7 min read · Published 21 October 2026 · Unleash Pro Technologies
A Global Capability Centre (GCC) is a company's own technology, engineering or operations centre in another country. India is the world's leading destination for GCCs, thanks to its large talent pool, strong cost advantage and working hours that overlap with both Europe and the US.
Step 1: Define the purpose
Start with what the centre should do: product engineering, data and AI, cloud operations, support or a mix. Decide which capabilities should be built in-house over time and what success looks like after the first year. This drives every other decision.
Step 2: Build the business case
Compare the cost and benefits of a GCC against hiring at home or outsourcing. Include salaries, workspace, leadership, legal and compliance costs, and the time it takes to ramp up. A clear business case also helps get leadership support.
Step 3: Choose the location
Indian cities differ in talent depth, cost, infrastructure and competition for skills. Your choice depends on the skills you need, how fast you want to grow and how easy it is for your team to travel there.
Step 4: Decide the setup model
- Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT): a partner sets up and runs the centre, then transfers people and operations to your own entity when you're ready. This lowers early risk and speeds up the start.
- Managed GCC: a partner runs the centre for you over the long term, under your governance.
- Own entity from day one: you create your own legal entity and build everything yourself, usually with advisors.
Step 5: Legal entity and compliance
If you set up your own entity, you'll need to choose the right structure, register the company and handle tax, labour and data-protection compliance. Work with qualified legal and tax advisors in India for this step. With BOT, the team can start before your own entity exists.
Step 6: Hire the leadership and core team
The centre's first leader and core engineers shape its culture and quality. Hire them early, involve your teams at home in interviews and plan a proper onboarding, including time at headquarters where possible.
Step 7: Set up operations
Workspace, IT equipment, security, access to your systems, and ways of working with your teams at home all need to be in place before the team grows. Agree on KPIs and a regular review rhythm from the start.
Step 8: Grow and, if using BOT, transfer
Scale the team step by step as the centre proves itself. With BOT, plan the transfer well ahead: entity readiness, employee transfers, contracts and assets, so that delivery is not disrupted.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the GCC as a cost-cutting outsourcing unit instead of a real part of the company
- Hiring too fast before the leadership and processes are in place
- Not giving the centre meaningful ownership of products or capabilities
Planning a GCC in India? Read about our GCC setup and Build-Operate-Transfer service or talk to us.