Capability Center Services Market: A Major Growth Projection
The Capability Center Services market is experiencing a significant growth trajectory, with projections estimating it will increase from USD 172.34 billion in 2024 to a staggering USD 403.22 billion by 2032. Analysts at DataM Intelligence highlight a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.21% from 2025 to 2032, driven by factors such as rapid digitalization by enterprises, a surge in artificial intelligence adoption, and extensive cost optimization efforts. Alongside these trends, global enterprises are increasingly transitioning towards Global Capability Centers (GCCs), advanced shared services, and hybrid models.
Evolution of Capability Centers
Over the past decade, capability centers, also referred to as GCCs, GBS centers, Centers of Excellence (COEs), and offshore innovation hubs, have evolved considerably from simple low-cost delivery sites to essential engines of strategic value creation. Modern GCCs are pivotal in facilitating cloud modernization, enhancing cybersecurity protocols, enabling automation, and driving AI engineering initiatives. They support various enterprise operations including product development, research and development, customer operations, and overarching digital initiatives that align with Fortune 500 and global multinational strategies.
Driving Factors Behind Market Surge
The surge in market demand is linked to several key drivers, including:
- - AI Adoption: Over 60% of GCCs are now establishing AI and Machine Learning COEs, significantly contributing to the growth of the market.
- - Cloud Modernization: Enterprises are actively reducing on-premises workloads by as much as 50-70%, shifting focus to cloud-first strategies.
- - Cost Optimization: The integration of global functions into unified capability centers is being prioritized to enhance efficiency.
- - Talent Realignment: GCCs have emerged as crucial hubs for talent and domain-led innovation in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity, and DataOps.
- - Increased Hybrid Models: There is a rising preference for captive and hybrid Global Business Services (GBS) among firms in the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions.
Market Segmentation
By Service Type
In 2024, IT services accounted for approximately 46% of the market share, capturing an estimated USD 79.25 billion. This category includes vital services such as cloud migration and infrastructure services. Business Process Management (BPM) services followed, holding a 22% share, while Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) contributed 12%. Engineering and Research & Development services constituted around 10%. The sector for finance and accounting services accounted for 7%, with Human Resources holding the remaining 3% of the market.
Ownership Models
In 2024, fully owned captive GCCs held the majority of the market share, accounting for 78% and USD 134.43 billion. This trend signifies enterprises' desire for long-term digital capability ownership. Hybrid GCCs, which consist of shared-risk models, made up 22% of the market, representing USD 37.91 billion.
Application Areas
The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector emerged as the leading application segment, capturing a 31% market share in 2024. Other areas of significant growth include Information Technology and Telecom (26%) and Healthcare and Life Sciences (13%).
Regional Insights
United States
Accruing 38% of the global market share in 2024, the U.S. generated USD 65.49 billion in capability center services. Key industries expanding GCCs include finance, retail, technology, and healthcare, driving a 23% year-on-year growth rate. Furthermore, more than 140 new capability centers have been established globally by U.S. firms, signifying robust growth in this sector.
Japan
Japan accounted for around 9% of the market, equivalent to USD 15.51 billion. The country's enterprises are rapidly scaling offshore capability centers, particularly in ASEAN regions, responding to growing needs for automation and digital transformation capabilities.
Competitive Landscape
The market is highly competitive, featuring leading firms such as Accenture, IBM, Capgemini, Infosys, and Wipro, which collectively deliver a majority of global GCC transformation programs. These players are integral in providing managed services, center setup, and operating model redesign, thereby shaping the GCC ecosystem.
Future Trends
Between now and 2032, the capability center landscape is poised for monumental shifts. Expect to see an increase in AI-native GCCs designed for advanced functions, hyperautomation spread throughout BPM and KPO, and multi-national GCC setups to mitigate risks associated with single-location operations. The push towards digital engineering and cloud modernization is anticipated to escalate, ensuring that capability centers remain critical to the backbone of digital transformation for global enterprises.
Conclusion
GCCs have transformed into indispensable components of global enterprise strategies for digital evolution, operational efficiency, and innovation. Organizations that invest in developing future-ready capability centers with a focus on AI, automation, and cloud technologies will gain a competitive edge in the increasingly complex business landscape as we move forward into the next decade.