GCC Advisory
GCC advisory services to build, scale and optimize your capability centre in India
Independent, senior-led guidance for global companies establishing or expanding Global Capability Centres in India.
A Global Capability Center is one of the most strategic decisions a global company can make. We help leadership teams validate the case, design the right operating model, sequence the build, and unlock sustained value — free from any vendor, staffing or technology agenda.
New to the model? Our guide covers what a Global Capability Center is, cost and talent economics in India, the four setup models and a realistic build timeline.
Read the complete guide to GCCs in IndiaWhat we advise on
Feasibility & business case
Location, scope and investment analysis to validate the GCC opportunity with a board-ready case.
Operating model design
Governance, org structure and functional roadmaps aligned to your global strategy.
Talent & leadership strategy
Workforce planning, leadership design and capability building for durable performance.
Scale & optimization
Maturity assessment and value creation for existing centers ready to expand their charter.
How we work
Diagnose
We assess your objectives, constraints and readiness across functions.
Design
We shape the operating model, roadmap and business case with your leadership.
Deliver
We guide execution and embed governance for measurable outcomes.
What a GCC advisory engagement covers
Strategy & business case
Answering whether a GCC is the right vehicle, at what scale, in which city, and on what economics.
- Function and scope prioritisation
- Location and city shortlisting
- Cost model and multi-year TCO
- Risk, compliance and tax considerations
- Board-ready investment case
Entry model & setup
Choosing between a direct build, build-operate-transfer, employer-of-record or hybrid route, then sequencing execution.
- Entry model evaluation and trade-offs
- Entity, statutory and compliance roadmap
- Site, infrastructure and workplace planning
- Partner and provider evaluation criteria
- Launch plan and governance cadence
Scale & maturity uplift
Moving an existing centre from cost arbitrage to owned outcomes and measurable enterprise value.
- Maturity and capability assessment
- Charter expansion and role redesign
- Attrition, retention and leadership depth
- Productivity and value-realisation metrics
- Next-phase roadmap and business case
Engagement phases and deliverables
2–4 weeks
Diagnose
We assess your objectives, constraints and readiness across functions, benchmark cost and talent options, and pressure-test the strategic rationale with your leadership.
Deliverables
- Readiness and constraints assessment
- City and cost benchmark
- Scope and function prioritisation
4–8 weeks
Design
We shape the operating model, entry route, org structure and governance, and build the financial case in a form your board can approve.
Deliverables
- Operating model and org blueprint
- Entry model recommendation
- Multi-year cost model and business case
- Risk and compliance register
3–9 months
Deliver
We guide execution — entity, site, leadership hiring and first-wave ramp — and embed the governance that keeps outcomes measurable after we step back.
Deliverables
- Sequenced launch and ramp plan
- Leadership hiring profiles and scorecards
- Governance charter and KPI framework
- Steady-state transition pack
Engagements are scoped to your stage — a focused two-week feasibility opinion, a full design mandate, or ongoing advisory alongside your build team. Every engagement is led by a senior advisor, not staffed out to a junior pyramid.
Outcomes we drive
Independent, board-ready guidance focused on measurable business impact.
- A validated, board-ready GCC business case
- A right-sized operating model and governance framework
- Reduced time-to-value and de-risked execution
- A capability roadmap that scales with your ambitions
GCC advisory: frequently asked questions
What do GCC advisory services actually include?
GCC advisory covers the full lifecycle of a Global Capability Centre: validating the business case and location, choosing an entry model (direct build, build-operate-transfer, EOR or hybrid), designing the operating model and governance, planning talent and leadership, and then scaling or optimising an existing centre. Shrava Advisory works as an independent advisor — we design and guide, we do not resell technology or staffing.
How long does it take to set up a GCC in India?
A typical first-time GCC takes 6–12 months from decision to a functioning centre. Feasibility and business case run 4–8 weeks, entity setup and statutory registrations 8–12 weeks, site and infrastructure 8–16 weeks in parallel, and leadership hiring 10–16 weeks. An EOR-led start can put the first cohort in seat in 6–10 weeks while the entity is being established.
What is the minimum viable size for a GCC in India?
Most organisations find the economics work from roughly 50–75 people, where leadership overhead, real estate and compliance costs are absorbed by the delivery base. Below that, an EOR or managed model is usually more efficient until the roadmap justifies an owned entity.
How do you choose the right city for a GCC in India?
City selection weighs function-specific talent depth, fully loaded cost per seat, attrition, ecosystem maturity, infrastructure readiness and state-level incentives against your headcount plan, risk tolerance and timeline. Our free India GCC City Selector gives a directional ranking across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Delhi NCR and Mumbai/GIFT City.
How is independent GCC advisory different from a Big Four or a BOT provider?
A BOT or managed-services provider has an economic interest in the model it recommends and in the headcount it eventually transfers. We are a boutique, senior-led advisory with no delivery, staffing or technology revenue attached to the outcome, so the operating model, entry route and provider shortlist are chosen purely on merit.
Can you help improve an existing GCC rather than build a new one?
Yes. A significant part of our work is maturity assessment and value creation for centres that are already running — moving from cost-arbitrage delivery to owned outcomes, fixing governance and role clarity, addressing attrition and leadership gaps, and building a credible next-phase charter for the global leadership team.
Who do you typically work with?
Global CXOs, COOs, CIOs and heads of transformation at mid-to-large enterprises headquartered outside India who are evaluating, launching or scaling an India capability centre, plus existing GCC leaders preparing an expansion or charter change.
Related reading
India GCC City Selector
Compare Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Delhi NCR and Mumbai on cost, talent and attrition.
Guide to GCCs in India
What a GCC is, why India, setup models, cost economics and a realistic build timeline.
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