Global Capability Centers, or GCCs, are entering a new phase. Earlier, many GCCs were set up mainly
to reduce costs and manage back office operations. Today, that model is changing. Companies now
expect GCCs to drive innovation, build products, and create business value. One powerful way to
achieve this is by building AI Centers of Excellence (CoEs) inside GCCs.
AI automates repetitive tasks like data entry,
reporting, and basic coding. This frees employees to focus on strategic and creative work. According
to industry estimates, AI and automation can improve productivity by 20–30% in technology and
operations teams. For graduates entering the workforce, this means learning AI-related skills is no
longer optional it is essential.
Companies must
hire for skills, not just degrees. Roles such as machine learning engineers, prompt engineers, AI
ethics specialists, and data architects are growing fast. In fact, India’s AI talent pool is expected to
grow by 55% by 2026, reaching around 2.35 million professionals.
Many successful organizations follow what is called a federated model. In simple terms, this means
having a central AI team that sets standards, tools, and guidelines, while allowing individual
business units to build and experiment based on their needs. The central team ensures consistency,
security, and governance.
Today, Fortune 500 GCCs employ more than 126,600 AI
professionals, contributing to nearly 22.5% of India’s AI job demand. This shows that AI Centers
of Excellence are not experiments they are becoming mainstream strategy.
India’s role in global enterprise strategy is clearly evolving. GCCs are no longer just execution units.
They are becoming co-innovation hubs that influence global product roadmaps and business
strategy. When a GCC builds a strong AI Center of Excellence, it earns greater ownership of R&D
budgets and strategic projects.
Building AI capability is less about technology alone and more about clarity, structure, and shared
ownership. When companies choose the right model, set up strong guidance, define clear services,
fund smartly, and balance control with flexibility, AI becomes a long-term advantage rather than a
short-term experiment.