Overview
In today’s world, digital capabilities are essential for cooperatives to stay competitive, engage members effectively, and operate efficiently. Yet many cooperatives struggle to prioritize or implement digital transformation strategies in ways that align with their values.
This best practice outlines how cooperatives can strategically embrace digital transformation without losing the human-centered spirit that defines the cooperative model.
Core Tactics:
- Define Digital Transformation Through a Cooperative Lens.
Focus digital initiatives on strengthening:- Member engagement
- Internal efficiency
- Cooperative governance transparency
- Community-building
- Digital transformation is not just about technology—it’s about empowering people through better tools
- Start with a Digital Maturity Assessment.
Evaluate your current capabilities in key areas:- Member-facing platforms (website, mobile apps, online voting)
- Internal systems (CRM, accounting, project management)
- Communication tools (email marketing, social media, discussion forums)
- Data governance and cybersecurity
- Principle 6 provides a basic Digital Maturity Self-Assessment template to guide this process.
- Prioritize Member-Centric Digital Projects.
Focus first on digital initiatives that most directly improve the member experience, such as:- Simplified online joining and renewal
- Online member benefit statements
- Mobile access to cooperative services
- Virtual town halls and voting
- Use Principle 6 Resources to Accelerate Digital Adoption.
The P6 Platform supports digital evolution through:- Dynamic Knowledge Bank articles on digital best practices
- Peer benchmarking against cooperatives of similar size or sector
- Collaborative Communities dedicated to technology adoption
Sample Digital Projects for Cooperatives:
| Project Area | Sample Project Ideas |
| Member Engagement | Launch an updated member portal with self-service tools |
| Communication | Deploy a cooperative-wide email marketing platform |
| Governance | Implement secure, remote voting systems for members |
| Operations | Automate manual back-office processes with affordable SaaS tools |
| Analytics | Build simple dashboards to track engagement and financial health |
- Build Digital Confidence Across Staff and Members.
Offer:- Basic digital skills training for staff and board members
- Member education about new tools and how they protect privacy and control
- Regular updates explaining why and how digital tools are being used
- Embed Digital Initiatives into Your Strategic Plan.
Treat digital capabilities as an essential pillar of strategic growth, not an afterthought. Set measurable goals for digital adoption and revisit them annually.