2025GCCs Help Companies Operate 24/7 in All Time Zones

1. Introduction

• A Global Capability Center (GCC) is a dedicated offshore unit that handles critical business operations, support functions, or technology development for a multinational company. These centers operate as an extension of the parent company, delivering services like finance, HR, R&D, customer support, and IT from a strategic location—most commonly, India.
• India is now home to over 1,600+ GCCs, with global firms from the US, Japan, and Europe actively expanding their footprints here. Key reasons: a skilled talent pool, cost-effectiveness, and time zone advantage. Major players in fintech, IT, and e-commerce rely on their India-based GCCs to maintain round-the-clock operations. For instance, a US-based fintech firm can seamlessly shift tech support or development work to its India GCC overnight, reducing downtime and accelerating delivery.
• Japan-based manufacturers are also increasingly setting up GCCs in India to support their R&D and supply chain processes, enabling real-time coordination across time zones.
• KNM helps companies build, scale, and manage their GCCs with end-to-end advisory, covering incorporation, legal compliance, workforce setup, and ongoing governance. From strategic planning to operational rollout, KNM ensures businesses unlock the full potential of India as a global operations hub.

2. Why Time Zone Coverage Matters

• Time zone coverage is a core advantage of setting up a Global Capability Center (GCC) in India. For global businesses, especially in fintech, SaaS, and customer service, operating 24/7 isn’t just an edge—it’s a necessity.
• When teams across the US, Japan, and India work in sequence, it creates a “follow-the-sun” workflow. A US-based company can hand off tasks at the end of its business day, and its India GCC picks them up immediately. The result: faster product releases, non-stop customer support, and zero downtime in business operations.
• In e-commerce, this model ensures real-time issue resolution across geographies. For IT and development, it accelerates bug fixes, deployments, and testing cycles without waiting 24 hours for a time zone to catch up.
• Here’s a quick comparison of real-world collaborations:

• GCCs enable uninterrupted business cycles. With the right tech tools and shift planning, companies unlock faster go-to-market timelines and enhanced global reach. This is where KNM helps—by designing GCC operations that maximize time zone advantages while ensuring full compliance and scalability.

3. How GCCs Enable 24/7 Productivity

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) make it possible for companies to run their operations 24/7 by using a “Follow-the-Sun” model. This approach divides tasks among global teams in different time zones, ensuring continuous workflow without delays.

Here’s how GCCs make round-the-clock productivity happen:

1. Task Handover Across Time Zones
   A US-based team finishes its workday and hands off tasks to its India GCC. When the India team wraps up, the baton is passed to Japan. This loop continues, creating an uninterrupted workflow cycle.
2. Shorter Project Timelines
   Work that typically takes days in a single-zone setup can be completed faster. Each region works during its day, accelerating development, QA, support, and analytics.
3. Real-Time Customer Support
   GCCs handle support queries globally. Customers in any time zone receive immediate responses, increasing satisfaction and retention.
4. Minimized Downtime
   With always-on operations, maintenance, updates, and issue resolution can occur during off-peak hours in different markets.

Sample Overlapping Timeline (IST as Reference)

4. Shift Planning Templates and Tools

Running a Global Capability Center (GCC) efficiently depends on smart shift planning and the right tools. With teams across India, the US, and Japan, businesses must align schedules to balance productivity, employee wellbeing, and timezone differences.

Here are the effective shift planning models GCCs use:

1. Rotational Shifts – Employees rotate between time zones weekly or monthly.
2. Staggered Shifts – Start times are adjusted to overlap with global teams.
3. Hybrid Overlap Models – Key team members work a partial overlap for coordination, while the rest follow local schedules.
   

Top tools to streamline 24/7 operations:

• Microsoft Shifts or Kronos Workforce Central: For workforce scheduling and time tracking.
• World Time Buddy: For quick timezone comparisons when scheduling global meetings.
• Slack and Zoom: To keep communication smooth and real-time.
• Jira: Ideal for tracking projects, especially for asynchronous handovers.

