Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Data on the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) usage and e-commerce in enterprises are survey data. They are collected by the National Statistical Institutes or Ministries and are in principle based on Eurostat's annual model questionnaires on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises.
The legal basis for ICT enterprise statistics for survey year 2024 is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1507 of 20 July 2023 laying down the technical specifications of data requirements for the topic 'ICT usage and e-commerce' for the reference year 2024. Large part of the data collected is used to measure the progress in the implementation of one of the main political priorities of the European Commission for 2019 to 2024 – A Europe fit for the digital age.
Furthermore, ICT data facilitate the monitoring of the EU’s digital targets for 2030, set by the Digital Decade Policy Programme. Four of the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the current programme stem from the statistics for which the implementing and delegated acts are enclosed for adoption: Artificial Intelligence, cloud, big data (data analytics) and the digital intensity index for businesses (DII) - a composite indicator reflecting the digital transformation of business. The aim of the European survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises is to collect and disseminate harmonised and comparable information at European level.
Name of data collection
In English: ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises 2024
All economic activities in the scope of Annex of the Commission Regulation are intended to be included in the general survey, covering enterprises with 10 or more employees and self-employed persons. These activities are:
Section C – “Manufacturing”
Section D, E – “Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply”, “Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities”
Section F – “Construction”
Section G – “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles”
Section H – “Transportation and storage”
Section I – “Accommodation and food service activities”
Section J – “Information and communication”
Section L – “Real estate activities”
Section M – “Professional, scientific and technical activities”
Section N – "Administrative and support service activities"
Group 95.1 – “Repair of computers and communication equipment”.
For micro-enterprises see the sub-concepts below.
3.3.1. Coverage-sector economic activity for micro-enterprises - All NACE Rev. 2 categories are covered
Micro-enterprises are not included in the survey
3.3.2. Coverage sector economic activity for micro-enterprises - If not all activities were covered, which ones were covered?
Not applicable
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The model questionnaire on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises provides a large variety of variables covering among others the following topics:
Access to and use of the Internet
E-commerce and e-business
ICT specialists and skills
ICT security
Artificial Intelligence.
The annual model questionnaires and the European businesses statistics compliers’ manual for ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises comprise definitions and explanations regarding the topics of the survey.
3.5. Statistical unit
Enterprise.
3.6. Statistical population
Target Population
As required by Annex of the Commission Implementing Regulation, enterprises with 10 or more employees and self-employed persons are covered by the survey.
For micro-enterprises see the sub-concepts below.
3.6.1. Coverage of micro-enterprises
No
3.6.2. Breakdown between size classes [0 to 1] and [2 to 9]
No
3.6.3. If for micro-enterprises different size delimitation was used, please indicate it.
Not applicable.
3.7. Reference area
Detailed information on the provision of data on NUTS 2 regional level is available in “Annex I. Completeness“.
Denmark. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are not included.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Years 2023 and 2024.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Percentages of enterprises, Percentages of turnover, Percentages of employees and self-employed persons, Million euro (for selected indicators in some countries).
The national survey follows the reference period of the model questionnaire for all variables.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Complementary national legislation constituting the legal basis for the survey on the use of ICT in enterprises: The Act on Statistics Denmark (Lov om Danmarks Statistik), cf. Order no. 15 of 12 January 1972, as amended by Act no. 386 of 13 June 1990, Act no. 1025 of 19 December 1992, Act no. 295 of 2 May 2000 and Act no. 610 of 30 2018.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
The data confidentiality policy is supplemented by a number of appendixes explaining specifically how the general policy is handled in a number of specific areas and in a number of concrete situations, e.g. in connection with the users’ access to data from Statistics Denmark and in connection with the exchange of data between Statistics Denmark and other authorities. The data confidentiality policy can be found here: DST website.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
At national level:
Confidentiality is treated in accordance with Statistics Denmark's policy on confidentiality. This stipulates that the number of units in a cell should be treated as confidential, if there are fewer than three units, and if the variable concerned contains sufficient information to allow for the identification of particular enterprises. Such variables are mainly economic variables. Furthermore, concerning economic variables the policy stipulates that information should be treated as confidential when the two largest enterprises in a cell are dominant. The dominance thresholds for the largest/the two largest are confidential, as the publication of this information in itself may compromise the confidentiality treatment. For a description of Statistics Denmark's policy on confidentiality, see (Datafortrolighed - English version: Data Confidentiality Policy)
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are transmitted via eDamis (encrypted) and delivered to a secure environment where they are treated. Flags are added for confidentiality in case results must not be disclosed.
