2026 HFS GENERATIVE GCC INDEX

Ownership Is the Next Imperative for India’s GCCs to Become Generative Enterprises 

A Market Impact Report from HFS Research, in partnership with ANSR - based on a pulse survey of Top GCCs in India, May–June 2026.

Modified on

61.9

Index verdict

Out of 100 – entry-level transformation partner

56%

Ownership premium

Index score lift from execution-only to end-to-end product ownership

83% / 17%

The empowerment gap

Mission-critical to the enterprise vs. holding full decision & budget authority

Why This Report Matters

This study, executed in collaboration with HFS, reveals a market in transition. GCCs are outgrowing their identity as capability delivery units and are becoming enterprise transformation engines, driving innovation and shaping how global businesses compete and grow. Most stand at the entry point of the transformation partner band, while a few are becoming generative at scale.

Seven Signals from the Index

01

01

Shared services identity is fading fast

38% now identify as a digital transformation and engineering hub; 34% as an AI, data, and automation CoE.

17% still describe their GCC as a shared services center
02

02

AI/ML is the fastest-growing capability

Ahead of data engineering (43%) and product engineering/R&D (38%), as GCCs shift from IT delivery to decision intelligence.

55% of leaders expanded AI/ML capability in the past 18 months
03

03

AI/automation now leads business-impact measures

Ahead of productivity (49%) and cost efficiency (43%), cost is no longer the primary yardstick.

51% cite AI/automation value as the top measure of GCC impact
04

04

AI adoption is broad, but the operating model lags

Only 45% have embedded AI across delivery workflows, almost none report a fully AI-native operating model.

95% of GCCs have AI initiatives embedded, piloted, or in early use
05

05

Ownership is the single biggest maturity lever

Score rises from 45.2 (execution-only) to 70.6 (end-to-end product owners), yet only 15% own products end-to-end.

+56% index score lift from execution-only to end-to-end ownership
06

06

Mission-critical, but not fully empowered

The empowerment gap is now the single biggest blocker on the path to becoming a generative enterprise.

83% / 17% considered mission-critical vs. holding full decision & budget authority
07

07

India's AI infrastructure boom is under-tapped: 32% of GCCs report no major ecosystem engagement with startups, universities, and government largely untapped.

$45B+

in AI infrastructure investment committed across hyperscalers

The arbitrage era is closing, while the ownership era is opening. In an AI-native enterprise, value follows judgment, creativity, and the ability to own outcomes.

— Foreword, 2026 HFS Generative GCC Index

What Moves a GCC From Transformation to Generative

  1. Write ownership into the charter — transfer P&L authority, decision rights, and platform ownership, not just headcount.
  2. Close the empowerment gap explicitly — make leadership empowerment a board-level KPI tied to AI outcomes.
  3. Rewire the operating model for AI productivity — build a cross-functional enterprise AI council with GCC leaders as core members.
  4. Move from internal integration to ecosystem orchestration — target one university, one startup, and one hyperscaler program.
  5. Treat talent scarcity as a structural risk — plan for tier-2 cities, nearshore footprint, and AI-augmented productivity in parallel.

Where does your GCC stand on the ownership curve?

Get the full 2026 HFS Generative GCC Index — benchmark your center's maturity across role, ownership, AI, talent, and ecosystem, and see what it takes to move from transformation partner to generative enterprise hub.

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