The GCC (Global Capability Centers), which was earlier seen as a mere measure for reducing costs, has now evolved to be a key strategic hub for attracting the best people around the globe. They have become a formidable force that is reshaping the future of workforce development in India.
According to the foundit, by 2025, India is anticipated to host nearly 1,900 GCCs. In 2023 alone, 8% of these centres were expected to double their workforce, creating approximately 350,000 new jobs. Even more intriguing, about one in five new centres are emerging in tier II cities. With the GCC expanding so aggressively, the IT sector is enduring the burn of it.
A reputed Indian newspaper, in its article, mentioned that the techies in India are now willing to work at JP Morgan, Walmart, or other global capacity centres compared to traditional software companies because of higher salaries and an excellent growth rate.
Source: Times Of India
Source: Business Standard
Learn More To Earn More
Sunil C, ex-CEO of Teamlease Digital, highlights that GCCs have higher acceptance and joining rates primarily due to the career opportunities they offer. He explains that tech professionals increasingly seek long-term projects that enhance their learning curve, which is more readily available in GCCs than in IT companies.
“At IT services firms, people are hired for projects for other customers. Once the project is done, they move on to other projects. They might not be doing end-to-end production in IT services. This means they would not get a complete view of the project they are working on. But at GCCs, employees are working on products for internal use. So, they get to take full ownership of the project from conception to execution, and get to know all aspects of the project, like development (front end), DevOps, etc. This gives them better exposure,”Sunil said to ………
Our Life is More Than Computers
Techies are now looking for HR policies that offer them greater flexibility, perks and benefits. They are looking for global HR practices, which include longer paternity leave and benefits for fertility treatment. GCC offers six months of paternity leave compared to Indian companies that offer five days of paternity leave. Moreover, GCCs have strong LGBTQ+ policies; some have pet adoption assistance, pet daycare, and bereavement policy. On the contrary, the leading IT companies in India, like Wipro, Accenture, and more, offer only eight weeks of paternity leave.
No More Overseas Travel
Working overseas is one of the driving factors for engineers working in tech-based companies. However, as countries tighten their borders, particularly the US, which has traditionally been a top destination for tech professionals on H-1B or L-1 visas this appeal is diminishing.
In GCCs, extended foreign assignments are uncommon, but you can apply for roles that become available at the company’s global locations. Many employees can take short-term trips to the headquarters for training and orientation. Additionally, with an increasing number of India centres taking on significant roles in supporting operations across various countries (such as Walmart Global Tech India supporting Mexico), opportunities for international travel are steadily growing. However, the opportunity for a foreign stint in an IT company is only available in global tech companies at the senior or mid-senior level.
