India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are moving towards a broader role in enterprise transformation, with AI and agentic systems expected to reshape how work is designed and delivered by 2030.
A new report by Dell Technologies and Zinnov says around 55% of routine GCC work is already exposed to AI-driven automation, while nearly 60% of the workforce will need reskilling by 2030. The report says GCCs will need to redesign roles around engineering, product development, business problem-solving and AI-enabled workflows instead of simply adding AI tools to existing processes.
India now has more than 2,100 GCCs employing around 2.36 million professionals and generating $98.4 billion in FY26 revenue. Indian centres account for about 28% of global GCC AI talent, with more than 1,200 centres having AI and machine learning capabilities.
The report, titled India GCCs 2030: From Capability Centers to Agentic Transformation Engines, found that 70% of GCC leaders have a defined AI roadmap or charter. However, nearly 70% of centres remain at the AI pilot stage due to fragmented data, legacy systems, governance gaps, security controls and workforce challenges.
GCC leadership roles are also expanding. Nearly 64% of leaders hold dual global mandates, managing their India centres while owning a global function. Meanwhile, 66% rank top-line business impact as a high priority for enterprise AI strategies, indicating a stronger focus on business outcomes.
For HR teams, the shift could increase demand for employees who can combine technology, business knowledge and complex problem-solving. Reskilling, internal mobility, role redesign and continuous learning are therefore becoming key workforce priorities.
Agentic AI also brings a different infrastructure and cost equation. Such workflows can consume 10,000 to 5,00,000 tokens per workflow, compared with around 1,000 to 2,000 tokens for a standard chat interaction. Organisations will need to consider infrastructure, governance, security and AI economics before moving these workloads into production.
As GCCs take greater ownership of products, platforms, markets and enterprise outcomes, demand could shift towards AI engineering, product thinking, domain expertise and human oversight of autonomous systems.
For India’s 2.36-million-strong GCC workforce, continuous capability building is becoming a core workforce strategy. Employers will need to create pathways for employees to move into new roles created by AI and automation.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.