India's Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have emerged as key players in the nation's office leasing landscape, showcasing robust growth during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025. According to recent data, GCCs leased an impressive 5 million square feet, accounting for 37% of total office leasing across India's top six cities.
The momentum is expected to continue, with projections indicating that GCCs will occupy between 45-50 million square feet of office space over the next two years, constituting approximately 40% of total demand. This heightened activity is fueled by a diverse range of occupiers spanning sectors such as banking, financial services, technology, engineering, manufacturing, and healthcare. Additionally, there is a notable preference for green-certified Grade A office spaces among GCCs.
Sub- and near-dollar micro-markets have been instrumental in driving GCC space uptake, contributing nearly 80% of leasing activity between 2019 and 2023. This trend underscores the significance of these micro-markets in accommodating the evolving needs of GCCs in India.
Vimal Nadar, Senior Director and Head of Research at Colliers India, emphasized India's position as a premier GCC hub in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting factors such as a robust talent pool, strategic location, and commitment to sustainability as key drivers of this trend.
The latest report from Colliers, titled "Expert Insights - Asia Pacific Office Markets April 2024," revealed a 4-8% year-on-year rise in rentals across India's prime office markets in the first quarter. This growth, propelled by strong demand and high-quality supply, indicates a resurgence in the office market despite pandemic-induced challenges.
Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director of Office Services at Colliers India, noted that office occupiers are adapting to market dynamics by embracing cost-optimization strategies such as the hub-and-spoke model and expanding flexible space portfolios. Suburban and peripheral areas offering affordability are witnessing heightened demand, reflecting a preference for cost-effective solutions.
Flexible spaces, particularly with the rise of core-plus-flex models, are gaining prominence, constituting 8.7 million square feet of leasing in 2023 alone. This segment is expected to continue its momentum in 2024, comprising 15-20% of total office leasing across India's top six cities.
The Colliers report outlined six priorities for achieving cost efficiency in office real estate, including aligning office strategy with business goals, maximizing lease negotiations, and prioritizing energy-efficient systems and upgrades.
India's thriving office market, driven by GCCs and evolving occupier preferences, reaffirms the nation's position as a key player in the global business landscape.