At national level:
Confidentiality is treated in accordance with Statistics Denmark's policy on confidentiality as stated in 7.1.
8.1. Release calendar
5th of September 2024
The publication date appears in the release calendar. The date is confirmed in the weeks before.
8.2. Release calendar access
The Release Calender can be accessed on our English website: Release Calender.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Statistics are always published at 8:00 a.m. at the day announced in the release calendar. No one outside of Statistics Denmark can access the statistics before they are published.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Statistics Denmark will publish an article on its website with a key finding/development of the survey year 2024, this article and the publication will be disseminated through graphic illustrations on Twitter/X
Results for selected variables collected in the framework of this survey are available for all participating countries on Digital economy and society of Eurostat website.
At national level:
The main results of the survey are available on Statistics Denmark's homepage, and the disseminated data can be accessed from the online database Statbank.
The European businesses statistics compilers’ manual for ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises provides guidelines and clarifications for the implementation of the surveys.
The European businesses statistics compliers’ manual for ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises provides guidelines and standards for the implementation of the surveys. It is updated every year according to the changed contents of the model questionnaires.
At national level:
Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
At European level, the recommended use of the annual Eurostat model questionnaire aims at improving comparability of the results among the countries that conduct the survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises. Moreover, the European businesses statistics compilers’ manual for ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises provides guidelines and clarifications for the implementation of the surveys.
At national level:
The survey is questionnaire based, and data is collected by digital reporting through the Danish government's public digital gateway for businesses, virk.dk. Validation comprises macro and micro validation and some extent of recontact with enterprises. In the survey design, each observation will represent more elements in the population. The weights assigned to each observation are calculated using generalising regression estimates. Accuracy and error calculations have been calculated. Overall, the response rate is normally high (above 95 per cent) and the scale of non-response is limited. Non-response is due to bankruptcy, take-overs etc.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
In general there is substantial interest in the survey results from ministries, organizations, researchers and journalists etc. Statistical Denmark has an on-going dialogue with a variety of national users about the contents and usage of the survey. There has been established a Contact Committee for the Digital Society, whose members represent central users: Danish Business Authority, Agency for Digitisation, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Higher Education and Science, Agency for Data Supply and Efficiency, Copenhagen Business School, Aarhus University, Danish Trade Union Confederation, IT Industry association, The Economic Council of the Labour Movement, Confederation of Danish Industry, Nordea.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction survey has been carried out, but key users from ministries and other organizations, as well as researchers and journalists, generally express satisfaction with the quality and relevance of the survey results.
12.3. Completeness
Detailed information is available in “ Annex I. Completeness “ - related to questionnaire, coverage, additional questions, regional data.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not requested
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Comments on reliability and representativeness of results and completeness of dataset
These comments reflect overall standard errors reported for the indicators and breakdowns in section 13.2.1 (Sampling error - indicators) and the rest of the breakdowns for national and European aggregates, as well as other accuracy measurements. The estimated standard error should not exceed 2pp for the overall proportions and should not exceed 5pp for the proportions related to the different subgroups of the population (for those NACE aggregates for the calculation and dissemination of national aggregates). If problems were found, these could have implications for future surveys (e.g. need to improve sampling design, to increase sample sizes, to increase the response rates).
More detailed information is available in “ Annex II. Accuracy “ - related to European aggregates, comments on reliability and use of flag.
