Barclays India plans to significantly reduce its external technology resource hiring over the next three years as the bank focuses on internal upskilling and productivity improvements. According to CEO and Managing Director Praveen Kumar, speaking at the Nasscom GCC Summit in Mumbai, the bank will shift from its current 60:40 ratio of internal to external resources to an 80:20 ratio. This change represents a fundamental shift away from heavy reliance on external service providers toward leveraging existing workforce capabilities. The strategic move aligns with broader industry trends where software developer hiring has shown a modest slowdown since August 2025, as reported by Investing.com, reflecting concerns about AI tools enabling companies to accomplish more development work with fewer team members.
The bank is building an applied AI centre of excellence in Bengaluru to develop high-end specialist skills in AI and data analytics. As reported by Business Standard, Kumar emphasized that specialist AI teams will complement core engineering teams across various business lines, serving as catalysts to uplift existing skills and deliver innovative solutions. The bank currently employs tens of thousands of people delivering services through various service integrators, but expects reduced dependence on external providers as internal productivity improves. This approach addresses the fundamental challenge facing companies like Atlassian, where generative AI tools may enable organizations to accomplish more development work with fewer developers, potentially reducing demand for collaboration and project management tools.
Barclays India's GCC network spans Delhi NCR, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with each location specializing in different capabilities. According to Kumar's interview, Chennai focuses on finance operations, Noida on customer service, Gurugram on analytics and insights, and Pune on technology and engineering. The bank acquired 250 people from Tesco's banking business in Bengaluru, which is being developed into a data and AI innovation hub. The company has reimagined its mortgage operations, resulting in massive upside for customers and increased market share.
Kumar highlighted the importance of leadership structure for GCC success, stating that India leadership should at least be at the N-3 level for transformation initiatives. As reported by Business Standard, he noted that achieving N-1 leadership level is crucial for securing a seat at the global table. The bank is building domain specialist knowledge in India for particular businesses where global leadership can be provided from India, with 30-40% of the workforce aligned to key areas where global leadership is located and 10% focused on path-breaking innovation. This leadership structure becomes increasingly critical as companies navigate the complexities of AI-native solutions that may better fit new workflows, potentially eroding traditional collaboration tool market positions.
