India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem is entering its most transformative phase yet, and the clearest sign lies in the surge of greenfield investments.

Unlike expansions of existing facilities, Greenfield GCCs are fresh centres, established to expand the global footprint of their parent organisation in India. And the numbers tell a compelling story.

According to data shared with AIM by Inductus Group, more than 140 new greenfield GCCs have been established across the country in just the past 30 months. Together, these are projected to create over 70,000 jobs. 

This wave is increasingly being fueled not just by Fortune 500 giants, but by mid-sized, aspirational firms with annual revenues between $100 million and $1 billion.

The pace has only quickened in 2025. The data further shows that in the second quarter alone, at least 16 new GCCs were set up in India by firms including GlobalFoundries, Heineken, First Citizens Bank, Sonatype, Reltio, Dai-ichi Life Holdings and Toyo Engineering. This builds on a strong Q1, which saw companies like Citizens Financial, AT&S, NAVEX and Rapid7 expand their presence. Together, these moves highlight the democratisation of the GCC model.

The future looks even bigger. By 2030, India will be home to over 4,200 GCCs, employing over 4.5 million people, with the revenue expected to double from $50 billion in FY24 to $110 billion in FY30, as per a report by the Software Technology Parks of India.

The Rise of GCCs

Talking to AIM, Alouk Kumar, CEO at Inductus Group, emphasised that this greenfield boom is beyond just numbers. It signals the rise of what he calls ‘GCC 3.0’—centres that are born agile, AI-native and innovation-led from day one. Unlike legacy setups that began as cost centres, these new hubs are designed as strategic extensions of the parent organisation, serving as testbeds for advanced technologies and future business models.

Kumar further stated that the proof of success is undeniable: decades of case studies, benchmarks and best practices have de-risked the model, making entry far easier for new players across industries. In fact, he expects more than 120 new mid-market GCCs to launch in India by 2026.

Highlighting the reasons behind such a massive boom, Kedar Pathak, GCC talent specialist at Xpheno, told AIM, “Post COVID-19, many global enterprises have started seeing India as a great opportunity to set up new greenfield GCCs. There are two key reasons for this.”

First, he mentioned that most companies already had contracts and work outsourced to India through service providers or system integrators. 

Moreover, the depth of young STEM talent available in the country—in science, technology, engineering and mathematics—offers an advantage few other countries can match.

Earlier, GCCs largely approached India from a cost arbitrage perspective. Today, the focus as shifted towards value creation. The quality of Indian talent, coupled with experienced GCC leadership, is delivering tangible impact at the global headquarters. 

“That’s why we’re seeing new Greenfield GCCs from companies like McDonald’s, Ecolab, Costco and Amgen, and India is expected to add at least 100 more such centres soon,” Pathak added.

Another striking trend is geographic diversification. While Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune remain the traditional strongholds, many companies are now expanding into emerging cities like Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Kochi. This shift taps into untapped talent pools, reduces operational costs and leverages state-level incentives. Most importantly, it spreads risk by avoiding overconcentration in traditional hubs, making the overall ecosystem more resilient.

Investments Made or Promised

A diverse set of global firms have recently chosen India for establishing greenfield GCCs as a hub for technology and operations excellence. 

AML RightSource, a leader in anti-money laundering and compliance services, is building its first GCC to scale research and risk operations. Meanwhile, Evergent, known globally for its customer lifecycle management solutions, has launched a new centre to drive product engineering and innovation. 

The momentum spans industries. GlobalFoundries, a leading semiconductor manufacturer, is setting up an R&D and testing facility in Kolkata to support its advanced chip design and packaging roadmap. 

In smart energy solutions, SolarEdge has expanded its footprint with a technology hub focused on clean energy innovations. Similarly, Assent, a supply chain sustainability and compliance platform provider, has opened a centre for software engineering. 

The trend continues in customer-facing companies. Entain, listed on the London Stock Exchange and one of the largest global sports betting and gaming groups, has established a 2,000-seat GCC in Hyderabad, designed to bolster its digital operations.

HARTING, a leading industrial connectivity solutions company, and Sonny’s Enterprises, a US-based car wash equipment giant, are investing in Indian technology centres to enhance automation and IoT capabilities. 

The financial services sector, too, is well-represented. Dai-ichi Life Holdings and First Citizens Bank are leveraging Indian talent to build technology-driven financial services through new GCCs. 

Meanwhile, C&R Software, Ferguson, and Sonatype have all set up centres geared towards product development and cybersecurity functions. In one of the more high-profile moves, Heineken has chosen Hyderabad for its first Asia-Pacific GCC, with an investment of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore as reported by TOI,focused on analytics and digital transformation. 

Together, these developments reflect a broader trend: multinational corporations are no longer treating India as a back office, but as a frontline hub for establishing greenfield GCCs in India to access top-tier talent, strengthen operational resilience and drive innovation at scale.

The Road Ahead

The future of India’s GCC ecosystem is being built on three key pillars. The first is AI-nativity. New-generation centres are no longer content with simply adopting AI tools; they are positioning themselves as true hubs of innovation, driving decision-making and building centres of excellence in AI, Kumar explained.

The second is sectoral diversification, as industries like semiconductors, healthcare, energy and manufacturing now join traditional IT and BFSI players. This highlights the versatility and adaptability of the GCC model. 

And finally, global resilience. In an era of supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties, India’s GCCs are emerging as strategic anchors—ensuring operational stability and business continuity across borders.

The post Inside India’s Rise as the Home of Greenfield GCCs appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.