India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. While Bengaluru has long been the epicentre for GCCs, a new wave of cities is rapidly gaining momentum as alternative hubs. For professional services companies seeking to establish or expand their GCC footprint in India, understanding these emerging locations is critical for long-term success.

This article explores the seven emerging GCC hubs beyond Bengaluru, drawing insights from the Analytics India Magazine’s comprehensive coverage and recent research from NASSCOM, Everest Group, and Han Digital. We also examine how Han Digital’s unique understanding of the Indian talent market and its deep connections with senior leadership can help organizations make informed decisions in this evolving landscape.

Why Are GCCs Expanding Beyond Bengaluru?

Bengaluru’s dominance as the “Silicon Valley of India” is undisputed, hosting over 40% of the country’s GCCs. However, several factors are driving the rise of alternative hubs:

• Talent Saturation: Bengaluru’s talent pool is stretched, leading to higher attrition and wage inflation.
• Cost Optimization: Real estate and operational costs are lower in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
• Government Incentives: State governments are offering attractive policies to attract GCC investments.
• Remote Work Acceptance: The pandemic has normalized distributed teams, making non-metro locations viable.
• Quality of Life: Emerging cities offer better work-life balance, less congestion, and improved living standards.

According to a 2024 NASSCOM report, India is home to over 1,580 GCCs, with 40% of new setups in the past two years located outside traditional metros. This trend is expected to accelerate through 2025 and beyond.

7 Emerging GCC Hubs Beyond Bengaluru

Based on the Analytics India Magazine article and recent market research, here are the seven most promising GCC hubs beyond Bengaluru:

1. Hyderabad
2. Pune
3. Chennai
4. National Capital Region (NCR)
5. Coimbatore
6. Ahmedabad
7. Kochi

1. Hyderabad: The New Tech Powerhouse

Hyderabad has emerged as a formidable competitor to Bengaluru, especially for technology, BFSI, and healthcare GCCs. The city boasts a robust infrastructure, proactive government policies, and a thriving startup ecosystem. According to the Everest Group’s 2024 GCC Market Trends, Hyderabad saw a 25% YoY increase in new GCC setups in 2023-24.

• Key Advantages: Large IT talent pool, lower attrition rates, world-class IT parks (HITEC City, Genome Valley), and competitive costs.
• Notable GCCs: Microsoft, Facebook, Novartis, Wells Fargo, and Amazon.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital’s talent mapping shows Hyderabad’s growing expertise in AI/ML, cloud, and data engineering, making it ideal for digital transformation GCCs.

2. Pune: The Engineering & Analytics Hub

Pune’s proximity to Mumbai, strong academic institutions, and established IT/engineering ecosystem make it a top choice for automotive, manufacturing, and analytics GCCs. The city is known for its high-quality engineering talent and lower operational costs.

• Key Advantages: Access to top engineering colleges, vibrant expat community, and strong supply of analytics professionals.
• Notable GCCs: HSBC, Barclays, Cummins, Credit Suisse, and John Deere.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital’s research highlights Pune’s rapid growth in data science and product engineering talent, with a 20% increase in mid-senior hiring in 2023-24.

3. Chennai: The Automation & BFSI Magnet

Chennai is a preferred location for automation, BFSI, and automotive GCCs. The city offers a stable business environment, skilled workforce, and excellent connectivity.

• Key Advantages: Strong presence of BFSI and automotive majors, mature IT/ITES sector, and cost-effective real estate.
• Notable GCCs: Citi, Ford, Standard Chartered, Paypal, and World Bank.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital notes Chennai’s deep pool of automation and RPA talent, making it attractive for process optimization GCCs.

4. National Capital Region (NCR): The Business & Consulting Hub

NCR (Gurugram, Noida, Delhi) is a magnet for consulting, legal, and shared services GCCs. Its proximity to government, regulatory bodies, and international airports is a major draw.

• Key Advantages: Access to policy makers, multilingual talent, and strong presence of consulting and legal firms.
• Notable GCCs: EY, McKinsey, Accenture, American Express, and Sapient.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital’s leadership network in NCR enables rapid executive hiring for new GCC setups, especially in consulting and analytics domains.

