Digital transformation support through EDIH services: a case study of DAP and FCO implementation in Croatia

Digital transformation support services help organisations translate digitalisation needs into structured investment and implementation plans. This study examines two advisory instruments delivered within the EDIH Adria project in Croatia: the Digitalisation Action Plan (DAP) and the Funding Capabilities and Opportunities (FCO) Assessment. It analyses documentation for 30 service users, comprising 13 small- and medium-sized enterprises and 17 public institutions, collected during 2024–2025. A descriptive and analytical approach examined technological domains, implementation periods, estimated investment costs, service duration and planned organisational impacts. The results show that 25 users received DAP services and 24 received FCO assessments, with 19 receiving both. Artificial intelligence and Decision support was the dominant technological domain, accounting for 12 DAP projects, followed by Internet of Things with 4 projects. Most projects had implementation periods of 6–12 months, while the most common investment categories were €50,000–€100,000 and above €100,000, with 8 projects in each category. The findings indicate that EDIH advisory services help structure diverse digital transformation initiatives. For practitioners, the results highlight the value of combining strategic planning with financial readiness assessment. For policymakers, they provide evidence on technology demand, investment requirements and organisational needs to inform regional and national digitalisation support programmes.