The use of digital technologies in social work with service members returning from combat as a subject of scholarly inquiry

This article examines how digital technologies reconfigure social work with demobilized service members, shifting from paper-based routines to a client-centred, omnichannel model. It surveys the digital infrastructure: EISSS, EDRVV, the Diia digital veteran ID, the “Veteran PRO” module, and the “E-Veteran” portal. Methods: review of 2014–2025 sources, legal analysis, and content/usability analysis of open interfaces. Results show that digital tools enable de-paperization of status verification, remote case management, transparent service journeys, and lower transaction costs. The social effect depends on three conditions: staff digital competencies; accessible, simple interfaces and offline assistance; and clear data-ethics and security safeguards. The review identifies a lack of empirical measures of time-to-service, reduced duplication, targeting, trust, and satisfaction. The paper proposes indicators for monitoring – online availability, steps/time to apply, coverage, barriers, data protection, inter-agency integration – and a co-design research agenda. Recommendations: codify quality metrics and publish aggregated results; scale workforce training; institutionalize offline assistance; end paper duplicates where status is verified via USRWV; and develop analytics and personalization under Responsible AI. The paper offers a conceptual framework and an evidence base for systematic assessment of digitalization effects in veteran-oriented social work, and a roadmap for further studies.