House of Shipping plans India hub for logistics technology expansion

House of Shipping, a Dubai-headquartered advisory and execution firm serving the logistics and maritime sectors, has moved to deepen its technology and operations footprint by setting up a Global Capability Center in India, signalling a broader push by Gulf-based logistics specialists to tap skilled digital talent and scalable engineering capacity.

The company has signed an agreement with InfoSun to establish the centre, which will support Exol, a robotic logistics platform positioned as a commercially deployable system for manufacturers, consumer packaged goods companies and brand owners. The facility is intended to act as a central base for technology development, product support and process optimisation, aligning with the growing role of Global Capability Centers as strategic rather than purely back-office operations.

House of Shipping said the India centre would underpin Exol’s expansion by providing engineering, analytics and operational support across supply-chain functions. Exol has been designed to integrate robotics, automation and data-driven decision tools into logistics workflows, an area where manufacturers and large consumer companies are seeking efficiency gains amid volatile freight markets, higher compliance demands and pressure to reduce costs.

The agreement with InfoSun reflects a partnership model increasingly used by international firms entering India’s GCC ecosystem, combining domain expertise with local delivery capabilities. InfoSun is expected to support the establishment, staffing and operational rollout of the centre, drawing on experience in enterprise technology services and digital transformation projects.

Executives familiar with the plans said the GCC would focus on software engineering, robotic process design, data analytics and platform support functions, enabling Exol to customise deployments for different industries and geographies. Over time, the centre is expected to take on a wider mandate, including research and development, product enhancement and client-specific solution design.

House of Shipping’s move comes as Global Capability Centers in India evolve beyond traditional shared services. Multinational corporations and mid-sized global firms alike are increasingly using GCCs to drive innovation, develop intellectual property and manage core business processes. According to industry estimates, India hosts several thousand GCCs employing more than a million professionals, with logistics, manufacturing and industrial technology emerging as fast-growing segments alongside banking, software and engineering.

The logistics and maritime sectors, historically slower to digitise than some other industries, have stepped up investment in automation and platforms that promise end-to-end visibility and optimisation. Robotic logistics systems are being adopted to manage warehousing, inventory movement, order fulfilment and yard operations, particularly as e-commerce volumes, omnichannel distribution and just-in-time manufacturing place new demands on supply chains.

Exol’s positioning as a robotic logistics platform aims to address these challenges by offering modular deployment across manufacturing plants, distribution centres and transport hubs. People involved in the project say the India-based team will play a role in adapting the platform to regulatory requirements, infrastructure constraints and operational practices across different markets, including the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

For House of Shipping, the GCC also represents a strategic hedge against talent shortages and rising technology costs in mature markets. India’s pool of engineers, data scientists and automation specialists has become a key draw for companies seeking to scale digital initiatives while maintaining cost discipline. At the same time, competition for skilled professionals has intensified, pushing firms to offer more sophisticated roles and clearer career pathways within GCCs.

Industry observers note that logistics-focused GCCs are no longer limited to IT maintenance or transaction processing. Many now handle advanced analytics, artificial intelligence models, simulation tools and robotics integration, directly influencing operational performance for global clients. This shift has elevated the importance of governance, data security and cross-border collaboration, areas that companies like House of Shipping will need to manage as the centre ramps up.