5% of Lifetime Spent Commuting: The Hidden Cost of India's GCC Boom
18 Apr 2025 / 04 min read
A new report by MoveInSync, an employee commute platform, has revealed that the global capability center (GCC) workforce in India's top cities spends a significant 5% of their lifetime commuting to office, highlighting the importance of efficient commute solutions for talent attraction and retention.
According to the report, which analyzed commute data from Q1 2025, GCC employees in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and the National Capital Region (NCR) spend an average of 50 minutes, 45 minutes, and 55 minutes commuting one way, respectively. The report also found that employees work from the office an average of 2-3 days a week, with Wednesdays being the most popular in-office day.
India has emerged as a leading destination for global enterprises establishing GCCs, with a 32% increase in the number of centers over the past five years. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and NCR are at the forefront of this expansion, accounting for 30%, 14%, and 16% of the total GCC market, respectively.
Commute Trends
The report highlights some key trends in commute patterns:
Industry-specific commute patterns: Pharma and BFSI sectors prefer more in-office time, while retail and entertainment sectors lean towards remote work.
Midweek peak: Wednesdays see the highest cab bookings across companies, while Fridays are surprisingly light.
Commute strategy: Commute data is becoming a key lever for talent retention, with companies using it to design better schedules, wellness policies, and real estate plans.
Sustainability Initiatives
GCCs are increasingly adopting electric vehicles (EVs) and ride-sharing to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly commutes. Transport costs are being optimized with increased user adoption, enabling better route optimization and reduced per-person travel expenses.
The report's findings highlight the importance of commute solutions in the GCC sector, particularly in India's top cities. As the sector continues to grow, companies will need to prioritize efficient and sustainable commute solutions to attract and retain top talent.
“That’s 4 years over a 40-year career. No wonder commute strategy is becoming a key lever for talent retention. Commute data isn’t just operational. It’s strategic. Use it to design better schedules, wellness policies, and real estate plans,” MoveInSync said in a LinkedIn post highlighting the report’s findings..