13.2. Sampling error
For calculation of the standard error see 13.2.1.1.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Standard error (for selected indicators and breakdowns)
Precision measures related to variability due to sampling, unit non-response (the size of the subset of respondents is smaller than the size of the original sample) and other (imputation for item non-response, calibration etc.) are not (yet) required from the Member states for all indicators. Eurostat will make basic assumptions to compute these measures for all indicators produced (e.g. stratified random sampling assuming as strata the crossing of the variables “Number of employees and self-employed persons” and “Economic Activity” as it was defined in the 3 tables of section 18.1).
More detailed information is available in“ Annex III. Sample and standard error tables 2024 “ – worksheets starting with “Standard error".
13.2.1.1. Sampling error indicator calculation
Calculation of the standard error
Various methods can be used for the calculation of the standard error for an estimated proportion. The aim is to incorporate into the standard error the sampling variability but also variability due to unit non-response, item non-response (imputation), calibration etc. In case of census / take-all strata, the aim is to calculate the standard errors comprising the variability due to unit non-response and item non-response.
a) Name and brief description of the applied estimation approach
The applied estimation is regression estimation where auxiliary variables are used in the estimation process. The estimation is model assisted (and not model dependent).
b) Basic formula
See annex 'basic formula Denmark'
c)Main reference in the literature
Särndal, C.-E., Swensson, B. og Wretman, J. (1992). Model Assisted Survey Sampling, Springer-Verlag.
d)How has the stratification been taken into account?
The applied selection method is ‘stratified simple random sampling’, where strata are determined by size and industry. Hence the selection probabilities and also the designweights are stratum specific. In the estimation phase the model with the auxiliary variables can be regarded as a kind of post stratification. However since it is a model some variables are used as main effects and some variables as interaction terms. This is in contrary to traditional post stratification
e)Which strata have been considered?
The stratas are the combination of size classes and industries.
Sizeclasses (no. of full-time employees): 10-19, 20-49, 50-99, 100-249, 250+
Industry stratas corresponds to the EU standard groups at the most detailed level.
See concept 18.1.1. A) Description of frame population.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable. We have no overcoverage in the survey and follow the EU-breakdowns in drawing the sample.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested
13.3.2. Measurement error
No measurement errors detected.
13.3.3. Non response error
See detailed sections below.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
See detailed sub-concepts below.
13.3.3.1.1. Unit response
The following table contains the number of units (i.e. enterprises), by type of response to the survey and by the percentage of these values in relation to the gross sample size.
Type of response
Enterprises
0-9 (or 2-9) employees and self-employed persons
10 or more employees and self-employed persons
Number
%
Number
%
Gross sample size (as in section 3.1 C)
100%
4.236
100%
1. Response (questionnaires returned by the enterprise)
4.139
97.7%
1.1 Used for tabulation and grossing up (Net sample or Final Sample; as in section 3.1 D)
4.139
97.7%
1.2 Not used for tabulation
0
1.2.1 Out of scope (deaths, misclassified originally in the target population, etc.)
0
1.2.2 Other reasons (e.g. unusable questionnaire)
0
2. Non-response (e.g. non returned mail, returned mail by post office)
97
2.3%
Comments on unit response, if unit response is below 60%
13.3.3.1.2. Methods used for minimizing unit non-response
The survey was conducted as a mandatory survey under the Law on Statistics Denmark, which normally guarantees a very high response rate between 95 and 100 per cent, in this case 97,7 pct.
The survey is mandatory, and respondents are required by law to report digitally. Respondents may receive several reminders, and telephone reminders are also used in the final stage of data collection. Eventually, non-responses may result in filing of police case, although this has not been the case in 2024.
13.3.3.1.3. Methods used for unit non-response treatment
1. No treatment for unit non-response
2. Treatment by re-weighting
2.1 Re-weighting by the sampling design strata considering that non-response is ignorable inside each stratum (the naïve model)
2.2 Re-weighting by identified response homogeneity groups (created using sample-level information)
2.3 Re-weighting through calibration/post-stratification (performed using population information) by the groups used for calibration/post-stratification
X
3. Treatment by imputation (done distinctly for each variable/item)
4. Method(s) and the model(s) corresponding to the above or other method(s) used for the treatment of unit non-response. (e.g. Re-weighting using Horvitz-Thompson estimator, ratio estimator or regression estimator, auxiliary variables)
13.3.3.1.4. Assessment of unit non-response bias
Unit non-response bias is limited by the size of unit non-response and re-weighting.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not available
