Technology in Social Welfare: Analysis and Mapping of Scientific Literature

Technology plays an important role in service delivery and service management. Social welfare is one of the service sectors that highly rely on the advancement of technologies. The emergence of varied technologies in social welfare helps this sector to manage and monitor service delivery efficiently and effectively. This paper aims to explore the phenomenon of technology inclusion in social welfare through a systematic literature review in search of its advancement in the past two decades using thematic analysis following the PRISMA guidelines. Specifically, it focuses on the introduction of applications (apps), information communication technologies (ICT), blockchain technology, the emergence of virtual reality (VR), and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI). This paper delves into the motivations behind the adoption of these technologies, their applications, and the solutions achieved. The review concludes with the identification of research and practical opportunities to improve the inclusion of technologies in social welfare to make the sector successful and more beneficial.