With the introduction of the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) under the updated regulation on electronic identification and trust services (eIDAS 2.0), the European Union has taken an important step towards creating a unified and secure digital identity framework. To support its implementation, the EU Digital Wallet Consortium (EWC) brings together stakeholders from across the EU to test the concept through practical pilot experiments.
What is the EWC pilot experiment?
EWC is a collaborative European effort to create a unified digital identity system, focusing on credentials such as digital travel credentials to enhance cross-border mobility. One of the main goals of the consortium is to build a wallet application and test practical use cases that demonstrate functionality in real-world situations.
Recently, EWC has provided a pilots to demonstrate a simulation of two process: a booking of the hotel and the opening bank account to present a user flow. In addition to providing practical experience, these pilots serve as important feedback channels, helping developers and policymakers better understand user needs and expectations.
EWC pilot experiment from a natural person’s perspective
EWC proposed several tests to introduce the concepts of EUDI Wallet. One of the most straightforward scenarios to test is “Benidorm”.
The main objective of the scenario is to book a hotel room in Benidorm using the EUDI Wallet. Each such scenario begins with setting up the Digital Identity Wallet mobile app by adding credentials, showing how easy it will be to set up and use in regular basis.
Once the wallet is set up, the user can easily proceed through the scenario by tapping a few buttons like:
- QR Code button to start the process of reservation and to inform the user about requiring data by relying party,
- ‘Confirm‘ in a wallet app to review the required data (name, surname, birthday, email, phone number, email) and send it from the wallet to the correct relying party ,
- ‘Confirm data’ on a website to review the data which has been sent and proceed with the data sharing.
The process allow people to review what personal details are requested and decide whether to share them. This experiment shows how the EUDI Wallet could greatly improve convenience, for instance, by simplifying hotel reservations. Since it’s only a pilot, it doesn’t include the full privacy concerns outlined in eIDAS 2.0. However, in the future, the EUDI Wallet is expected to support selective data sharing, limit tracking, and give users possibility to keep track of the data they share.
Result: The whole process took 1 minute.
Current situation: The process takes around 5 minutes and required separate account for a single booking system.
Comparing the traditional booking process with the scenario using the digital wallet, we can highlight the ease and efficiency, as well as the time saved and reduced risk of providing inaccurate data. With EUDI Wallet, we can expect a faster experience reducing unnecessary steps.
At the end of each session, users are encouraged to submit feedback, helping the EWC improve the system’s usability and performance. The full experience takes approximately 10 minutes, and we strongly encourage everyone completing the experiment by yourself and gain a hand-on experience.
EWC pilot experiment in business-to-business scenarios
The eIDAS 2.0 regulation also envisages the use of the EUDI Wallet by legal entities and companies, not just individuals. To study this application, the EWC has developed a separate test case called “Bank AG”.
In this use case, the goal is to simulate opening a company bank account in another country using both the company’s credentials and the identity of a legal representative via a wallet. This process is a reply for actual business needs, demonstrating how companies’ digital credentials can streamline secure, cross-border transactions.
While structurally like the Benidorm scenario, this test incorporates a wider range of credentials, like EU Company Certificate or EU Power of Attorney, and emphasizes secure business-to-business interactions. It demonstrates how formal processes, such as account creation or due diligence, can be optimized to allowing authorized representatives to act on behalf of companies using validated digital credentials.
Bank AG use case shows that this not only reduction of paperwork and administrative delays but also increase trust and compliance of digital transactions.
Result: The whole process took 3 minutes for the user and might require several hours for the bank to process the application.
Current situation: The online process of opening a bank account in many EU countries either does not exist yet, or, if available, highly time-consuming to proceed since lacks automation.
Compared to the traditional way of opening a bank account, the EUDI Wallet can eliminate paperwork and significantly speed up business workflows, which is a highly desirable outcome.
Our thoughts
Obserwatorium.biz is an active member of the EUDI Wallet Consortium. By participating in experiments, we are better positioned to identify potential issues, gather actionable feedback and ensure the functionality and usability of the wallet.
Through ongoing testing and collaboration with EU partners, we aim to contribute to a secure, inclusive and effective digital identity solution that benefits citizens, institutions and businesses.
Conclusion
The EWC Test Demos provide a practical insight into how the EUDI Wallet will simplify and secure transactions across the EU. Using real-world scenarios such as hotel bookings or opening a business account, these pilots demonstrate the wallet’s potential to enhance user control, protect personal data and simplify cross-border services. Obserwatorium.biz is proud to be an active contributor to the EWC initiative. We invite everyone to check out the demonstration experiences and see for themselves how the EUDI Wallet is shaping the future of digital services in Europe.
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Date of publication: 17.04.2025