'50% of our growth will come from GCCs': Here are the trends shaping India's managed workspaces sector
Fully-customisable and branded office spaces ready within 30-45 days
Access to lounges, gyms, and cafes
Expert-designed spaces that are IGBC and LEED certified
Flexible lease terms with utility costs included
Complete administrative management, including visitor management
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India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing hubs for global capability centres (GCCs), which serve as strategic and integrated service, tech, and innovation hubs for multinational organisations. Mid-market GCCs in particular are leading this trend, accounting for 27% of all GCCs in India. And new centres are increasingly preferring flexible workspace operators — the kind that offer tailormade spaces and leases that are flexible as per evolving client needs.UrbanWrk, which operates in Pune, Mumbai, the National Capital Region, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, boasts a diverse client roster with names such as Capgemini, BDO Rise, GoDaddy, SBI General, Carrier, L&T, DSK Legal, amongst others. As India's first and only managed workspace operator with an IGBC Platinum rating, it is best-placed to spearhead the future of work for India — and GCCs:'We are at about 700,000 sq ft. By the end of this year, we should be close to around a little over a million sq ft. That's a growth of 60%. And almost half of this will come from GCCs,' says UrbanWrk Founder and CEO Anuj Munot.Munot is a veteran in the luxury real estate sector, having led the creation of nearly 40 million sq ft of space as part of the leadership team at Kalpataru. His experience with the real estate giant and penchant for sustainability and unique designs is a unique proposition for GCCs scouting for agile, yet green spaces that align with corporate goals. All UrbanWrk properties are built on the principle of biophilic design, which incorporates natural lighting, plants, and organic materials. They are also constructed with BIS-certified non-toxic materials, have energy-efficient lighting, rainwater harvesting, and rigorous waste management, as well as HVAC standards and indoor air quality monitors.Although Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad remain the first ports of call for GCC expansion in India, Munot shares that Chennai, Kolkata, Indore, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur are emerging on the radar because of their more efficient unit economics.'I also think GCCs will look at places like Indore, Ahmedabad, and Tier-II cities once they are settled in the country. Because it's not just about finding talent the first time. It's about having a continuous stream of talent so you can expand operations,' he adds.Consistent availability of talent is just one challenge GCCs encounter on the path to realising operational efficiency at scale. Infrastructure and managing remote workforces are key hurdles in local contexts. Unreliable internet connectivity, power outages, traffic congestions, and poor employee engagement in distributed environments also disrupt operational continuity.UrbanWrk is tackling key operational and user experience challenges through integrated, tech-driven solutions. At the core is its proprietary UrbanWrk app, a centralised platform enabling seamless member engagement, real-time meeting room bookings, and facility management. The infrastructure includes secure access control systems, enterprise-level cybersecurity protocols, and dual internet service providers to ensure consistent uptime. Additionally, workspaces are configured with complete wireless setups and interactive displays equipped with digital annotation capabilities, designed to support modern, collaborative work environments.According to Anuj Munot, as many as 2,000-plus GCCs are currently entering or exploring the Indian market. Considering the whopping demand for asset-light, cost-effective, and future-forward flexi workspaces, it's no wonder UrbanWrk is projecting a doubling of its capacity by 2026 end.
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