Why Global Companies Are Looking Beyond India’s Biggest Cities

India’s position as a global business destination is evolving. Global Capability Centres (GCCs), once primarily associated with established technology and business hubs, are increasingly prompting companies to evaluate opportunities in a wider range of Indian cities. While Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi NCR remain central to the GCC landscape, emerging locations are becoming part of the conversation.

The shift is not simply about finding less expensive office space. It reflects a broader question for global businesses: where can they access the right talent, build resilient operations and support their next phase of growth?

As this search expands geographically, it also creates new considerations for the offices, technology campuses and workplaces being developed to support these operations.

India’s GCC Growth Is Creating New Opportunities

India’s GCC sector has moved well beyond traditional back-office functions. Today, these centres contribute to engineering, research and development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, analytics, finance and other business-critical activities.

According to JLL’s India GCC Guide 2026, India’s GCCs employed more than 1.9 million professionals in 2025. They also leased approximately 31.3 million square feet of Grade A office space during the year, marking a record for the sector.

These figures highlight the scale of the opportunity. Global companies are not just establishing teams in India; they are building capabilities that contribute directly to international business operations.

As these operations grow, organisations are also evaluating whether established metropolitan hubs can meet every future requirement or whether a broader network of locations could offer additional advantages.

Why Are Companies Exploring Cities Beyond the Major Metros?

The appeal of emerging business destinations comes from a combination of economic, workforce and infrastructure factors.

Access to new talent pools

Established metros have deep talent ecosystems, but competition for experienced professionals can be intense. Cities such as Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Mysuru and Kochi offer access to different talent pools, including graduates and professionals with specialised technical, engineering and business skills.

For companies looking to expand teams or develop new capabilities, a wider geographic footprint can create additional recruitment opportunities.

Operating costs and long-term value

Real estate, workforce costs and daily operations all influence location decisions. JLL identifies potential cost advantages of around 10–35% in some Tier-II locations compared with major metropolitan markets.

However, lower costs alone do not guarantee success. Companies must also consider the availability of experienced talent, connectivity, infrastructure, employee retention and the maturity of local business ecosystems.

The strongest locations are those that combine competitive operating costs with the resources required to sustain long-term growth.

Improving business infrastructure

Digital connectivity, commercial developments, transport links and state-level investment initiatives are helping some emerging cities strengthen their business proposition.

The result is a more diverse set of potential locations for companies evaluating future operations. The opportunity will vary by city and industry, but the direction is clear: location strategy is becoming more nuanced than choosing between a handful of established metros.

What Does This Expansion Mean for New Workplaces?

As global businesses establish or expand operations, the requirements of their physical workplaces evolve alongside them.

A new office or technology campus must support more than desks and meeting rooms. It needs to accommodate employees, visitors, contractors and service personnel while maintaining appropriate controls over who can enter specific areas.

These requirements are particularly relevant in workplaces where confidential information, valuable equipment or business-critical operations need protection.

Planning for access and movement early can help organisations align security requirements with the way a building will actually operate. Retrofitting controls later may introduce additional complexity, particularly when layouts, reception areas and employee circulation have already been established.

Why Entrance Security Deserves Attention During Planning

The entrance is where a workplace’s access policy meets everyday movement. It must support authorised entry without creating unnecessary delays for employees or visitors.

For growing corporate offices and technology campuses, planning considerations may include:

• Controlled employee access: Integrating entrance systems with the organisation’s access-control arrangements.
• Tailgating prevention: Selecting appropriate solutions to help detect or prevent unauthorised passage behind an authorised user.
• Visitor movement: Providing a clear, manageable route for guests, contractors and other non-employee visitors.
• Throughput and convenience: Matching entrance capacity to expected traffic during busy arrival and departure periods.
• Future flexibility: Considering how entrance arrangements may accommodate changes in occupancy, access policies and building use.

The right approach depends on the facility, its risk profile, the number of users and the required level of control. A corporate reception, a research facility and a restricted technology area will not necessarily need the same entrance configuration.

How Entrance Control Can Support India’s Expanding Business Hubs

For companies investing in emerging Indian cities, entrance security can form part of a wider workplace infrastructure strategy.

Gunnebo Entrance Control India offers solutions including speed gates, flap barriers, turnstiles and high-security entrance systems for different building environments. Depending on the application, these solutions can support controlled access, manage the movement of people and help organisations balance security with the everyday experience of entering a workplace.

Speed gates, for example, can be considered for corporate reception areas where authorised employee movement needs to remain efficient. Other entrance systems may be more suitable for facilities requiring a different level of physical control.

The important consideration is not simply which product to install, but how the entrance will function within the wider building: who needs access, how movement will be managed and what level of security is appropriate.

For developers, architects, facility managers and security consultants, addressing these questions during the planning stage can help ensure that entrance requirements are considered alongside the rest of the workplace infrastructure.

Planning for the Next Phase of India’s Business Growth

India’s emerging business hubs are not replacing its established metropolitan centres overnight. Rather, they are creating additional options for companies seeking talent, operational flexibility and long-term growth.

As this landscape develops, the quality of a location’s business infrastructure will remain an important consideration. Offices and technology campuses need to support not only the work taking place inside them, but also the safe, efficient movement of people through their entrances.

For organisations planning new workplaces or expanding existing facilities, entrance security is worth considering early—not as an isolated installation, but as part of a well-planned working environment.

Gunnebo Entrance Control India supports organisations with entrance solutions designed for different security requirements and building applications. As businesses explore new opportunities across India, the right entrance strategy can help their workplaces support both operational needs and controlled access.

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