Global Capability Centers Shift Toward AI Innovation Hubs

Anand Bhushan, the Global Capability Center leader for Saint-Gobain, said GCCs are increasingly central to delivering AI solutions for business and IT operations ^[1].

This shift marks a transition for these centers from traditional cost-saving back offices to strategic command hubs. As enterprises seek to scale artificial intelligence, the ability of GCCs to integrate AI across various business functions determines how quickly a company can modernize its infrastructure [1, 2].

Bhushan said GCCs are now positioned to lead innovation across both IT and broader business units ^[1]. This evolution allows companies to implement AI not as a series of isolated experiments, but as a scalable framework that supports the entire organization [1, 3].

Industry trends suggest a changing labor model within these hubs. Reports from April 2026 indicate that some GCCs are hiring fewer full-time employees in favor of AI contractors to maintain agility ^[2]. This move reflects a broader strategy to integrate specialized AI expertise rapidly without the long-term overhead of permanent staffing.

Policy clarity has further boosted confidence for enterprises investing in these hubs ^[3]. By moving away from the perception of being simple cost centers, GCCs are now focusing on high-value outputs, specifically the creation of AI-powered tools that optimize internal workflows and customer-facing services [1, 3].

Bhushan said the goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem where AI drives efficiency in IT operations while simultaneously unlocking new business value ^[1]. This dual focus ensures that technical upgrades lead directly to improved business outcomes.