McDonald's and Bupa Are Building AI Teams in India (And Why You Should Too)

After 20 years of helping companies navigate India outsourcing, I thought I'd seen it all. Then I read about McDonald's and Bupa setting up AI centers in India to solve their talent shortages, and I realized we're watching something completely new unfold.

This isn't your typical back-office outsourcing. This is companies betting their AI future on Indian talent.

The Smart Money is Moving

According to a recent Financial Times report, companies like McDonald's and UK insurer Bupa are setting up teams in India specifically for AI work – not just any work, but the high-stakes stuff like monitoring equipment remotely and building personalized customer recommendations.

Think about that for a second. McDonald's – a company famous for standardized everything – is trusting teams in Bangalore to build AI that could reshape how they serve customers globally.

That's not about saving money. That's about survival in the AI race.

What I'm Seeing on the Ground

Being here in India physically and in the trenches, I've been blown away by what these teams are actually doing: building predictive systems that know when your equipment will break before it happens. Creating AI that personalizes experiences for millions of customers simultaneously developing tools that make real-time decisions worth millions of dollars

The sophistication is incredible. Teams that used to build basic websites are now creating AI systems that Fortune 500 companies depend on for competitive advantage.

Why India is Winning the AI Talent War

Here's the thing: while everyone's fighting over the same AI experts in Silicon Valley and New York, India has been quietly building the world's largest pool of AI talent.

"The movement is not simply a play for lower labor costs; it reflects an escalating need for advanced AI abilities that are in short supply at home," according to the FT report.

Indian engineers aren't just cheaper – though they are. They're also available. Lots of them. And they're getting really, really good at AI.

This Changes Everything

Twenty years ago, I helped companies move basic development work to India. Today, the story is very different, Data Engineers, AI Analytics, Machine Learning support work, revamping legacy systems to integrate AI and ML to help companies optimize their workflows.

The evolution has been amazing, but the AI wave is different. It's not just about building better software faster – it's about building capabilities that determine whether your company survives the next decade.

The New Model: Own It, Don't Rent It

What's fascinating is how companies like McDonald's and Bupa are approaching this. They're not just outsourcing AI projects – they're building their own AI centers that they control.

This Global Capability Center (GCC) model means:

You get dedicated teams focused solely on your business

The AI capabilities become part of your company, not a vendor's

You can scale up or down based on your needs

The team learns your business deeply over time

As one expert put it: "As AI becomes a core part of growth for many companies, you want to keep that as a strategic competitive driver and advantage and you want to keep it in house."

The Reality Check

Here's what worries me: while McDonald's and Bupa are building AI teams in India, a lot of other companies are still debating whether AI is "ready" or whether outsourcing is "risky."

Your competitors with India-based AI teams are already:

• Launching AI features while you're still planning

• Solving problems with AI that you're still solving manually

• Building competitive moats while you're managing talent shortages

• Rebuilding their business with the latest technology and relaunching their brands

What This Means for You

If a burger chain and an insurance company can successfully build AI capabilities in India, what's stopping your company?

The AI talent shortage in the US and Europe isn't getting better – it's getting worse. Meanwhile, India keeps producing more AI specialists every year.

The companies figuring this out now will have a massive advantage over those who wait.

My Advice: Start Small, Think Big

You don't need to build a massive AI center overnight. Start with a small team focused on one specific AI challenge your business faces.

The Bottom Line

McDonald's and Bupa aren't tech companies, but they recognize that AI capabilities will determine their competitive position for the next decade.

If you're in an industry that IS tech-forward, and you're not building AI capabilities in India, you're essentially competing with one hand tied behind your back.

The AI talent war is real. But there's a solution that the smartest companies have already discovered.

The question is: will you join them, or will you keep fighting over the same scarce talent everyone else is chasing?

Ready to explore AI partnerships in India? After 20 years in this business, I've never been more confident about the opportunities available. Let's discuss how you can build the AI capabilities your business needs. Baldy Rakhra www.Baldy.ca | www.AmaanAdvisors.com