Industry Deep Dive: How GCCs Are Transforming Financial Services in India
Introduction
India’s financial services sector is at a pivotal moment. As digital disruption accelerates and regulatory demands intensify, Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have emerged as critical engines of transformation for banks, insurers, and fintechs. No longer just cost-optimization hubs, India’s GCCs are now strategic partners driving innovation, compliance, and customer-centricity at scale. Publicis Sapient is at the forefront of this evolution, empowering financial services GCCs with AI-led strategies, robust cloud partnerships, and the proven SPEED framework to unlock new value and future-proof operations.
The Evolving Role of GCCs in Financial Services
India hosts over 1,700 GCCs, accounting for more than 1% of the nation’s GDP and employing nearly two million professionals. In financial services, GCCs have shifted from back-office support to become integral to digital business transformation. This shift is driven by:
- Rising regulatory complexity: Financial institutions must navigate evolving compliance requirements, data privacy laws, and risk management standards.
- Customer expectations: Digital-native consumers demand seamless, personalized experiences across banking, insurance, and investment platforms.
- Innovation pressure: Fintech disruptors and global competition require rapid product development and operational agility.
GCCs in India are uniquely positioned to address these challenges, leveraging the country’s deep talent pool, digital infrastructure, and a culture of continuous improvement.
Publicis Sapient’s Approach: AI, Cloud, and SPEED
Publicis Sapient partners with financial services organizations to transform their GCCs into innovation powerhouses. Our approach is anchored in three pillars:
1. AI-Led Transformation
AI is at the heart of next-generation GCCs. Through advanced analytics, generative AI, and automation, GCCs can:
- Accelerate compliance monitoring and reporting
- Enhance fraud detection and risk management
- Personalize customer journeys and product offerings
- Automate routine operations for greater efficiency
Publicis Sapient’s AI Labs and partnerships with leading cloud providers enable rapid prototyping, large language model (LLM) development, and deployment of AI-powered solutions tailored to financial services.
2. Cloud Partnerships for Scale and Security
Cloud adoption is essential for scalability, resilience, and regulatory compliance. Publicis Sapient’s alliances with Microsoft, AWS, and Google Cloud provide:
- Secure, compliant cloud infrastructure for sensitive financial data
- Rapid migration and modernization of legacy banking and insurance platforms
- Access to industry-leading AI and analytics tools
- Automation of business processes and improved system interoperability
Our joint ventures, such as PS Hummingbird with Tquila, deliver end-to-end generative AI and cloud solutions, empowering GCCs to modernize operations and unlock new revenue streams.
3. The SPEED Framework
Our SPEED framework—Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, and Data & AI—ensures holistic transformation across the GCC lifecycle:
- Strategy: Aligning GCC objectives with global business goals and regulatory requirements
- Product: Rapid development and iteration of digital financial products
- Experience: Designing seamless, omnichannel customer and employee experiences
- Engineering: Modernizing platforms with agile, cloud-native architectures
- Data & AI: Leveraging data for predictive analytics, compliance, and personalization
Sector-Specific Impact: Case Studies and Outcomes
Banking
A leading multinational bank partnered with Publicis Sapient to modernize its GCC operations using Microsoft Copilot and Azure-based AI solutions. The result: accelerated compliance reporting, reduced manual effort in risk management, and improved customer onboarding experiences.
Insurance
Insurers are leveraging AI-driven analytics and cloud-native platforms to automate claims processing, enhance fraud detection, and deliver personalized policy recommendations. GCCs play a central role in integrating these capabilities, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational resilience.
Fintech
Fintech GCCs are at the cutting edge of product innovation, using AI to power real-time credit scoring, personalized investment advice, and seamless digital onboarding. Publicis Sapient’s SPEED framework enables rapid prototyping and deployment, helping fintechs stay ahead of regulatory changes and market demands.
Navigating Regulatory Considerations
Financial services GCCs in India must operate within a complex regulatory landscape, including data localization, privacy laws, and sector-specific compliance standards. Publicis Sapient’s deep expertise in compliance engineering, cloud security, and data governance ensures that GCCs can:
- Implement robust controls for data privacy and security
- Automate regulatory reporting and audit trails
- Stay ahead of evolving local and global regulations
Driving Continuous Value: Beyond Cost Optimization
The true value of financial services GCCs lies in their ability to drive continuous innovation and operational excellence. By sustaining digital momentum post-implementation—through Application and Infrastructure Management Services (AIMS) and ongoing partnership—GCCs can:
- Prevent knowledge loss and ensure rapid issue resolution
- Continuously monitor and optimize system performance
- Identify and implement improvement opportunities for compliance and customer experience
Why Publicis Sapient?
With over 30 years of digital transformation experience and a strong presence in India, Publicis Sapient is uniquely positioned to help financial services organizations realize the full potential of their GCCs. Our AI-led, cloud-powered, and SPEED-driven approach delivers measurable business impact, recognized by leading industry analysts and proven across global client engagements.
Ready to Transform Your Financial Services GCC?
As India’s GCC ecosystem enters its next phase of growth, the opportunity for financial services organizations is clear: move beyond cost optimization to become true engines of innovation, compliance, and customer value. Connect with Publicis Sapient to discover how your GCC can lead the way in digital business transformation for financial services.