India's GCC sector could add 30,000-35,000 jobs in 2027. An ANSR forecast points to new greenfield centres as a potential source of 30,000 to 35,000 jobs in India. India's global capability centre (GCC) sector could add 30,000 to 35,000 jobs in 2027, according to an ANSR estimate reported by The Economic Times. The projection is tied to 160 to 175 potential new greenfield centres and growing enquiries from US mid-sized companies. It is a forecast, not a tally of approved projects or confirmed job provides. The report itself notes that interest has not yet translated into large-scale relocation plans from the United States. ANSR's forecast points to new greenfield centres. The Economic Times reported on 6 November that ANSR expects between 30,000 and 35,000 jobs to be added by around 160 to 175 new greenfield global capability centres in 2027. The estimate comes from a firm that helps companies establish such centres in India. The report links the interest to tighter H-1B rules and the availability of skilled talent in India, which may encourage some US mid-sized businesses to consider expanding technology teams in the country. Technology and business operations roles feature in the estimate. The Economic Times report also gives a concrete example of current expansion: JLL has opened a 120,000-square-foot global capability centre in Hyderabad and plans to hire 1,600 employees over the next few years. That is a company-specific hiring plan, unlike ANSR's broader estimate for future greenfield centres. The two figures should not be added together as if they describe the same group of projects. JLL's announced centre is already open; ANSR's 30,000-to-35,000 estimate concerns expected jobs associated with new centres in 2027. The projection is not a confirmed hiring tally. The distinction between enquiries and committed investment is important. ANSR helps companies establish GCCs in India, so its estimate reflects activity it is seeing in the market, but the report does not name 160 to 175 companies that have approved sites, budgets and hiring plans. A prospective centre must still pass internal investment decisions, choose a city, secure premises, establish local operations and recruit staff. Some enquiries may lead to a launch; others may be delayed or abandoned. Technology-focused GCCs are likely to need software developers, cloud engineers, data engineers, cybersecurity specialists, product managers and quality-assurance professionals. Centres with broader mandates may also hire finance, procurement, human resources, compliance and analytics staff. The mix will depend on the parent company's business and whether the centre aims to provide operational support, build products or own a specialised global function. The 2027 estimate does not break the projected positions down by occupation or seniority. It So cannot support a precise claim about how many roles will be in software engineering, AI, cybersecurity, finance or business operations. The JLL centre shows a broader operating model: a GCC can house teams supporting functions across a multinational business, rather than serving only as a low-cost development office. The actual mix will depend on the parent company's mandate and the work transferred to India. You Might Be Interested In Competition between Indian cities, salary inflation, infrastructure availability and the supply of experienced managers can affect how quickly new centres open. Companies also need predictable regulations, reliable power and connectivity, secure facilities and a talent pipeline that matches their requirements. If the global economy weakens or US firms delay expansion plans, some projects may be postponed. A shift in immigration policy may influence location decisions, but it does not automatically make an India centre the best choice for every function. The forecast is best treated as a measure of potential expansion rather than a confirmed hiring pipeline. The Economic Times report explicitly says the interest from US mid-sized firms has yet to translate into large-scale relocation plans. Immigration rules and talent availability may influence where companies add staff, but a GCC decision also depends on customer proximity, management capacity, data and regulatory requirements, infrastructure and the economics of the specific function. The projected 30,000 to 35,000 jobs will be realised only if enough proposed centres move from exploration to funded operations. You Might Be Interested In

Is AI Actually making FM better for SMEs? 06 November 2026 | updated 05 November 2026. The big FM providers are all getting behind AI. But if you're an SME, a scaled-down version of a corporate strategy might not be what your business needs. Mark Jackson, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Sussex Facilities Management, looks at what works. Not that long ago, SME founders and directors might have looked at AI in facilities management and thought 'not for us'. Dedicated facilities teams and complex CAFM systems were for larger conglomerates with expansive teams and data analysts. How could predictive maintenance, smart sensors and AI-powered service delivery work in a 20-person office environment? With so many providers now selling some version of 'AI-powered', has it got harder for smaller businesses to cut through the hype and make the right choice? My answer, having spent years running an FM business that works with SME clients, is no. AI has actually made the genuine differences between providers easier to spot - as long as you know what to look for. Why The Sensor Business Case Doesn't Scale Down Occupancy-based cleaning is a good example of AI working really well at a corporate scale. Real estate firm JLL[1], for instance, introduced a dynamic cleaning service for one of its clients and delivered a 15% reduction in time spent cleaning underused spaces. But if you take a 20-person office, cleaning might cost, say, £5,000 a year. So, the saving may technically exist, but it's unlikely to cover the hardware and installation needed to realise it - unless you're refurbishing anyway and it's a secondary addition. This is the trap SMEs can fall into. A provider suggests an impressive sensor network and it's difficult to tell whether it'll save you money or not. Where AI Actually Matters For smaller businesses, the real value of AI isn't in futuristic tech - it's in everyday operations. Take maintenance. Companies love to hype up predictive capabilities, but a small business doesn't need a building packed with expensive sensors. You just need a software provider whose system is smart enough to spot patterns in your call-out history and parts usage, warning you when a specific asset is about to give up. The same applies to daily admin. Automated invoice processing, quick draft visit reports and smart scheduling don't require heavy upfront investment, meaning you see the returns immediately. It's a lifesaver for compliance, too. Missing a statutory test or a certification renewal carries massive risk when you don't have a dedicated compliance manager to track the paperwork. Behind The Hype Data from Capital on Tap[2] shows that the number of UK small firms paying for AI tools jumped from 1.1% to 12.8% between early 2023 and mid-2026. Yet look at the actual cash and AI still makes up a tiny fraction of total business spending. Small businesses are definitely experimenting, but they're playing it incredibly safe with their budgets. Here are some key questions to get you on the right track. * What does the AI do without the word 'AI'? Buzzwords often mean less substance than the pitch suggests. * Who's using it today at your scale? * What happens when it goes wrong? A provider who's thought this through has a clear answer on the fallback (this question matters more and more as the debate about AI's risks intensifies). * Who owns the data and what happens to it if you switch providers? * What does it actually cost you? Sometimes nothing - the AI is baked into the provider's efficiency. Sometimes it's hardware and subscription fees dressed up as an upgrade. AI Trust Is Falling Despite everyone using it, people are actually getting more sceptical. KPMG's latest global trust study[3] shows that only 46% of us trust AI systems. But this shouldn't scare small firms away from AI entirely. It's just a reminder to stop copy-pasting corporate tech strategies that were never designed for a 20-person office. Always ask where it delivers commercial benefit relative to costs. For most smaller businesses, that answer points towards smarter processes. Before investing in smart-building infrastructure, it's worth asking whether the everyday management of your facilities has already been optimised. For a lot of SMEs, that's where the real value is. 1. JLL Client Case Study - see here. 2. Data From Capital on Tap - see here. 3. KPMG's Global Trust Study - see here. Picture: An image of Mark Jackson, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Sussex Facilities Management. Article written by Mark Jackson | Published 06 November 2026 Related tags. How AI is influencing Facilities Management. For Brett Ellis, Regional Facilities & Asset Manager Komatsu, a construction and mining multinational company, AI is the difference between days and weeks. Komatsu... 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