Engagement Models
At OBOX, we are aware that there is no one-size-fits-all playbook for global expansion. Every company has its own growth stage, investment appetite, and long term vision.
Drawing from our extensive experience of working with 400+ foreign companies across more than 23 countries, we have curated four flexible, scalable, and time-tested engagement models—built on proven methodologies and real-world results. These models empower you to choose the pace and structure that best suit your strategy.
No matter which path you choose, you get the same promise: one-window integrated delivery, 100% compliance, and unmatched expertise in developing high-velocity GCCs for companies across the globe.
GCC-as-a-Service (GaaS)
Your GCC, delivered as a ready-to-run subscription.
There’s no incorporation delay, OBOX steps in as your legal employer and operations backbone so you can start immediately.
You gain plug-and-play infrastructure with instant access to talent pools, office facilities, and built-in compliance frameworks.
Scaling becomes effortless, as you can increase or decrease capacity on a pay-as-you-go basis without having to overcommit.
Speed-to-market is measured in weeks, not months, giving you a real competitive edge.
What makes GaaS unique is its pathway flexibility:
For companies testing India before committing to a Captive GCC, GaaS offers a risk-free trial environment where scale and costs are controlled.
For enterprises envisioning a COPO model (Company-Owned, Partner-Operated), GaaS becomes the perfect launchpad — you focus on strategy and growth while OBOX runs the day-to-day operations.
At any point, you can evolve from subscription into a Captive GCC or COPO setup with zero disruption to teams or processes, ensuring that your early operational spend (OpEx) gradually converts into sustainable CapEx assets when you’re ready for ownership.
Best suited for: Startups, scale-ups, and mid-sized companies seeking a global footprint without heavy upfront investments, while keeping the option to graduate into Captive or COPO ownership in the future.
EOR-to-GCC Pathway: Our Flagship Model
Enter India fast. Transition to your own GCC in a smooth, secure manner and without any interruptions.
You begin with OBOX’s Employer of Record (EOR) solution, which enables you to start hiring top talent in a matter of weeks, while we manage HR, payroll, benefits, contracts, and compliance under our umbrella.
All the physical and IT infrastructure you need comes bundled in — with zero CapEx on your part. Everything operates as OpEx until you’re ready to establish your own entity.
As you scale and mature, the pathway into a Captive or COPO GCC is seamless, ensuring complete continuity for your employees and stability for your operations.
There’s no disruption, no messy re-contracting, and no risk. The team you build under EOR naturally becomes the core of your permanent GCC, making this one of the easiest ways to scale into India.
Best suited for: Mid-sized or growing companies that want to enter India rapidly with a future-ready pathway into a full-fledged GCC.
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
A structured route to build your own captive GCC with expert hands guiding the entire journey.
In the BUILD phase, OBOX handles everything: entity incorporation, statutory registrations, office and IT infrastructure setup, leadership hiring, and HR & Finance frameworks.
During the OPERATE phase, your GCC runs under a COPO model, with OBOX managing operations, compliance, finance, vendor contracts, and day-to-day administration — giving you confidence that everything is being handled professionally.
In the TRANSFER phase, we hand over a fully functioning GCC with detailed documentation, training, and knowledge transfer so your leadership team can take over seamlessly.
Throughout the early stages, your exposure is mostly OpEx, which includes salaries, rents, and vendor contracts, while OBOX shoulders the heavy lift of setup. CapEx ownership transfers to you only once the GCC is handed over, allowing for a smooth and financially manageable expansion.
Best suited for: Companies new to India that want ownership and control, but need a trusted operator until they are ready to take over.
FLEXI Model
Your GCC, your rules.
This model allows you to pick and choose which functions OBOX should handle, such as HR, payroll, compliance, or finance; while you maintain control over strategic areas like recruitment or leadership.
It’s a true hybrid, with your leadership setting the direction, while OBOX drives the execution engine on the ground.
The structure adapts with you — scale up, scale down, or even rearrange operations as business needs evolve, without being constrained by a rigid format.
In terms of costs, it lets you strike the right balance. You can keep CapEx-heavy areas (like infrastructure or leadership hiring) in-house, while outsourcing non-core processes to OBOX as OpEx — giving you both agility and cost efficiency.
