What is Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and What is its Future?

In a nutshell, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) uses the different aspects of technology to negotiate, mediate or arbitrate disputes between parties. In many ways, the use of innovative techniques to resolve disputes online has augmented the traditional practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and for the longest time, ODR was assumed to be the online equivalent of ADR, earning it the moniker e-ADR. But in today’s tech-driven world, where every day, we see technology driving the forces of change and innovation, it comes as no surprise that ODR now is on a pedestal of its own when it comes to actual practice. Not only is it cheaper and less time consuming, time and again, it has proven itself to be the more convenient alternative to traditional litigation proceedings.

ODR is an effective tool when it comes to resolving disputes of varying degrees which might have risen both online or offline — from marital separation and other commercial disputes to larger justice conflicts. It has been observed that ODR is particularly useful in B2C disputes in the e-commerce spectrum that is widely prevalent today. This dependency could be attributed to the convenience that uses the same Internet as the medium for resolution between the two parties who are often distant geographically.

ODR has seen a boom in recent years with consumers being increasingly dependent on e-commerce. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been another factor pushing people to Online Dispute Resolutions over gatherings at the court. In the near future, the trends that will dominate ODR would be those that are focused towards overcoming its disadvantages; all made possible with the use of further advanced technology. What is currently seen to be the biggest drawback is the lack of human presence, or the absence of an intuitive legal mind that can ascertain verbal and non-verbal cues and minor nuances in behaviour. But video conferencing is already bridging the gap in this regard. In the end, the true potential of ODR can only be unravelled with time; and we’ll wait patiently for it, online.