13.3.3.2.1. Methods used for item non-response treatment
1. No treatment for item non-response
X
2. Deductive imputation An exact value can be derived as a known function of other characteristics.
3. Deterministic imputation (e.g. mean/median, mean/median by class, ratio-based, regression-based, single donor nearest-neighbour) Deterministic imputation leads to estimators with no random component, that is, if the imputation were to be re-conducted, the outcome would be the same.
4. Random imputation (e.g. hot-deck, cold-deck) Random imputation leads to estimators with a random component, that is, if the imputation were re-conducted, it would have led to a different result.
5. Re-weighting
6. Multiple imputation In multiple imputation each missing value is replaced (instead of a single value) with a set of plausible values that represent the uncertainty of the right value to impute. Multiple imputation methods offer the possibility of deriving variance estimators by taking imputation into account. The incorporation of imputation into the variance can be easily derived based on variability of estimates among the multiply imputed data sets.
7. Method(s) and the model(s) corresponding to the above or other method(s) used for the treatment of item non-response.
13.3.3.2.2. Questions or items with item response rates below 90% and other comments
Other comments relating to the item non-response
Additional issues concerning "item non-response" calculation (e.g. method used in national publications).
Not applicable
Questions and items with low response rates (cut-off value is 90%) and item non-response rate.
Not applicable
13.3.4. Processing error
No processing errors were detected
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested
14.1. Timeliness
See detailed section in the Full metadata report.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Data are to be delivered to Eurostat in the fourth quarter of the reference year (due date for the finalised dataset is 5th October). European results are released before the end of the survey year or in the beginning of the year following the survey year (T=reference year, T+0 for indicators referring to the current year, T+12 months for other indicators referring to the previous year e.g. e-commerce).
At national level:
The statistics are published 6-7 months after the end of the reference period. No preliminary figures are published. Results are published in late August, where the reference period is January (and, for some variables, the previous calendar year).
14.2. Punctuality
See detailed section below.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Data were delivered to Eurostat on September 10th; 24. days before the deadline.
Latest revision of data delivered to Eurostat on November 12th; 39 days after the deadline.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The model questionnaire is generally used by the countries that conduct the survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises. Due to (small) differences in translation, in the used survey vehicle, in non-response treatment or different routing through the questionnaire, some results for some countries may be of reduced comparability. In these cases, notes are added in the data.
Detailed information on differences in the wording of the questions in the national questionnaires is available in “ Annex I. Completeness “ - worksheets related to questionnaire, coverage, additional questions.
Comparability between regions:
There are no issues with comparability between regions.
Detailed information on the provision of data on NUTS 2 regional level is available in “Annex I. Completeness“ – worksheets related to regional data.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
See detailed section in the Full metadata report.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The length of comparable time series depends on the module and the variable considered within each survey module. Additional information is available in annexes attached to the European metadata.
There are no changes in the survey from the previous year(s) that may have an impact on the comparability over time of the results delivered to Eurostat.
Longer-term time series are available in Statbank (Statistikbanken website). However, as a large number of questions in the survey are replaced annually, there is not a continuous time series for all the results
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable
Restricted from publication
17.1. Data revision - policy
Statistics Denmark data are subject to revisions in the published figures in accordance with the Code of Practice for the European Statistics, Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). This implies that the revisions follow common procedures and principles, and that the revision policies for the individual statistics are public.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The statistics are published with final figures 7 months after the end of the reference period. No preliminary figures are published. Results are published in September, where the reference period is January (and, for some variables, the previous calendar year). Data has not been revised.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested
18.1. Source data
A) Frame population description and distribution
For more information see concept 18.1.1.
