Cognizant is helping enterprises design GCCs for an AI-enabled future

GCCs (global capability centres) in India have become integral to the strategy of global enterprises. And partnerships play a key role in their successful establishment and evolution. This is where leading IT services company Cognizant comes in.

Cognizant, with around 2.4 lakh employees in India, provides end-to-end services to any enterprise that plans to set up its GCC in India.

In an email interview with EnterpriseStory, Sailaja Josyula - SVP, Global Head – GCC Service Line, Cognizant, said, “Cognizant partners with enterprises across the entire GCC lifecycle from strategy and initial setup to scaling and long-term transformation.”

“We design and operate GCCs with an AI-native lens, aligning the work, workforce, and workplace for an AI-enabled future,” said Joysula.

Edited excerpts from the interview….

EnterpriseStory [ES]: How does Cognizant see the tech talent landscape in India especially in the areas of AI, ML and big data?

Sailaja Josyula [SJ]: India has emerged as one of the most important global hubs for AI, data, and digital engineering talent. With one of the world’s largest pools of STEM graduates, we are seeing growing specialisation in areas such as generative AI, applied machine learning, platform architecture, and responsible AI. This depth of talent is helping enterprises move from AI experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment.

Equally notable is the shift towards an AI-first product mindset, with engineers building reusable frameworks, domain-specific copilots, and enterprise AI accelerators that can be used across multiple use cases.

The real opportunity now lies in continuously training and upskilling talent to keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI technologies.

ES: What are the reasons for GCCs in India becoming an integral part of the parent company's global operations?

SJ: India’s GCC ecosystem has evolved across multiple archetypes—from transaction satellites and specialist hubs to large-scale engines of enterprise operations and innovation.

A few factors explain this shift.

The first is India’s immense scale and rich talent pool. With more than 1,900 GCCs employing roughly 2 million professionals, multinational companies are increasingly confident in entrusting product lines and critical business operations to their India centres.

Second, enterprise integration has progressed significantly. In leading organisations, GCC teams in India are regarded as integral parts of the same enterprise, adopting the same processes and KPIs as their onshore counterparts. Modern collaboration tools have also made geography far less relevant.

Finally, the mandate of GCCs has expanded beyond efficiency to value creation. The most advanced GCCs are no longer just delivery centres but strategic capability centres that co-own outcomes ranging from AI and digital transformation to platform modernisation and new product innovation.

ES: How do you see the innovation quotient of GCCs in India?

SJ: India’s GCCs demonstrate varying levels of innovation depending on their maturity and focus. Transactional or efficiency-focused centres typically prioritise automation and productivity improvements, while more mature GCCs drive innovation through AI platforms, digital product development, and enterprise modernisation initiatives.

What differentiates the most innovative GCCs is their integration with global teams, deep domain expertise, and advanced technology capabilities. Many are now building AI copilots, data platforms, and enterprise automation frameworks that are deployed globally.

The most successful GCCs have evolved from execution centres into true innovation partners contributing ideas as well as developing enterprise-wide AI solutions and platforms.

ES: How is Cognizant engaging with enterprises to set up their GCC operations in India?

SJ: Cognizant partners with enterprises across the entire GCC lifecycle from strategy and initial setup to scaling and long-term transformation.

For organisations early in their GCC journey, we help define the GCC strategy, operating model, capability roadmap, and talent architecture. We support clients in greenfield launches as well as build-operate-transfer (BOT) models.

During the setup phase, we accelerate progress by leveraging our expertise—from fast-tracking hiring of talent at scale to establishing facilities, IT infrastructure, governance frameworks, and cultural integration.

We also help design AI-native GCCs, integrating enterprise-grade AI into the foundational architecture so centres can move quickly from experimentation to large-scale AI deployment.

For established GCCs looking to evolve, our engagement focuses on transformation and modernisation—including AI-led engineering practices, innovation programmes, and expansion into digital product and platform capabilities.

Throughout these stages, the focus is on ensuring the GCC operates as a true extension of the parent company rather than a standalone delivery unit.

ES: What are the strong differentiating elements of Cognizant's GCC strategy?

SJ: Our approach to GCCs is differentiated by a unique combination of heritage, operational expertise, and an AI-first vision.

Our heritage as a ‘born captive’ gives us unique insight. Cognizant began as the in-house technology arm of Dun & Bradstreet, giving us first-hand experience of building and scaling a captive centre and transforming it into a source of competitive advantage.

The second differentiator is operational expertise at scale. We manage one of the largest technology and operations teams globally, including over 2,40,000 associates in India, which allows us to combine strategic advisory with execution capability on the ground.

We also use flexible engagement models tailored to client needs—from greenfield launches to BOT models to transformation of existing GCCs.

In addition, we work closely with global headquarters leadership to ensure GCC charters align with enterprise strategy rather than operating as siloed offshore units.

Finally, we design and operate GCCs with an AI-native lens, aligning the work, workforce, and workplace for an AI-enabled future.