10 ways to contribute to a better world using Digital Transformation

How can our everyday work contribute to a better world? How can digital transformation improve the lives of those living in poverty? These are thought-provoking questions that might have come across your mind. 

The good news is Digital transformation can contribute to a better world in several impactful ways:

1. Access to Education:

• Khan Academy: This online platform provides free, world-class education to anyone with an internet connection. It offers courses in a wide range of subjects, helping students in impoverished areas access quality education.
• Bridge International Academies: Uses technology to deliver affordable, high-quality education in low-income countries, particularly in Africa. Their model includes digital lesson plans and data-driven teaching methods.

2. Financial Inclusion:

• M-Pesa: A mobile money service in Kenya and other African countries that allows people to transfer money, pay bills, and access financial services using their mobile phones, without needing a bank account.
• Grameen Bank: Provides microfinance services to poor populations in Bangladesh, helping them to start businesses and improve their economic status. They use digital tools to manage loans and savings.

3. Healthcare Services:

• Babylon Health: This telemedicine service provides access to doctors through a mobile app. It’s used in Rwanda to deliver healthcare services to remote and underserved populations.
• Zipline: Uses drones to deliver medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas in countries like Ghana and Rwanda.

4. Employment Opportunities:

• Upwork and Freelancer: Online platforms that connect freelancers with job opportunities globally. They provide opportunities for individuals in low-income countries to earn an income by working remotely.
• Samasource: Trains and employs people in developing countries to perform digital tasks for companies, helping lift them out of poverty.

5. Agricultural Support:

• FarmDrive: A Kenyan startup that uses mobile phones to collect data on smallholder farmers, enabling them to access credit. It also provides data analytics to improve farming practices.
• iCow: A mobile platform in Kenya that provides farmers with agricultural tips, market prices, and veterinary advice via SMS.

6. Social Services and Benefits:

• Aadhaar: India’s biometric ID system, which helps ensure that government benefits and subsidies reach the right individuals, reducing fraud and improving efficiency.
• GiveDirectly: Uses mobile money to transfer cash directly to people living in extreme poverty, primarily in East Africa, enabling them to spend on their most pressing needs.

7. Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses:

• Etsy: Provides a global platform for artisans and small business owners to sell handmade and vintage items. This has enabled many people from impoverished backgrounds to reach international markets.
• Shopify: Allows small business owners to create online stores and reach customers worldwide, empowering entrepreneurs in developing regions.

8. Access to Information:

• Wikipedia Zero: An initiative by the Wikimedia Foundation to provide free access to Wikipedia on mobile phones in developing countries, enabling access to knowledge without data charges.
• GSMA mHealth: Offers health information via mobile phones to improve health literacy in developing countries.

9. Community Development:

• Ushahidi: A crowdsourcing platform developed in Kenya to map reports of violence. It has since been used for various community-driven data collection and advocacy projects globally.
• HarassMap: is a volunteer-based initiative that uses digital tools to combat sexual harassment in Egypt. The platform allows individuals to anonymously report incidents of sexual harassment online. These reports are then plotted on an online map to identify hotspots and patterns of harassment which can be used to develop targeted interventions and allocate resources effectively, promoting safer public spaces.

10. Reduction of Inequality:

• Code.org: Aims to increase access to computer science education for students from diverse backgrounds, including those in underserved communities, to provide them with valuable skills.
• org (by Facebook): Now part of Free Basics, it aims to bring internet access to underserved populations worldwide, providing essential online services without data charges.

By leveraging these digital advancements, we can work towards a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world. DT-Experts can be your partner to create impactful solutions, helping your company and the community around you thrive!