B) Sampling design - Sampling method
Description of the sampling method used (e.g. stratified random sample, quota sampling, cluster sampling; one-stage or two-stage sampling) and information which variables were used to stratify, the categories of those variables, in particular for the NACE Rev. 2 categories related to the "possible calculation of European aggregates", and the final number of strata:
The sampling method is random, stratified sampling based on the Statistical Business Register (SBR) of Statistics Denmark by size and activity. About a quarter of Danish enterprises with 10+ employees are included in the survey sample. The sampling strata applied correspond to the requested and revised breakdowns by NACE and size groups as outlined in the regulation and model questionnaire. For the first time, the revised activity breakdowns cover NACE Rev. 75. This change has been implemented when designing the sample and NACE Rev. 75 has been included in the sample with 6 enterprises.
A take‐all approach is used for enterprises having 100+ employees and NACE categories between 47.91.10 and 47.91.20 as well as NACE 9510-9519. The take‐all approach is furthermore used for strata with 10 or fewer enterprises where a higher selection rate is applied to ensure the best sampling with a view to the accuracy of the aggregated results. As of the survey covering the reference period 2015, a three‐year rolling panel structure was introduced, mainly to improve data quality and validation procedures. The final number of strata was 133 in the 2024 sample.
The target population comprises enterprises including complex ones having the main attributes (e.g. given NACE code and size) in the scope of the ICT survey. The attributes for the complex enterprise as a whole were taken into consideration for including the enterprise and its underlying legal units in the sample, even if one or more legal units were out of scope. In order to implement the statistical unit “enterprise” (ENT), the sample was drawn at the level of enterprise. The attributes of the enterprise were used as they are registered in the statistical business register (SBR). Unit consistency with SBS at the national level was ensured by harmonizing the two samples as regard to complex enterprises and their underlying legal units.
C) Gross sample distribution
More detailed information is available in “ Annex III. Sample and standard error tables 2024 “ (Worksheet: GROSS SAMPLE)
D) Net sample distribution
More detailed information is available in “ Annex III. Sample and standard error tables 2024 “ (Worksheet: NET SAMPLE)
18.1.1. Sampling design & Procedure frame
A) Description of frame population Frame population is defined based on the Statistical Business Registry which is derived from the Central Business Registry. The registry is frozen quarterly to provide a consistent snapshot of businesses. The frame population for the survey is taken from the last frozen version of the previous year with the specified NACE and employee size. The frozen version has a time lag of three months, so the December version includes data up to date for the first three quarters of the year, this is combined with data on the last quarter of the previous year to create the frame population.
a) When was the sample for the ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprise survey drawn?
January 5th, 2024
b) Last update of the Business register that was used for drawing the sample of enterprises for the survey:
December 22th 2023
c) Indication if the frame population is the same as, or is in some way coordinated with, the one used for the Structural Business Statistics (different snapshots):
The frame population is not the same as Structural Business Statistics as frame population is defined at different times due to demands of data collection.
d) Description if different frames are used during different stages of the statistical process (e.g. frame used for sampling vs. frame used for grossing up):
The same frame is used during the statistical proces. Frame population used for sampling is also used for grossing up.
e) Indication the shortcomings in terms of timeliness (e.g. time lag between last update of the sampling frame and the moment of the actual sampling), geographical coverage, coverage of different subpopulations, data available etc., and any measures taken to correct it, for this survey.
There is a time lag between last update of the registry/sampling frame and the period of data collection. Corrections are made for inactive enterprises immediately before sending first request to enterprises in sample, and the frame is corrected for similar cases uncovered during data collection.
B) Frame population distribution
More detailed information is available in “ Annex III. Sample and standard error tables 2024 “ (Worksheet: FRAME POPULATION)
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
See detailed sections below.
18.3.1. Survey period
Survey / Collection
Date of sending out questionnaires
Date of reception of the last questionnaire treated
General survey
January 11th 2024
July 24th 2024
Micro-enterprises
Not applicable
Not applicable
18.3.2. Survey vehicle – general survey
General survey - Stand-alone survey
18.3.3. Survey vehicle – micro-enterprises
Not applicable
18.3.4. Survey type
Digital reporting by enterprises and establishments is required by law in Denmark via the one-stop platform virk.dk. Virk.dk is the Danish governments public digital gateway for businesses and provides access to self-service.