Best suited for: Enterprises seeking a hybrid model that balances control, cost-efficiency, and operational resilience.
GCC Engagement Model Wizard
Answer a few quick questions to get a recommended engagement model.
FAQs - OBOX Engagement Models
Q: What engagement models does OBOX offer for GCC setup in India?
A: OBOX offers four flexible engagement models – GCC as a Service (GaaS), EOR to GCC Pathway, Build Operate Transfer (BOT), and the FLEXI Model. Each model is designed to match different growth stages and risk profiles, from rapid market entry to full long term ownership.
Q: How do I choose the right engagement model for my company?
A: The ideal model depends on your timeline, investment appetite, and long term vision.
- Choose GaaS if you want the fastest entry, minimal upfront investment, and a fully managed, ready-to-run GCC.
- Choose EOR to GCC if you want to start hiring immediately and transition into full ownership once scale and stability are established.
- Choose BOT if you are entering India for the first time and prefer a structured, guided path to owning your GCC after a defined operate phase.
- Choose FLEXI if you need a customised hybrid approach where your entity stays in your control, but HR, payroll, accounting, and operations are managed by experts.
Not sure which model fits your business right now?
Connect with our GCC experts to discuss your specific requirements and get a personalised recommendation. Our team has worked with more than 400 foreign companies across 23 plus countries, and can help you design an optimal engagement strategy for your India expansion.
Q: Can I transition from one engagement model to another?
A: Yes. The OBOX engagement models are designed to be evolutionary. You can move from GaaS to a Captive GCC or COPO model, transition from EOR to a Captive or COPO GCC, or gradually adjust the FLEXI model as your needs change, with minimal disruption to teams or operations.
Q: What is included in all OBOX engagement models?
A: All models include single window integrated delivery, strong compliance assurance, access to the OBOX network across 23 plus countries that supports more than 400 foreign companies, and deep expertise in building and scaling high velocity GCCs in India.
Q: What is GCC as a Service (GaaS)?
A: GaaS is a subscription based model where OBOX provides a ready to run GCC without the need to incorporate an entity first. OBOX acts as your legal employer and operations backbone, with plug and play access to talent, workspace, and compliance frameworks.
Q: How quickly can I start operations with GaaS?
A: You can be operational within weeks instead of months. There is no incorporation delay. OBOX becomes your legal employer in India and manages all statutory and administrative requirements, while your team starts delivering business outcomes.
Q: What does pay as you grow mean in the GaaS model?
A: You pay a monthly subscription that is linked to your actual headcount and services used. You can scale up or scale down capacity without long term commitments or overinvestment, keeping the entire setup as operational expenditure instead of capital expenditure.
Q: Can I transition from GaaS to owning my own GCC?
A: Yes. GaaS is built with pathway flexibility. You can move to a Captive GCC that you fully own and operate, or to a COPO model where you own the entity while OBOX continues to run day to day operations. This transition happens with no disruption to people, payroll, or processes.
Q: What is the difference between GaaS and COPO?
A: In the GaaS model, OBOX owns the legal entity and you operate through a subscription. In a COPO model, you own the legal entity while OBOX manages operations on the ground. Many clients start with GaaS as a launchpad and gradually move to COPO once they commit to a deeper India strategy.
Q: What are the costs involved in GaaS?
A: GaaS works on a one hundred percent operational expense basis with no upfront capital investment. Your costs include employee salaries, the OBOX service subscription, and bundled infrastructure. You avoid heavy spending on entity setup, office build out, or long term leases in the early stages.
Q: What is the EOR to GCC Pathway?
A: This is the flagship OBOX model that combines rapid entry through Employer of Record services with a structured route to full GCC ownership. You start hiring within weeks while OBOX handles all compliance and administration, and then you move to your own entity when the time is right.
Q: How does the EOR phase work?
A: OBOX becomes the legal employer on record in India. We manage HR, payroll, benefits, employee contracts, and compliance. You retain full control over day to day work, performance, and culture. You also avoid capital expenditure during the initial phase.
Q: When should I transition from EOR to my own GCC?
