Demand for Global Capability Centres set to grow
The number of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) around the world is set to rise, according to Savills, as more companies look to them as strategic solution to talent shortages, increasing innovation, and reducing overheads, with office costs for a GCC averaging $25 per sq ft, approximately 75% lower than in major global cities.
GCCs are branches of multinational companies, established to perform functions such as IT, finance and accounting, HR, R&D, and customer support, on behalf of colleagues abroad (unlike outsourcing, GCCs are fully owned and operated by the parent company and integrated in terms of strategy and culture). According to a recent survey of corporate occupiers by Savills and CoreNet, 49% of respondents are currently researching and planning GCCs, with half of these expecting to open their first GCC within the next five years. Of those which already have a GCC, 44% said they’re planning to expand into new locations, while 26% are looking to advance the functions of their
Savills says that office costs for GCCs (including rent, service charges, and taxes) average $25 per sq ft, 75% lower than costs for office space in major global cities. In India, the world’s leading GCC location with over 1,700 centres employing 1.9 million professionals, average GCC office costs are $16 per sq ft.
Paul Tostevin, director, Savills World Research, comments: “The popularity of GCCs is increasing globally against a backdrop of historically low unemployment in many economies, exacerbated by structural challenges. At the same time, rapid technological change is reshaping the skills landscape, intensifying the pressure on businesses to find new ways to access and retain talent. By tapping into global talent pools, companies can access the skills they need to grow and innovate. The GCC model is increasingly seen not just as a cost-saving measure, but as a way to build resilience and future-proof operations.”
In addition to low real estate costs, Savills says that support from the Indian government has played a pivotal role in GCC growth in the country. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) offer tax benefits and streamlined compliance, while individual states have introduced their own GCC-friendly policies. Bengaluru is the largest centre of GCCs, accounting for 38% of all office take up among GCCs in India since 2020, followed by Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai. These six cities have collectively seen office take-up by GCCs of 130 million sq ft in the last five years.
Savills says that in Europe, GCCs are focused in Poland (primarily in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, and Tricity), the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, the Baltics, and Portugal. In the Americas, Mexico is a strategic choice for US firms due to time zones, alongside Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil. GCCs seek high-quality real estate, in well-connected CBD locations or business parks, ideally with good access to infrastructure, plentiful talent and mid-market housing for employees. Sustainability is increasingly a differentiator, aligning with the values of talent seeking purpose-driven employers.
Arvind Nandan, managing director – research & consultancy, Savills India, adds:“Green infrastructure, hybrid work models, and strategic location choices will characterise the next wave of GCC expansion. In India, GCC real estate is evolving from a cost centre to a crucial differentiator for global innovation. GCCs are no longer just about ‘back-office’ support: they’re moving up the value chain and becoming strategic hubs for innovation, driving business growth through high-value functions like R&D, supply chain management, analytics, and AI. This sets a possible model for other countries, where GCCs are still in their relative infancy, to follow.”