized companies seeking to leverage India’s expertise in digital transformation and global service delivery.
Currently, over 800 mid-market GCCs employ 10% to 12% of the total GCC workforce in India, which translates to approximately 220,000 employees. Many of these centres are micro-GCCs, employing fewer than 50 people. This contrasts with the larger GCCs in terms of operational scale but not in the ability to deliver high-quality services and innovation.
ANSR founder Lalit Ahuja said he defines mid-market GCCs as those with revenue in the range of $100 million to up to $1 billion. “It’s going to be a game changer for these firms, as some didn’t have outsourcing as an option. Post-pandemic, these firms embraced newer themes in transformation, leveraging digital competencies and working with diverse tech talent in India,” Ahuja said.
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The majority of mid-tier GCCs in India originate from North America (60%). European nations contribute 25% of these centres, led by Germany, the UK, Ireland, Spain, and France. The Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Singapore, accounts for 10% of these establishments.
Some of the mid-market GCCs that entered India in the last 2-3 years include Revolut, Papa Johns, Raksul, and Outbrain, among others. ANSR’s report showed that six metros constitute more than 90% of mid-market GCCs and the available talent pool, with Bengaluru and Hyderabad at the forefront, representing over 50%. These GCCs rely heavily on skilled professionals and well-designed office infrastructure to maintain operational excellence.
Whilst established metros like Bengaluru and Hyderabad continue to attract Fortune 500 and Forbes Global 2000 organisations, India’s mid-market GCCs are now venturing into emerging cities including Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Vizag, Trivandrum, and Coimbatore. These developing urban centres provide access to specialised expertise and a diverse, competent workforce, enabling sustainable growth and technological advancement.
India’s GCCs experienced a growth rate of 4.5% CAGR for new centre establishments, whilst the mid-market segment demonstrates stronger momentum at 6.2% CAGR. In response to the fierce talent competition, mid-market GCCs need to prioritise the development of best workplace practices and strengthen their employee value propositions. Projections indicate that by 2026, the mid-market GCC workforce in India could surpass 260,000 professionals.
