Dubai | 02 February 2026: House of Shipping just partnered with InfoSun to build a specialized tech hub in India. Exol is backed by Symbotic (warehouse automation) and SoftBank (physical AI investments), which tells you the scale they are playing at. This GCC is designed specifically to run Exol, a robotic logistics platform that is trying to change how warehouses and fulfilment centres work.

The centre spans 2 cities, Chennai and Mumbai, with 12,000 square feet of space and room for 150+ professionals right out of the gate. That is deliberate, Chennai for its engineering talent pool, Mumbai for its business operations depth.

These aren’t Tier 2 experiments. Chennai and Mumbai are established tech and business centres with deep talent pools and proven track records.

• ✓ Chennai; Strong engineering colleges, existing automotive and manufacturing presence, experience with complex supply chain operations.
• ✓ Mumbai: Financial services depth, business operations expertise, connectivity to global markets.

For a robotics platform that needs both technical chops and operational excellence, the combination makes sense. You are not betting on unproven markets, you’re leveraging established ecosystems. Between the two cities, they are covering what Exol needs: warehouse operations management, fulfilment system oversight, and ongoing platform development.

House of Shipping and InfoSun split responsibilities in a way that makes sense, because most companies either get strategy without execution or tech without governance. This setup gives Exol both.

• House of Shipping handles the foundation: They are managing the entire GCC setup: legal structure, HR framework, finance operations, tax compliance, and the overall operating model. Basically, everything that keeps the lights on and makes sure the centre runs properly.

  “This collaboration marks an important milestone in our commitment to delivering integrated, best-in-class logistics solutions. With our proven experience in building and scaling GCCs, we aim to set a new benchmark for efficiency, scalability and service excellence across global supply chains.”

  – Ardavan Bayat, Global Chief Process and Transformation Officer at House of Shipping

• InfoSun builds the tech backbone: Digital engineering, application development, data platforms. All the stuff that powers a robotic logistics system. They are not just maintaining code they’re actively developing the platform.

  “The establishment of this new Global Capability Centre is a testament to our deepened partnership with our key logistics customer Exol. It moves beyond traditional outsourcing to become a strategic hub for innovation, leveraging advanced technology and top-tier global talent to drive digital transformation and give a competitive edge in a complex supply chain landscape.”

  – Asim Chauhan, CEO of InfoSun

The India GCC Numbers

India currently hosts around 1,700 global capability centres (GCCs), roughly 55% of all GCCs worldwide. The projection is 2,100 centres by 2028. What has changed is the work these centres do. They are not just handling back-office tasks anymore. They are running product development, managing complex operations, and driving actual innovation.

For specialized sectors like maritime and logistics, India is becoming the default choice for building tech-heavy operational hubs. The talent is there, the infrastructure works, and companies have figured out how to manage distributed teams effectively.

The Smart Play Behind the Setup – Our Perspective

1. Functional separation, not geographic convenience: Chennai gets engineering because that’s where automotive and robotics talent lives. Mumbai gets operations because that’s where excellence sits. Most companies jam everything in one city for simplicity. House of Shipping optimized for capability instead. That choice matters when you’re running actual robots.
2. Clean accountability lines: House of Shipping runs governance. InfoSun builds tech. No overlap, no confusion. Most partnerships fail because nobody knows who owns what. This one front-loads the clarity. When things break and they will, everyone knows whose problem it is.

   “This partnership enables us to tap into world-class talent to accelerate the launch and continued growth of our platform. Building this Global Capability Centre is a critical step in scaling Exol’s operations and delivering a fulfilment infrastructure that is commercially available, reliable and accessible to companies globally.”

   – Ashfaque Chowdhury, CEO of Exol

3. SoftBank’s invisible hand: Follow the money. SoftBank backs Exol and has spent years learning what works in Indian tech hubs. This structure probably reflects hard-won lessons about distributed operations. That pattern recognition is the real asset here.
4. The execution bet: 150 people across two cities supporting a platform trying to disrupt global logistics. If coordination breaks or retention stumbles, the whole thing wobbles. They have got 12-18 months to prove distributed execution works at velocity. After that, investors want results, not explanations.

If Exol scales successfully with this model, expect other logistics and warehouse automation companies to follow the same playbook. The economics work, the talent’s available, and the operational model is proven. For manufacturers and retailers looking at next-generation fulfilment infrastructure, this represents a tested approach to building capacity without the insane costs of doing everything in-house in expensive markets.

Curated by SSF Global to track developments shaping the future of GCCs, enterprise ecosystems, and India’s commercial real estate landscape.

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About SSF Global
SSF Global is a Global Community for Enterprise Function Leaders and serves as a research & advisory platform focused on Global Business Services (GBS), Global Capability Centres (GCCs), and the evolution of enterprise innovation in India and beyond. We track, publish, and partner in narratives that shape how capability centres transform into hubs of trust, intelligence, and sustainable growth. We also evaluate, assess and benchmark the GCCs for their performance, maturity and other parameters using our proprietary tools built from the knowledge gained from direct interaction with our members (GCCs & GBS).