A Unique Digitalization Toolkit for Mediation Is Now Available in Open Access

A comprehensive educational and practical guide has been developed for Ukrainian and European alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professionals to help them work effectively in a digital environment while maintaining confidentiality and professional standards. These free tools address the key challenges faced by ADR practitioners — from data protection to working with AI.

The toolkit was presented by SET University in partnership with international partners within the framework of the project “Digital Innovations for Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Visegrad Four Countries and Ukraine” (DIGARD V4U). For the first time, the experience of the Visegrad countries and Ukraine was analyzed in the context of applying digital tools to ADR.

The toolkit is designed for mediators, facilitators, and arbitrators seeking practical guidance for their daily work:

• Legal advisors will gain an understanding of the digital opportunities in ADR;
• Lecturers and trainers will receive educational materials for their courses;
• ADR organizations will be able to develop digital transformation strategies;
• Policymakers will find evidence-based recommendations for regulating the sector.

Why is this important now?

Alternative dispute resolution is becoming increasingly relevant: court systems are overloaded, while mediation offers faster, more cost-effective, and confidential conflict resolution. However, digitalization also creates new challenges, particularly within the ADR field.

A study involving 86 practitioners from five countries revealed that 72% of mediators demonstrate a low level of digital adoption in their practice. The main barriers include technical difficulties, lack of trust in digital tools due to confidentiality concerns, and legal uncertainty surrounding online procedures.

Paradoxically, 74 out of 86 respondents actively use digital tools for communication but lack knowledge on how to do so securely and effectively.

Notably, Ukraine emerged as the leader in digital integration among all the countries studied. More than 29% of Ukrainian mediators operate at an advanced level. This is a direct result of judicial system transformation, ongoing cyber threats from russia, and the country’s overall digital integration. At the same time, the Ukrainian market still requires specialized ADR platforms at the national level.

Real Challenges and Practical Solutions: What the Toolkit Offers

New educational and practical toolkit covers the full cycle of digital transformation of mediation practice — from basic security issues to the use of artificial intelligence. This is not just a theoretical guide, but a practical solution to the complex of daily problems mediators face when working online, specifically:

• Practical step-by-step instructions are distributed by difficulty levels

The basic level for beginners includes protection of clients’ personal data in accordance with GDPR, selection of a secure platform for online meetings with detailed comparison of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, fundamentals of cybersecurity from passwords to multi-factor authentication, as well as verification of participants’ identity and use of digital signatures.

The advanced level for experienced users covers online visualization techniques for maintaining participants’ attention, building a digital mediation workflow, automation of routine tasks without losing human contact, and ethical use of artificial intelligence in mediation.

• Online course with 12 micro-lessons

Each provides a practical solution to a specific task: from data protection and selection of digital tools to attracting clients online, cybersecurity, preparation for mediation and effective use of AI. The course is available free of charge in English and Ukrainian.

You can register for the course and complete it at the link: https://ecadr.pl/courses/digital-tools-for-alternative-dispute-resolution-adr/

• Digital tools database

This is an online catalog of verified services with explanations of their functions, cost, security level and required skills. It includes solutions for case management (Airtable, Notion, Coda), collaboration and visualization (Miro, MURAL), participant engagement (Mentimeter, Slido), electronic signatures (DocuSign, Adobe Sign) and working with AI, including ChatGPT and Otter.ai for transcription.

• Competency analysis and roadmaps

Help complete self-assessment in five areas: working with digital content, data protection, online collaboration, information processing and identifying technology needs. Personalized development paths show how to progress from basic to advanced level taking into account your specialization.

The presented toolkit is a unique product of the first regional analysis that takes into account the experience of Visegrad countries and Ukraine in the context of ADR digitalization. It is scientifically grounded, as it was developed based on actual 2025 research and focus groups with practitioners. At the same time, it is maximally practice-oriented — from theory to specific instructions.

How to Get Started

The process is simple and straightforward. Download the Toolkit in Ukrainian or Toolkit in English. Complete the competency self-assessment to identify your current level. Select the relevant lesson from the course or a tool from the database based on your needs. Then apply it in practice — all materials include concrete examples and step-by-step guidance.

Digital transformation in mediation is not about replacing people with technology. It is about freeing time from routine tasks and focusing on what truly makes mediation effective: empathy, trust, and the pursuit of win-win solutions.

This DIGARD V4U initiative is co-financed by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund, and supports Ukraine’s efforts to reform its justice system while promoting best practices from the Visegrad region.