5. Case Studies: US/Japan–India Workflow Models

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) thrive on seamless coordination across time zones. US and Japan-based companies have tapped into India’s talent pool to keep workflows active around the clock. Here are two practical models that show how this works—and how KNM played a vital role.

Case Study 1: US Fintech Firm
A California-based fintech company partnered with KNM to set up a GCC in Gurugram. Their model:

• The US team handled client queries and ticket intake during the day.
• The India team took over at night, resolving issues and pushing overnight code fixes.
• By morning, the US office had tested solutions ready to deploy.
  

Outcome:
Average resolution time dropped by 40%. Client satisfaction scores rose due to faster service. KNM managed entity registration, shift policy design, and payroll compliance.

Case Study 2: Japan-Based Electronics Company
A Tokyo-headquartered electronics brand needed 24-hour R&D.

• Design and prototyping were handled in Japan’s workday.
• India’s Bengaluru GCC ran QA testing and support during their day.
  

Result:
This cycle cut down product iteration time by half. KNM facilitated labor law compliance, resource onboarding, and inter-office task scheduling.

Takeaway:
GCCs can become high-speed engines for innovation and service delivery. With KNM’s guidance, time zone gaps turn into competitive advantages.

6. KNM’s Role in GCC Enablement

Setting up a Global Capability Center (GCC) in India goes beyond hiring and office space. It involves navigating labor laws, infrastructure readiness, and compliance protocols. KNM helps global firms—especially from the US and Japan—establish high-performing GCCs tailored for 24/7 operations.

Here’s how KNM adds value across every stage:

• Strategic Location Advisory
  Recommending metro and Tier-2 cities based on talent availability, cost, and connectivity.
  Example: Hyderabad for IT GCCs; Pune for automotive R&D centers.
• Regulatory and Tax Setup
  Managing entity registration, STPI/SEZ approvals, and optimized tax planning for cross-border operations.
• Workforce Planning
  Designing shift structures—rotational, hybrid, or follow-the-sun—based on global time zone coordination.
• Labor Law and HR Compliance
  Drafting HR policies aligned with Indian labor regulations. Ensuring PF, ESIC, Shops & Establishments, and WFH policies are in place.
• Payroll and Ongoing Support
  Automating payroll, managing leave policies, and handling statutory filings like TDS, PT, and labor returns.
  

Global firms rely on KNM for a smooth GCC launch and steady post-launch operations. The goal: full compliance, zero disruption, and 24/7 performance. KNM bridges the gap between your HQ’s vision and your India team’s execution.

7. Conclusion

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have redefined how global companies operate, making 24/7 productivity not just possible but practical. By aligning teams across time zones, GCCs allow continuous workflows, faster decision-making, and real-time customer support.

Whether it’s a US fintech firm handing over projects to an India-based tech team overnight, or a Japanese R&D center pushing product iterations through India’s QA units, the “follow-the-sun” model works when executed with the right structure. But time zone synergy doesn’t just happen—it requires strong shift planning, collaboration tools, and compliant workforce strategies.

That’s where KNM comes in. We don’t just help companies set up a GCC in India—we help them run it effectively. From choosing the right city, registering the entity, and setting up HR policies to ensure compliance with India’s labor and tax laws, KNM covers it end-to-end.

Summary:

• GCCs boost efficiency by using time zones to extend active work hours.
• Success depends on smart planning, shift tools, and legal clarity.
• KNM helps global businesses unlock India’s full potential as a GCC hub.

📩 Want to build a high-performance GCC in India? Talk to KNM’s business advisory team today.

Contact KNM India today! 

• email us

           India: services@knmindia.com

           Japan: japandesk@knmindia.com 

• Phone :India: +91 124 4295170, +91- 9910095170
• Japan: +81-3-6869-0850 , +81-3-6821-9455 
• website: https://knmindia.com/