Executive Summary
- GCC design and setup now determine long-term outcomes. Early decisions on scope, operating model, talent, and governance define how effectively a GCC aligns with enterprise strategy and scales over time.
- Leaders like Accenture, ANSR, Capgemini, CGI, Cognizant, Deloitte, EY, HCLTech, Hexaware, IBM, Infosys, KPMG, PwC, and TCS stand out for structured blueprinting, AI-led design, and flexible execution models.
- The right provider brings more than execution speed. Look for strong upfront structuring, operating model flexibility, governance clarity, and the ability to embed AI and talent strategy from day one.
- Hexaware combines structured blueprinting, flexible BOT and managed models, AI embedded from inception, and faster paths to operational readiness to deliver predictable, scalable GCC outcomes.
Why GCC Design and Setup Providers Are Crucial
The hardest part of building a GCC isn’t setting it up. It’s setting it up right. And that’s exactly where specialized design and setup providers come in. In this blog, we examine how to choose the right GCC implementation partner and the top GCC service providers in 2026.
By the time a GCC goes live, most of the outcomes are already baked in:
- What work sits inside it
- How it connects with the enterprise
- Whether it can scale without rework
- How quickly it becomes productive
These are not operational questions. They’re design decisions.
GCC setup service providers don’t just help execute—they help define:
- The structure of the GCC (what goes in, what stays out)
- The GCC operating models (BOT, managed, hybrid, etc.)
- The location and footprint strategy
- The talent model from day one
- The technology and governance baseline
The challenge is that many providers still approach global capability center setup as a sequence of activities—legal entity, hiring, and infrastructure. But the stronger ones treat it as a system design problem. That difference shows up later—in speed, control, and long-term value.
Top GCC Design and Setup Service Providers
The ISG Provider Lens® Global Capability Center (GCC) Services Design and Setup Global Quadrant Report 2026 assesses providers that enable enterprises to design, establish, and operationalize new GCCs. A total of 48 companies were assessed in the study, out of which 14 earned recognition as Leaders. Below is an overview of each Leader (arranged in alphabetical order):
Accenture
Accenture combines strategic advisory with AI-powered scenario modeling and flexible engagement approaches. Its model focuses on helping enterprises envision, design, and operationalize GCCs with speed and execution depth.
ANSR
ANSR delivers GCC setup through a subscription-led, zero-CapEx model, integrating advisory, infrastructure, talent, and operational support to enable the rapid launch of enterprise-scale centers.
Capgemini
Capgemini integrates GCC advisory, global location strategy, and flexible models such as BOT, assisted builds, and joint ventures to establish scalable and compliant GCCs.
CGI
CGI applies its long delivery heritage and structured management foundations to support end-to-end GCC setup, including feasibility, compliance, leadership hiring, and technology enablement.
Cognizant
Cognizant delivers modular GCC build and assisted captive models by combining strategy, legal setup, talent, infrastructure, and digital engineering capabilities to create innovation-led centers.
Deloitte
Deloitte blends advisory expertise with execution, supported by alliances, to guide enterprises through location selection, entity setup, compliance, and talent readiness across markets.
EY
EY brings extensive GCC experience through a combination of advisory, technology delivery, and alliance partnerships, embedding governance, risk, and AI into the setup phase.
HCLTech
HCLTech combines advisory, build, talent transformation, and IP-led acceleration under a unified framework to create scalable, AI-driven GCC models.
Hexaware
Hexaware combines BOT-led setup expertise with AI-driven accelerators and global delivery capabilities to design and operationalize GCCs across India and emerging global locations.
IBM
IBM combines advisory capabilities, ecosystem partnerships, and AI-enabled delivery frameworks to support GCC setup from business case definition to operational execution.
Infosys
Infosys positions its GCC offering as AI-first, integrating a hybrid BOT model for GCC and flexible delivery constructs with digital workforce enablement to accelerate early value realization.
KPMG
KPMG integrates advisory, industry specialization, and outcome-linked models with a strong partner ecosystem to deliver scalable GCC setups aligned to enterprise objectives.
PwC
PwC combines strategy, proprietary location analytics, and global ecosystem-driven execution to guide enterprises from GCC concept through operationalization across multiple models.
TCS
TCS delivers end-to-end GCC setup using strategy advisory, BOT-led execution, AI-native operating models, and ecosystem partnerships to build innovation-focused global delivery centers.
How to Choose the Right GCC Partner
Most organizations don’t struggle with whether to build a GCC. They struggle with how to build it. A GCC partner helps overcome this obstacle by bringing proven playbooks and local knowledge that organizations entering new markets often lack internally. This helps organizations that want to stand up GCCS to de-risk and quicken time-to-value. Here are a few things that actually matter when choosing a partner for GCC design and setup:
- How deeply they understand your business context: Design decisions only work if they’re anchored in enterprise priorities—not generic templates.
- The operating model flexibility they bring: BOT is not always the answer. Neither is managed. The ability to shift models matters more than committing to one.
- Their ability to structure the GCC before building it: Good providers don’t start with hiring plans. They start with scope definition, role mapping, and transition sequencing.
- How they approach talent from day one: Not just “how fast can you hire,” but:
- Can they align talent to domain needs?
- Can they ensure long-term fit?
- Governance thinking at the setup stage: This is where most programs fall apart later. Weak decisions here create friction that’s expensive to fix.
- Whether technology is treated as foundational: If automation, AI, and data are not part of the design, they will slow things down later.
The real test is simple:
Does this provider design a GCC that will work three years from now—or just one that goes live in three months?
Here’s an interesting article on 5 Things to Look for in a GCC Enablement Partner (Before You Commit).
What Sets Hexaware and SMC Squared Apart?
Hexaware and SMC Squared approach GCC setup as a full-system design problem rather than a staged execution process.
The differentiation shows up in four areas:
1. Structured blueprinting upfront
The focus is on defining the right GCC scope—what should move, what shouldn’t, and what needs redesign.
2. Multiple GCC models
Enterprises can choose between BOT, managed, and assisted builds based on their needs around speed, control, and risk.
3. AI-driven GCC setup
Instead of adding AI later, the model integrates:
- pre-built accelerators
- automation frameworks
- role-specific enablement
4. Faster path to operational readiness
Talent model + infrastructure + delivery environment are aligned early—reducing time to productivity.
The result is not just a faster setup. It’s a more predictable one.
Conclusion
The best GCC design and setup providers don’t just launch centers — they shape their trajectory. The design and setup phase determines:
- whether the GCC aligns with the enterprise strategy
- whether it scales smoothly
- whether it becomes a value driver—or just a delivery arm
That’s why provider selection at this stage matters more than any other. The best providers don’t treat setup as a milestone. They treat it as the moment where the future of the GCC is decided.