5. Coimbatore: The Rising Tier-2 Star

Coimbatore is fast emerging as a tier-2 hub for IT, engineering, and fintech GCCs, thanks to its high-quality technical education and lower attrition rates.

• Key Advantages: Cost-effective operations, abundant engineering graduates, and improving infrastructure.
• Notable GCCs: Bosch, Cognizant, Ford, and Payoda.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital’s talent analytics reveal Coimbatore’s growing appeal for companies seeking stable, long-term talent pipelines.

6. Ahmedabad: The Business Process & Innovation Hub

Ahmedabad offers a unique blend of business process expertise and innovation, making it attractive for BFSI, pharma, and retail GCCs. The city’s entrepreneurial culture and government support are key differentiators.

• Key Advantages: Pro-business policies, strong pharma and BFSI ecosystem, and access to Gujarat’s industrial base.
• Notable GCCs: TCS, Zydus, Adani, and Torrent Pharma.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital’s market intelligence highlights Ahmedabad’s emerging leadership talent, especially in business process and operational excellence roles.

7. Kochi: The Gateway to the South-West

Kochi is gaining traction as a GCC destination for IT, shipping, and healthcare sectors. Its strategic port location, improving connectivity, and skilled workforce make it a promising hub.

• Key Advantages: Access to southern and Middle East talent, cost-effective real estate, and strong IT/ITES presence.
• Notable GCCs: EY, Allianz, Tata Elxsi, and IBS Software.
• Han Digital’s Insights: Han Digital’s leadership connects in Kochi have facilitated several successful senior hires for new GCCs in IT and healthcare domains.

Recent Research: GCC Trends and Talent Market Insights (2024-2025)

Recent research from NASSCOM, Everest Group, and Han Digital underscores several key trends shaping the GCC landscape for professional services companies:

• Distributed GCC Models: 45% of new GCCs in 2024 are adopting a multi-city or distributed model to access diverse talent and de-risk operations (NASSCOM, 2024).
• Talent Scarcity in Metros: Wage inflation in Bengaluru and Mumbai is 18-22% higher than in emerging hubs (Han Digital, 2024).
• Focus on Digital Skills: Demand for AI/ML, data engineering, and cybersecurity talent is growing fastest in Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai (Everest Group, 2024).
• Leadership Availability: Senior leadership talent is increasingly willing to relocate to tier-2 cities for better quality of life and career growth (Han Digital, 2024).

How Han Digital Empowers GCC Expansion Beyond Bengaluru

As professional services companies evaluate these emerging GCC hubs, partnering with a talent intelligence leader like Han Digital offers a strategic advantage:

• Deep Talent Market Mapping: Han Digital’s proprietary analytics platform provides real-time insights into talent availability, compensation trends, and attrition risks in each city.
• Leadership Networks: Decades of relationships with senior leaders across industries enable Han Digital to facilitate rapid CXO and VP-level hiring for new GCCs.
• Customized Talent Strategies: Han Digital crafts city-specific talent acquisition and retention strategies, ensuring GCCs build sustainable teams from day one.
• Market Entry Advisory: From location benchmarking to employer branding, Han Digital supports every stage of the GCC setup process.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Han Digital’s research shows emerging hubs offer better gender diversity ratios, helping GCCs meet global D&I targets.

Han Digital’s unique understanding of the Indian talent market, combined with its consultative approach, makes it the partner of choice for professional services companies establishing or scaling GCCs across India’s new frontiers.

Case Study: Successful GCC Launch in Hyderabad with Han Digital

In 2024, a leading global consulting firm partnered with Han Digital to establish its digital transformation GCC in Hyderabad. Han Digital’s talent mapping identified over 10,000 AI/ML professionals in the city and facilitated the hiring of a CXO leadership team within 60 days. The result: a fully operational GCC with 200+ staff in less than six months, 30% lower attrition than Bengaluru, and rapid scaling to meet global project demands.

Conclusion: The Future of GCCs Lies Beyond Bengaluru

The Indian GCC landscape is more dynamic than ever. As professional services companies look to tap into new talent pools, optimize costs, and future-proof their operations, the seven emerging hubs—Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, NCR, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, and Kochi—offer compelling opportunities.