With over 80 captive, BPO and ITO centres, Estonia is an established location for finance, IT and customer services and has a growing expertise in supply chain, HR and process automation.
| High-quality human capital with relevant experience and language skills. | |
| Ability to manage high order, global tasks and improve processes. | |
| Advanced IT platform, from technical support to process automation. | |
| Long-term reputation for quality and effectiveness. | |
| Ease of doing business supported by Nordic business culture. |
Estonia is an established location for GBS thanks to its high-quality, multilingual workforce, flexible business environment, and sustainable financial attractiveness.
Estonia’s journey began in the 1990s as a nearshoring location of choice for Nordic companies. Since then the sector has expanded significantly, diversifying the functions covered and up-tiering in sophistication.
Today there are over 80 captive, BPO and ITO shared service centres in Estonia employing 8,000+ people. Multifunctional centres with regional or global responsibility and multilingual teams, such as ABB and Stora Enso, become the norm. Traditional strengths in IT and finance are augmented by growing expertise in supply chain and HR management.
Estonia also specialises in government services, Tallinn being home to the EU LISA centre for operational management of large-scale IT systems and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
Ranked first in Europe for entrepreneurial employee activity and competitiveness, Estonia is at the cutting edge of GBS innovation. IT is widely utilised, from chatbots and social media in customer service, to robotic process automation in finance. Our continious process improvement mindset delivers new efficiencies and capabilities in addition to cost savings.
With a pro-business environment, exceptional talent pool and track record of success, Estonia is the scalable location for knowledge- and digitally-driven GBS.
Information on Investment Aid to Shared Service and Research & Development Centres can be found on the webpage of Enterprise Estonia.
Success stories in the Estonian Business services sector include:
ABB, Stora Enso, EU LISA centre for operational management of large-scale IT systems, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, etc.
These websites can be useful when interested in business services in Estonia:
You are also welcome to send us a request for personal e-consulting to obtain more specific information.
From multinationals such as Microsoft and Kuehne+Nagel to high growth startups such as TransferWise and Skype, Estonia creates revolutionary consumer, enterprise and government solutions for global markets.
Estonia developed X-Road, its proprietary decentralised, distributed system in 2001 and has utilised Blockchain since 2008. World-class technical skills supported by practical experience implementing public and permissioned Blockchain’s place Estonia at the forefront of the emerging Blockchain economy.
Estonia has an export-oriented Chemicals sector benefitting from a full value chain and world-class skills in oil shale, rare earth metals and petrochemicals. Our pro-business environment is competitive and trustworthy, with digitalisation applied to deliver new capabilities.
Estonia’s marine sector specialises in the design and build of small and medium-sized commercial and leisure vessels. Centuries long expertise, cutting-edge application of IT and a flexible approach make Estonia a competitive location for innovation and export-oriented production.
Estonia has a diversified energy sector which comprises long-standing expertise in oil shale, a sizeable renewables sector and growing CleanTech capability. World-class expertise within a highly digital, pro-business environment will see Estonia play a leading role in the energy revolution
Estonia has a sizeable food industry which benefits from ecological raw materials, skilled workers and modern production facilities. With an established export capability and growing application of food science and technology, Estonia is the ideal location for export and R&D oriented investment.
Estonia has a collaborative ecosystem for Industrial R&D including academia, accelerators and competence centres. Supported by world-class expertise and a highly competitive, digital environment, Estonia is the ideal location for Industrial product and technology R&D.
Estonia has unique expertise in developing and managing IT systems and is home to connected networks in transportation, the world’s largest blockchain company, the EU’s centre of large-scale systems and R&D into 5G telecommunications.
Estonia has a full value chain for R&D, prototyping, and production of precision components and complex systems, and is trusted by ABB, Ericsson and the European Space Agency.
With a highly-qualified workforce and strengths in engineering, electronics and IT, Estonia is at the cutting edge of R&D, production and service for mechatronic solutions with embedded software.
Estonia has one of Europe’s largest bioeconomies, including world leading expertise in forest-based activity. Supported by high-quality natural resources, ultra-high use of IT and supportive policy making, Estonia offers a range of production and innovation opportunities.
Estonia is one of the first countries to implement smart grid and electric vehicle networks and has strong capabilities in material technologies, big data analytics and IT solutions for the utility and agri sectors.
With over 80 captive, BPO and ITO centres, Estonia is an established location for finance, IT and customer services and has a growing expertise in supply chain, HR and process automation.
The most advanced cyber security country in Europe, Estonia has unique expertise in the research, development and management of cyber security solutions and systems. Home to NATO CCDCOE, Guardtime and Malwarebytes, Estonia is trusted to keep the digital economy safe.
Estonia is a world leader in identity cards and mobile and device-independent e-ID solutions. Based on ultra-high encryption and user convenience, e-ID can be used to vote, sign smart contracts, make contactless payments and is being adopted by business and governments globally.
Estonia is the most effective supply chain hub for the Nordic, Baltic and northwest Russian regions thanks to its strategic location, modern infrastructure, multi-modal capabilities and reliable but flexible approach.
Estonia is a world leader in the development and application of digital logistics. From data analytics and country single windows to mobile apps and delivery robots, Estonia improves supply chain efficiency and client experience from the first mile to last.
Estonia has a niche capability in the design and engineering of hardware and software solutions for intelligent transportation, urban planning, tourism and smart homes. Advanced digital infrastructure, skills and consumer adoption provide the ideal R&D testbed.
Estonia is a world leader in e-Health and has niche expertise in biotechnology, genetics and pharmaceuticals. Supported by a collaborative R&D ecosystem, Estonia is applying MedTech to advance science, societal wellbeing and the efficiency of business.
Estonia is a cashless society with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally and electronic ID and Blockchain utilised daily. 80+ FinTechs ranging from innovative startups such as TransferWise to Blockchain leader Guardtime make Estonia a global centre of excellence for FinTech.
What is it like to run a business in Estonia? How to benefit from the e-solutions and the efficiency of our business culture? What are the opportunities in specific sectors?
The Business in Estonia section helps you prepare for doing business in Estonia. And if you have any further questions, our business advisers are happy to help.
