As global enterprises and fast-scaling startups look to drive cost efficiency, innovation, and operational scalability, Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have emerged as a core strategic lever. However, the journey from strategy to operationalizing a high-performance GCC is fraught with challenges—and many companies underestimate the complexities involved.
At Employnova, we’ve seen firsthand how hard it can be to set up and scale a GCC. That’s why we built GCC-as-a-Service—to take the pain out of the process and help you unlock the real value, faster.
Let’s unpack the top challenges companies face while setting up a GCC, and how Employnova is uniquely positioned to solve them.
7 Challenges How GCC is Setting Up Harder
1. Strategic Clarity & Alignment
The Challenge:
Many organizations start GCCs with vague goals—“cut costs,” “support HQ,” or “scale development.” Without clearly defined objectives, KPIs (Key Performance Indicator), and alignment with HQ, the GCC risks becoming a disconnected satellite rather than a value-generating engine.
Employnova’s Edge:
We begin with strategic workshops to align your GCC with your global vision. Whether your focus is R&D, digital transformation, data analytics, or customer support, we define a roadmap that connects local execution to global outcomes.
Result: GCCs with purpose, performance metrics, and executive sponsorship from Day 1.
2. Talent Acquisition and Retention
The Challenge:
Hiring in a new geography—especially for niche tech roles or leadership positions—is difficult. Competition is fierce, the hiring cycle is long, and cultural fit issues persist.
Employnova’s Edge:
With a deep presence in India and the GCC region, we tap into curated talent pools, run localized hiring campaigns, and build high-performing teams faster. Our “extended team” model includes career pathing, Learning & Development, and retention planning.
Result: You get skilled, stable, and scalable teams without lifting a finger.
3. Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Time Zone Hurdles
The Challenge:
Working across cultures and time zones can hinder communication, decision-making, and agile delivery. Without strong collaboration practices, productivity suffers.
Employnova’s Edge:
We embed playbooks for cross-border collaboration—daily sync models, agile cadences, escalation paths, and shared OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Our operational leads ensure smooth integration with your global teams.
Result: A truly “follow-the-sun” model with minimal friction.
4. Legal, Compliance & Regulatory Maze
The Challenge:
Setting up an entity, navigating local labor laws, IP protection, tax implications, and compliance (like GDPR, DPDP, etc.) is daunting and risky.
Employnova’s Edge:
Our turnkey GCC-as-a-Service model abstracts away the legal burden. We take care of the entire compliance stack—from entity setup to payroll, from contracts to data security—so you stay focused on outcomes.
Result: 100% compliant operations with zero legal surprises.
5. Tech Infrastructure & Security Setup
The Challenge:
From VPNs and VDI to cloud integration and secure development environments, the infrastructure setup must mirror HQ standards—without delays or breaches.
Employnova’s Edge:
We offer ready-to-deploy IT environments, complete with secure access, endpoint monitoring, zero-trust architecture, and global system integration support.
Result: Your team goes live in days, not months—with enterprise-grade security baked in.
6. Change Management & Internal Resistance
The Challenge:
Stakeholders in HQ or other regions may resist the idea of a GCC due to perceived loss of control or internal politics. Change management is often an afterthought.
Employnova’s Edge:
We support you in designing a clear internal communication strategy, stakeholder engagement plans, and an inclusive governance model that fosters buy-in across regions.
Result: A GCC that feels like a natural extension of your organization, not a threat to it.
7. Scaling Without Losing Agility
The Challenge:
Many GCCs stagnate after the initial setup. They struggle to evolve from a support hub to a value driver due to siloed operations or unclear roadmaps.
Employnova’s Edge:
Our continuous governance model includes delivery oversight, innovation accelerators, and transformation coaching. We don’t just build your GCC—we help it scale, mature, and innovate.
Result: Your GCC grows from a tactical resource to a strategic capability center.
Conclusion: GCC Setup Doesn’t Have to Be Painful
While setting up a Global Capability Center can be transformative, the journey is complex and often underestimated. From talent to technology, from compliance to collaboration, every step requires precision, speed, and deep regional expertise.
At Employnova, we simplify this complexity with our GCC-as-a-Service model—offering you a compliant, fully operational, and scalable center, without the usual headaches.
Whether you’re a startup expanding globally or an enterprise looking to accelerate digital transformation, we help you build, manage, and scale your GCC—faster, smarter, and safer.