Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesSoftware & Technology

The Economics of a Global Capability Center

As outsourcing costs rise, global capability centers may offer a solution for CIOs facing talent acquisition challenges. Leaders like Dr. Patricia Connolly of SMC Squared and Jan Ross, formerly of nThrive, emphasize the strategic benefits of these centers. Despite initial concerns, their experiences highlight both cost savings and talent investment benefits.

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Software & Technology teams put it to work with Executive Thought Leadership.

By Software And Technology · Global Capability CentersIt SupportOrganizational InsightsTalent Acquisition
Share
The Economics of a Global Capability Center

Key takeaways

01

Global capability centers can mitigate rising outsourcing costs.

02

In-house global capability centers foster greater investment from employees in company success.

03

Transitioning to a GCC offers potential cost savings without sacrificing quality.

Get featured

Want to get featured in MarketScale Software & Technology?

Create a free MarketScale workspace and get your company's expertise featured across our Software & Technology coverage. No credit card, no demo required.

Request an invite

As outsourcing costs rise, while finding the right talent is akin to locating a needle in a haystack, CIOs search for solutions to these present-day challenges. Thankfully, global capability centers may offer an answer. Dr. Patricia Connolly, Founding Partner and CEO at SMC Squared, and Jan Ross, Former CIO at nThrive, sat down to discuss these issues and provide their thoughts on what makes global capability centers (GCCs) stand out in today’s talent marketplace.

A third-party talent outsourcer’s main job is to satisfy the parameters of the work contract. The contracted person may do all the job requirements but won’t necessarily have a stake in the company. But when bringing in individuals as members of a particular organization, they are more invested in being a part of the company’s success. “They’re not there just to check the box of a contract,” Ross said. “They’re not there to say we don’t do that, so if you want that done, it will cost you more.”

While Ross’s experiences with having a global capability center built at nThrive were positive and her preferred talent acquisition method, building GCCs in-house does take some work. “I recommend always bringing a partner in that’s been there, done that,” Ross said. “There’s a lot of legalities in it. It takes a lot of process and time to deliver to get your organization set up.”

Transitioning to a GCC can be an anxious process for a business unfamiliar with the advantages this model can provide. However, the cost savings alone offer an attractive incentive to move from a traditional outsourcing model to a global capability center. Still, the concern for many US companies is whether or not that economic savings will have a hidden cost in sacrificing quality, consistency, and reliability. Ross did not find this to be the case. “The numbers are accurate, and you can truly get the lower cost opportunities. The individuals are incredibly talented. It’s amazing the capabilities, the education, the drive, and the individuals we’ve brought in from a GCC perspective; they are thrilled to be part of that company.”

For more episodes, please visit the Squared Away Podcast series, and to learn more, visit SMC2’s website.

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Software & Technology starts with a company putting its solutions engineers, product teams, and customer engineers on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Buyers ask AI engines who to consider, and published expert answers are what those engines cite.

Get your team featuredSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

About the author

SA
Software And Technology

Follow Software & Technology Insights

Get new expert content in your inbox.

Software & Technology: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Software & Technology buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Software & Technology expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your solutions engineers, product teams, and customer engineers into the articles, video, and social content Software & Technology buyers are searching for. Create a free workspace and see it with your own people. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Software & Technology Insights

Bending Spoons acquires Airtable at $1.29B enterprise value, a steep discount from its peak SaaS valuation

Bending Spoons acquires Airtable at $1.29B enterprise value, a steep discount from its peak SaaS valuation

Bending Spoons has acquired Airtable at an enterprise value of $1.29 billion, significantly below Airtable's prior valuations. This acquisition reflects the current market dynamics influencing SaaS company valuations.

  • 01Bending Spoons acquired Airtable for $1.29 billion.
  • 02Airtable's sale price was significantly lower than its previous private valuation.

Aug 13, 2026

AI infrastructure spending is splitting the enterprise tech sector into clear winners and laggards

AI infrastructure spending is splitting the enterprise tech sector into clear winners and laggards

The enterprise tech sector is experiencing a split between companies that are benefiting from AI infrastructure spending and those that are not. Companies with deep supply chains like Samsung and Hon Hai are seeing substantial profit increases. Palantir has also reported exceptionally strong results.

  • 01Samsung's chip profit increased 250-fold.
  • 02Hon Hai's sales rose by 54%.
  • 03Palantir described its performance as 'otherworldly.'

Aug 13, 2026

Anthropic's IPO path and hyperscaler dependency on foundation models dominate August AI market debate

Anthropic's IPO path and hyperscaler dependency on foundation models dominate August AI market debate

The AI market debate in August focused significantly on Anthropic's potential IPO and the reliance of cloud hyperscalers on foundation models from companies like OpenAI. Investors and analysts evaluate the readiness of AI companies for public markets and assess the exposure risks inherent in their dependencies.

  • 01Investors are debating which AI companies are ready to enter public markets.
  • 02Cloud hyperscalers have notable exposure to the success of companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
  • 03The potential IPO of Anthropic is a major focus in the AI market.

Aug 13, 2026

Explore More Software & Technology Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Software & Technology.

Browse Software & Technology Hub

About the Experts

SA
Software And Technology
DP
Dr. Patricia Connolly

Founding Partner and CEO

SMC Squared

Dr. Patricia Connolly is a Founding Partner and CEO at SMC Squared, bringing expertise in establishing global capability centers. She has been instrumental in providing strategic solutions for talent acquisition challenges in the tech industry.

JR
Jan Ross

Former CIO

nThrive

Jan Ross served as the Chief Information Officer at nThrive, leading initiatives in talent acquisition and organizational strategy. She advocates for global capability centers as a solution to rising outsourcing costs and talent acquisition issues.

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Software & Technology and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512