The difficulty of the entities of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) to face the digital career without losing their values. – Athenaeum

In recent years, digital transformation has become one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for social and solidarity economics organizations (ESS). While digitalization offers great advantages in terms of visibility, operational efficiency and ability to reach more people, ESS entities are with an added difficulty: how to adapt to the digital age without losing the fundamental values ​​that define its model?

The challenge of digitization for ESS

The ESS, as a whole, is based on values ​​such as democracy, participation, solidarity, transparency and social justice. This model contrasts with that of large conventional companies, often oriented exclusively for economic profitability. The ESS organizations are not seeking the maximum benefit, but the social impact and the common good. Thus, digitization, despite its advantages, can jeopardize this philosophy when economic interests are prioritized or the excessive use of strategies that may erode personal and community relationships.

Key difficulties in dealing with digitization

Inequality in access to technology: Digitization can deepen the digital gap between large technology companies and small ESS initiatives. Many ESS entities have no financial or technical resources to invest in advanced digital tools or specialized training for their staff. This can lead to a competitive disadvantage, although its mission is social and non -commercial.

Maintain the human and community relationship: ESS entities are based on personal contact and the construction of close and collaborative relationships. Intensive use of technology may, in many cases, seem an impediment to maintaining these dynamics of direct and personalized relationship with members and community. The danger lies in losing this essential human contact as digital platforms take up more space.

Pressure for economic sustainability: As ESSES entities go to the digital environment, they often have to compete in an increasingly globalized market. This pressure can lead to the adoption of aggressive marketing strategies and monetization of services that distort the social goals of organizations. The danger is that the business model will prioritize profitability, to the detriment of the social impact that justifies the existence of the ESS.

Protection of privacy and digital ethics: Personal data has become a currency of exchange in the digital economy. For ESS organizations, which are based on mutual trust and respect, collection and management of this data must be extremely careful and aligned with its values. This involves ethical and transparent management of information, which requires additional effort and greater surveillance.

How to face digitization from the ESS without losing values

Despite these challenges, ESS organizations can and must find ways to integrate digitalization by respecting their values. Some of the strategies to achieve this may be:

Develop a digital approach: it is crucial for the ESF entities to incorporate digital technologies so that they can improve their social impact, without sacrificing transparency, participation or cooperation. This implies that digital processes are also participatory, that they favor collaborative work and that they do not only have economic benefit, but also a social benefit.

Optimize the use of digital tools to create community: ESS must make a strategic use of digital platforms to strengthen their relationship with their community. This means that digital tools should be used to connect people and facilitate direct interactions with each other, instead of encouraging the creation of impersonal and massive relationships. Social networks, for example, can be used to share knowledge, generate debate and enrich community experiences.

Digital training and training for all: Digitalization should not be an obstacle, but an opportunity. ESS organizations can encourage internal training so that everyone has the tools and knowledge to participate in the digital world. The training must be inclusive, so that all the staff and collaborators of the entity, including those with less technological resources, are able to use digital tools without losing contact with the values ​​of the organization.

Promote business models that do not compromise the ESS: For ESS organizations, sustainable business models need to be sought not only for economic efficiency, but also social resilience. This includes the use of technologies that make processes more efficient, but also to create a more just and equitable society.

Conclusion

Digitization is a powerful tool that can help organizations in the social and solidarity economy to expand their impact, connect with more people and streamline their processes. But in a digitized world where everything seems to be oriented to the economic benefit, the ESS must be vigilant to ensure that its fundamental values ​​- such as solidarity, democracy and social justice – are not overwhelmed by the dynamics of the digital market. Adapting to this new scenario, staying true to its mission, is one of the great challenges for the future of cooperativism and social economy.

With appropriate strategies and an ethical approach, ESS entities can take advantage of the power of technology to create a more just and sustainable society, without sacrificing the principles that define them.