Supporting
digital transformation
in the e-services sector

As digital transformation becomes essential in our connected world, the European Union is working to help organisations adapt by integrating suitable technologies and shifting their business models toward digitalisation. This involves focusing on customer needs, redesigning processes, and fostering new organisational cultures. Digital technologies can create new business opportunities, improve efficiency through data analysis, and help extract value from data, but they also require building resilience and trust in digital infrastructures to minimise long-term risks.

What we understand by e-services?

E-services are services that are delivered through digital platforms, primarily via the internet or other electronic networks. They enable users to access, request, and interact with services remotely, often in real time, without the need for physical presence.

The key elements of this field are the following:

  • Digital delivery: Provided through websites, mobile apps, or other digital interfaces.
  • Automation: Often involves automated processes to improve speed and efficiency.
  • User interaction: Allow users to perform actions like submitting forms, making payments, or receiving support.
  • Accessibility: The service is available anytime and from anywhere with internet access.

These services can be provided by different types of organisations and are designed to improve accessibility, efficiency, and convenience for users.

What sectors are we addressing?

INSURANCE/INSURTECH

Focuses on the digital transformation of the insurance industry.

GAMING & ESPORTS

Game development, cloud gaming, in-game purchases, live streaming.

Sports Tech

Applies technology to enhance athletic performance, fan engagement, and sports business operations.

Cultural & Creative Industries

Digital tools for art, music, film, design, and publishing.

Financial Services

Encompasses digital banking, payments, wealth management, and fintech platforms.

Tourism

Encompasses online booking systems, virtual tourism, AI travel assistants, digital itineraries, and personalized travel experiences.

Retail & eCommerce

eCommerce platforms, digital marketing, personalized shopping.

Education & eLearning

Learning management systems, virtual classrooms, eAssessments.

Telecommunications

Self-service apps, network analytics, digital billing systems

Real Estate & PropTech

Technology-driven innovation in property buying, selling, renting, and managing.

Business opportunities in the e-services sector

Here’s a breakdown of what e-services mean across various industries, including both traditional sectors and tech-driven verticals.

Data Privacy & Security – Growing data regulations (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA) and increased customer scrutiny.

Scalability & Infrastructure – Digital platforms must handle spikes in users and data.

Integration Complexity – Integrate multiple third-party tools and legacy systems.

User Retention & Engagement – High churn in digital services due to poor onboarding or feature bloat.

Monetisation & Pricing Models – Finding sustainable business models in freemium-heavy markets.

Talent Shortage – Demand exceeds supply for AI/ML engineers, cloud architects, UX experts.

Platform & Device Fragmentation – Users are on web, mobile, smart TVs, wearables, etc.

Rapid Tech Evolution – Constant updates in AI, blockchain, AR/VR, etc.

Digital Divide & Accessibility – Reaching users with poor internet, limited devices, or disabilities.

E-services sector opportunities

The sector’s potential comes hand in hand with challenges, including:

EdTech – Engagement, cheating, digital divide.

Retail & eCommerce – Logistics, omnichannel UX, data privacy.

Creative Industries – IP protection, AI disruption, monetisation.

Sports Tech – Data ownership, real-time analytics, stakeholder buy-in.

Gaming & eSports – Monetisation limits, toxicity, technical infrastructure.

InsurTech – Regulatory complexity, data trust, personalisation.

FinTech – Compliance, security, legacy integration.

Telecom – Churn, network cost, digital transformation pace.

PropTech – Data fragmentation, trust, smart tech integration.

Travel & Tourism – Volatility, system integration, customer service automation.

E-services technologies

Smart maintenance

Sustainability / PLM; Asset / line condition monitoring; Product Service Systems.

Machine vision

Image and signal processing and classification; Non-destructive deep inspection (Photonics);Deep learning.

Sensory

Perception; Actuators and motors; Quantum sensory.

Internet of things

IoT Protocols; Embedded Processing – Edge; Communication Systems and Networks; Identification; Location and Guidance; Conformity Assessment; Sensors.

Cybersecurity and trust

Security, Safety and Privacy by Design; Blockchain/DLT; Secure Machine Economy; Control & Protection; Cyber Range.

Quantum technologies

Optimization; Quantum Machine Learning; Quantum Simulation; Magnetometry; QKD+QRNG.

Artificial intelligence

Modeling and data science; Descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive models; Explainability and trust in AI; AI on hybrid models; Generative AI.

Robotics and cognitive systems

Flexible and collaborative robotics; Cognitive and autonomous control; Drones and mobile/autonomous vehicles.

Advanced interaction systems

Extended reality; Natural interaction; Wearables; Digital ergonomics (HF & UX); Flexible and connected workplace; Gamification.

High-performance computing for data

Big Data Infrastructures; HPC Architectures; Infrastructure as Code; Data Governance; Distributed Computing; Cloud Service Brokers.

Systems lifecycle and DevOps

Intelligent DevOps; Risk and technical debt analysis; Qualitative and quantitative tools; Development/operational methods and tools.

Learn how we can help you!

Are you a corporate with a challenge?
Are you a startup with a solution?
Are you a EU-LAC Partnership ready for acceleration?

And stay tuned for other opportunity areas upcoming!