BENGALURU — The 17th edition of the Zinnov Awards concluded on Day 1 of the Zinnov Confluence 2026, honoring 18 organizations and leaders across 10 categories. The awards program, focused on the Global Capability Center (GCC) and technology ecosystem, recognized contributions to innovation, artificial intelligence, leadership, talent, culture, and enterprise value creation.
According to data from the Nasscom-Zinnov GCC Landscape Report 2026, the awards arrive as India's GCC sector experiences a shift away from traditional labor and cost arbitrage toward value creation. The landscape report notes that over 1,200 India-based GCCs currently maintain AI and machine learning capabilities, supported by a workforce exceeding 250,000 professionals. Furthermore, data indicates that 96% of GCCs established after the 2021 financial year entered the market with a product or portfolio mandate, while 49% operated as AI-first entities from inception.
To reflect these shifting industry dynamics, the 2026 edition introduced three new categories: AI Excellence, Ecosystem Synergy Award, and AI Innovation Vanguard. Organizers stated that these additions are designed to acknowledge the growing emphasis on enterprise AI impact, ecosystem collaboration, and advanced technology leadership within the sector.
Nitika Goel, Managing Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Zinnov, commented on the broader industry shift during the event. She noted that the Indian GCC sector is entering a phase where the primary advantage extends beyond talent scale and operational costs to encompass disproportionate enterprise value creation. Goel highlighted that increased product ownership, innovation, and global decision-making are increasingly originating from India, marking a transition from basic capability centers to strategic global nerve centers.
The Zinnov Confluence continues to serve as a platform for evaluating the growth and maturity of technology operations in India. The recognized organizations and leaders span various facets of technological development, talent cultivation, and operational scaling, reflecting the ongoing integration of advanced digital capabilities within global enterprise structures.
"The evolution of Global Capability Centers in India from traditional back-office support hubs into sophisticated product and AI-driven nerve centers is a significant milestone for the country's business ecosystem. As enterprises increasingly mandate high-value platform ownership and AI-first strategies locally, leadership and innovation capabilities are scaling rapidly. This structural shift highlights India's position not merely as a cost-effective operational base, but as a core driver of global enterprise strategy and technology value creation." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
