GCCs Vs. Global Shared Services (GSS) Key Differences & Strategic Advantages

Well, this quote is exactly what characterizes the Indian GCC landscape. The country is witnessing a rapid rise in global capability centers (GCCs) over the past few years. The nation is expected to host 2,500+ GCCs by 2030 from the present figure of 1800. With another 620+ Forbes Global 2000 companies gearing up to establish their offshore development center here, the country is emerging as the epicenter for innovation and enterprise-wide solutions. This unstoppable growth of GCCs in India is heavily fueled by technological advantage, robust infrastructure, and high calibre workforce.

Global Capability Centers have different types, one of the prominent ones being the Shared Services model. It is a good idea to understand what it means within the corporate realm to be able to make informed choices when setting up a GCC in India. Read on.

The concept of ‘shared services’ emerged in the late 1980s and early 1900s. It initially took off in U.S. companies with several early adopters. A few pioneers of implementing this model were IBM, Procter & Gamble ( P&G), Unilever, Citibank, and General Electric. But what exactly is it?

Back in times, Shared Service Centers (SSCs) centralized business operations like IT, HR, and global sourcing. This strategic consolidation was aimed to improve functional excellence, standardize processes, enhance service quality and streamline the overall processes. Simultaneously, shared services also lowered expenses of the parent company.

Today, the shared service model has evolved in global capability centers or GCCs. This is a landmark shift where these centers of excellence focus beyond operations and cost efficiency into innovation and high-value services to align with emerging business paradigms.

Global Capability Centers, as discussed above, have transformed themselves into valuable assets of their parent companies. They are redefining the business environment with agility, efficiency, tech prowess, and optimized workflows along with strong R&D, analytics, and cybersecurity measures in a volatile global economy.

Inductus GCC, India’s leading GCC enabler, is further contributing in its unique way by building an innovation-driven ecosystem with its COPO & Digital Twin Integrated Service Model which promises operational readiness in 90 days with up to 60% + savings in functions. This is the first of its name and one-of-a-kind study based mechanism to build a global standard GCC mechanism for large and mid-sector firms.

GCCs in India are helping their companies with world-class solutions like the following to survive and thrive in the fast-changing consumer market: 

• redefining strategies
• boosting digital growth, and 
• maintaining a competitive benefit.

Several of them also have a core focus on green technologies and sustainability to align with the ESG objectives of their parent companies. Altogether, GCCs are on the forefront of innovation, financial stability, supply chain resilience, swift response to disruptions and competitiveness pressure, and business continuity thus bolstering long-term growth.

No wonder big shots like Amazon, Microsoft, Walmart, Bosch, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase have a strong GCC presence in India. Further, several other companies like RTX Corp and McDonald’s are lined up in 2025 to kickstart their GCC operations here.