Sabre Corporation, the Texas-based global travel technology giant, recently marked a significant milestone — the 20th anniversary of its Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru, India. What began as a back-office support unit in 2005 has transformed into a cornerstone of Sabre’s global innovation engine, as affirmed by Sabre’s President and CEO, Mr. Kurt Ekert.

During the anniversary celebration, Mr. Ekert acknowledged that Sabre’s Indian GCC has helped shape the company’s global technology roadmap. The Bengaluru centre, once focused on delivery services, is now responsible for driving cutting-edge developments in AI, machine learning, and cloud technologies. This evolution has positioned the centre as a strategic hub for innovation, product development, and customer-focused solutions in the travel technology domain.

From Support to Strategy: A 20-Year Journey

Sabre’s Bengaluru GCC has undergone a remarkable transformation in two decades. Initially established to provide cost-effective support, the centre now plays a mission-critical role in platform modernisation, the development of customer-facing products, and enterprise-wide cloud migration initiatives. This evolution aligns with the company’s broader objective to adopt cloud-native architectures and AI-powered travel platforms.

Key platforms influenced by Bengaluru’s team include:

• Sabre Mosaic: a retailing platform.

• Sabre Travel AI: developed in collaboration with Google.

• Revenue Optimiser: helps travel companies maximize profitability using dynamic pricing.

These platforms are used globally by airlines, travel agencies, and hospitality brands, making Bengaluru a nerve centre of travel-tech innovation.

Kurt Ekert's Praise and Future Vision

Mr. Kurt Ekert, in his address, commended the engineering and data science teams based in Bengaluru, stating that they exhibit an “unmatched innovative spirit and global collaboration”. Their contributions have not only propelled Sabre’s global offerings but also reinforced India’s position as a global tech powerhouse.

The centre’s integrated operating model encompasses product development, engineering, operations, design, and customer support, which Mr. Ekert believes is crucial for Sabre’s long-term strategic positioning. According to him, the team is now increasingly taking ownership of core systems and high-impact initiatives, which previously rested with the global headquarters.

Bengaluru GCC’s Strategic Focus Areas

Sabre’s Managing Director for Bengaluru, Mr. Rency Mathew, shared the centre’s vision to become an even more integrated player in the global innovation chain. The GCC’s current strategy pivots on three main pillars:

1. Tech-First Innovation:
   Focusing on AI, machine learning, and cloud-native platforms to enhance intelligent retailing, automate travel workflows, and introduce personalised recommendations.

2. Talent Investment:
   The centre is actively involved in upskilling employees, implementing leadership development programs, and maintaining an inclusive hiring strategy that ensures diversity and long-term retention.

3. Innovation Enablement:
   Rapid prototyping labs, cross-functional collaborations, and open innovation frameworks are fostering an ecosystem conducive to fast-paced, scalable development.

This strategic framework is designed to ensure that Sabre remains agile and competitive in the face of fast-changing travel dynamics and rising customer expectations.

India's Role in the GCC Ecosystem

The achievements of Sabre’s GCC mirror the broader growth trajectory of India’s GCC ecosystem, which continues to draw significant global interest. As per the latest findings in the report "India's GCC Landscape: A Strategic Pathway for Mid-Sized Aspirational Corporations to Scale Beyond", the following projections were made:

• India is home to over 1,700 GCCs as of 2025.

• Annual revenue generation from these centres is pegged at Rs. 5,44,578 crore (US$ 64.6 billion).

• They currently employ around 1.9 million professionals.

• By 2030, the sector is expected to become a Rs. 8,43,000 crore (US$ 100 billion) industry employing over 2.5 million individuals.

These figures reflect the growing strategic importance of Indian GCCs, not just as support hubs but as centres of innovation, cost efficiency, and digital transformation. Companies are no longer viewing India merely as a cost-effective outsourcing location. Instead, it is being recognised as a talent-rich innovation base, capable of delivering high-value solutions for global markets.

Sabre’s Broader Global Aspirations

In line with its emphasis on platform modernisation and customer-centric transformation, Sabre has been actively pursuing a multi-year strategic roadmap to:

• Modernise legacy systems.

• Drive cloud adoption through partnerships like Google Cloud.

• Enhance travel merchandising and retailing.

• Deploy next-gen AI forecasting and analytics for smarter travel decisions.

With Bengaluru at the heart of this transformation, Sabre’s India operations have effectively become synonymous with its future-forward goals.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for the Future

The success story of Sabre’s Bengaluru GCC offers a blueprint for other mid-sized global firms looking to scale operations, access world-class talent, and build innovation-led ecosystems in India. As companies across industries look to future-proof their businesses, India’s GCCs are increasingly emerging as growth enablers and transformation leaders.

Sabre’s CEO, Mr. Kurt Ekert’s acknowledgment of the Indian team’s impact sends a strong message: India is no longer just part of the global strategy—it is leading it.

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