Bengaluru, India – April 30, 2025 – Japanese tech conglomerate Rakuten has announced plans to invest at least $100 million in India this year, as part of its strategy to scale operations and enhance its AI-driven capabilities globally. The move is expected to increase hiring by 8%, primarily focusing on AI-literate talent, according to India CEO Sunil Gopinath in a statement to Reuters.
Scaling Operations via India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC
Rakuten currently operates a robust Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India, which employs over 4,000 people, 90% of whom are in technology roles. With locations across India — including two major hubs in Bengaluru — the GCC powers approximately 50% of Rakuten’s 70+ global businesses.
“We look for AI-savvy professionals that we can intersperse across the company,” said Gopinath.
Focus Areas of the Investment
Rakuten’s upcoming investment in India will be directed toward:
- Infrastructure upgrades
- AI-driven platform development
- Technology talent acquisition
- Operational automation and productivity tools
The company is intensifying its use of artificial intelligence to enhance internal operations, customer experience, and business tools.
AI-Driven Innovation: SixthSense and Rakuten Pay
Rakuten’s India team plays a pivotal role in developing Rakuten Pay, a leading Japanese payment app, and the SixthSense platform — an intelligent system that detects, predicts, and resolves system failures in real time.
“It’s almost like Sherlock Holmes… it can project and predict issues before they happen,” Gopinath explained.
The SixthSense AI platform is currently used by entities ranging from banks and airlines to healthcare providers and the Indian government.
Profit Growth from AI Integration
Rakuten reported a profit of ¥10.5 billion ($73.6 million) in fiscal year 2024, much of which was attributed to AI efficiencies. Internal figures show that employees nearly halved their time spent creating sales materials, thanks to the adoption of AI across operations.
Looking ahead, Rakuten aims to double its AI-related profit in 2025 through continued investment in its AI-first strategy.
India’s GCC Market Outlook
According to a joint report by NASSCOM and Zinnov, the GCC market in India is expected to grow from $64.6 billion in FY2024 to $105 billion by FY2030. This trend underscores India’s rising importance as a strategic tech innovation hub for global enterprises like Rakuten.
With its $100M India investment and focus on AI talent acquisition, Rakuten is positioning India not just as a support center, but as a core engine of innovation and profitability. The expansion is expected to not only drive company growth but also boost India’s standing in the global technology ecosystem.
