Velocity Inequalities in Digital Public Service Ecosystem: David Against Goliath in the Agri-Food Value Chain?

Digital transformation is fundamentally reshaping public service ecosystems (PSEs), generating velocity asymmetries that influence governance structures, service interactions, and power dynamics, contributing to a paradigm shift from traditionally industrially oriented ecosystems to service logic. Addressing key gaps in previous PSE studies, this research examines how digital transformation shapes velocity inequalities among different actors. The agri-food sector was selected as the empirical context due to the profound digital and structural transformations currently reshaping its ecosystem and governance mechanisms. This study adopts a qualitative, multi-method approach, combining a systematic desk review and participatory observation within a stable smart agri-food network with strong European linkages. Findings indicate that tech giants and startups operate at high velocity, leveraging data-driven service innovation, whereas small farmers and public institutions struggle to adapt due to resource constraints, bureaucratic inertia, and fragmented digital governance. The study highlights the emergence of data-centric service models, underscoring the need for strategic public–private coordination to ensure equitable participation in the evolving PSE. By advancing theoretical insights on velocity inequalities in PSEs, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how governance mechanisms and institutional adaptation shape service-driven digital transitions in complex, multi-actor ecosystems.