A: Transition timing is flexible and based on your comfort. Many clients move after around eighteen to twenty four months, once they have validated the market, built a strong team, and reached a scale that justifies owning the entity. The transition is planned so that teams and operations continue without disruption.
Q: Will employees need to resign when we move from EOR to GCC?
A: No. The team you build under EOR becomes the core of your permanent GCC. The transition is structured to avoid resignations and re contracts. Employment, benefits, roles, and operational processes carry forward smoothly.
Q: What entity options can I transition to from EOR?
A: You can transition to a Captive GCC that you own and operate, or to a COPO GCC where you own the entity while OBOX continues to operate it. Our advisory team also guides you on options like subsidiary company, branch office, or liaison office depending on your business model.
Q: What happens if my India strategy changes during the EOR phase?
A: One key advantage of EOR is exit flexibility. If your strategy changes, it is simpler to end an EOR arrangement compared to unwinding a legal entity. This makes EOR a lower risk way to test and scale in India.
Q: What is the BOT model?
A: BOT is a structured three phase approach. OBOX builds your GCC and sets up the entity and team, operates the centre professionally under a COPO model for an agreed period, and then transfers full operational control back to you when you are ready.
Q: How long does each BOT phase usually take?
A: As a guideline, the Build phase is around three to six months, the Operate phase is usually twelve to twenty four months, and the Transfer phase is around three to six months. Exact timelines depend on scope, complexity, and your speed of decision making.
Q: What happens during the Build phase?
A: OBOX manages entity incorporation, statutory registrations, office selection and setup, IT infrastructure, leadership hiring, and the design of HR and finance frameworks. In simple terms, we create a fully ready platform for your GCC to run.
Q: How does the Operate phase work?
A: During Operate, your GCC runs under a COPO model. You own the entity and set strategy, while OBOX manages daily operations such as HR, payroll, compliance, finance, information technology, facilities, and vendor management. This gives you the comfort of expert local operations with clear performance governance.
Q: What does the Transfer phase include?
A: The Transfer phase includes detailed documentation, training for your leadership and operations teams, structured handover of processes, and transfer of vendor contracts and local relationships. We also provide post transfer support for a period so that the move to full independence is smooth.
Q: Do I own the GCC from the beginning in the BOT model?
A: Yes. You own the legal entity from the Build phase onward. OBOX temporarily operates the centre, but ownership, intellectual property, and strategic control remain with you at all times. Only operational responsibility transfers back to you at the end of the BOT cycle.
Q: Can I exit the BOT arrangement before the Transfer phase?
A: BOT is designed for eventual transfer, but it is also flexible. You can discuss early exit options or decide to continue in a COPO style arrangement for a longer period if that suits your strategy better.
Q: What is the FLEXI Model?
A: FLEXI is a custom hybrid model where you decide which functions OBOX manages and which ones you keep in house. For example, OBOX can run HR, payroll, compliance, and finance, while you retain control over leadership, product, and business development. It is your GCC, running on your rules.
Q: Which functions can OBOX manage under the FLEXI model?
A: OBOX can manage any combination of HR operations, recruitment, payroll, statutory compliance, finance and accounting, legal and compliance support, facilities and administration, and information technology infrastructure. We can also provide targeted support in only a few areas.
Q: Can I change which functions OBOX handles over time?
A: Yes. That flexibility is at the core of this model. As your internal team grows, you can shift responsibilities back in house. If you are entering a fast growth phase, you can increase the scope managed by OBOX. These changes are typically reviewed quarterly or annually.
Q: How is the FLEXI model priced?
A: Pricing is linked to the functions and scope that you outsource. In many cases, clients see around twenty to thirty percent savings compared to building the same capabilities internally. FLEXI helps you balance capital expenditure on core areas with operational expenditure on support functions.
Q: What is the usual setup timeline for FLEXI?
A: The setup timeline depends on the scope of services, but it is usually between one and three months. FLEXI is faster than creating everything in house and more tailored than a standard subscription model.
Q: Can FLEXI support companies that already operate in India?
A: Yes. FLEXI is well suited for organisations that already have an India entity and want to optimise it. You can outsource non core processes to OBOX, strengthen compliance by tapping into our expertise, or temporarily extend your internal teams during periods of rapid growth.