The platform Virk.dk is the digital entrance to authorities and provides access to self-service across the public sector as a whole. The platform provides access to approx. 1,500 reports. With Virk Report, it is possible to report to the authorities on behalf of a company.
The ICT ENT questionnaire can be accessed on this address in Danish: DST website.
18.3.5. Survey participation
Mandatory
18.4. Data validation
Data has been validated by server based EDIT validation
18.5. Data compilation
The results are raised to 100 percent of the surveyed population based on the stratums used in the sampling procedure. In general, weighting by number of enterprises will be applied. Selected variables are weighted by turnover or employment, in accordance with EU requirements. By grossing up a reweighting and calibration using regression techniques is applied to the weight of the individual enterprise.
Grossing up is done using CLAN with the assistance of in‐house methodology experts.
To implement the statistical unit complex enterprises, the recommendations from Eurostat regarding percentage of total number of persons employed and percentage breakdown of web sales was implemented.
Grossing-up procedures
Grossing up is done using the software package CLAN.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Imputation is not used, neither in the case of partially lacking information in the individual record (item non‐response), nor in the case of completely lacking reporting from an enterprise (unit non-response). The latter, instead, is handling through reweighting as part of the grossing up procedure.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable
Problems encountered and lessons to be learnt:
19.1. Documents
Questionnaire in national language
X
Questionnaire in English (if available)
X
National reports on methodology (if available)
Analysis of key results, backed up by tables and graphs in English (if available)
Data on the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) usage and e-commerce in enterprises are survey data. They are collected by the National Statistical Institutes or Ministries and are in principle based on Eurostat's annual model questionnaires on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises.
The legal basis for ICT enterprise statistics for survey year 2024 is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1507 of 20 July 2023 laying down the technical specifications of data requirements for the topic 'ICT usage and e-commerce' for the reference year 2024. Large part of the data collected is used to measure the progress in the implementation of one of the main political priorities of the European Commission for 2019 to 2024 – A Europe fit for the digital age.
Furthermore, ICT data facilitate the monitoring of the EU’s digital targets for 2030, set by the Digital Decade Policy Programme. Four of the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the current programme stem from the statistics for which the implementing and delegated acts are enclosed for adoption: Artificial Intelligence, cloud, big data (data analytics) and the digital intensity index for businesses (DII) - a composite indicator reflecting the digital transformation of business. The aim of the European survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises is to collect and disseminate harmonised and comparable information at European level.
Name of data collection
In English: ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises 2024
26 February 2025
The model questionnaire on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises provides a large variety of variables covering among others the following topics:
Access to and use of the Internet
E-commerce and e-business
ICT specialists and skills
ICT security
Artificial Intelligence.
The annual model questionnaires and the European businesses statistics compliers’ manual for ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises comprise definitions and explanations regarding the topics of the survey.
Enterprise.
Target Population
As required by Annex of the Commission Implementing Regulation, enterprises with 10 or more employees and self-employed persons are covered by the survey.
For micro-enterprises see the sub-concepts below.
Detailed information on the provision of data on NUTS 2 regional level is available in “Annex I. Completeness“.
Denmark. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are not included.
The national survey follows the reference period of the model questionnaire for all variables.
Comments on reliability and representativeness of results and completeness of dataset
These comments reflect overall standard errors reported for the indicators and breakdowns in section 13.2.1 (Sampling error - indicators) and the rest of the breakdowns for national and European aggregates, as well as other accuracy measurements. The estimated standard error should not exceed 2pp for the overall proportions and should not exceed 5pp for the proportions related to the different subgroups of the population (for those NACE aggregates for the calculation and dissemination of national aggregates). If problems were found, these could have implications for future surveys (e.g. need to improve sampling design, to increase sample sizes, to increase the response rates).
More detailed information is available in “ Annex II. Accuracy “ - related to European aggregates, comments on reliability and use of flag.
Percentages of enterprises, Percentages of turnover, Percentages of employees and self-employed persons, Million euro (for selected indicators in some countries).
The results are raised to 100 percent of the surveyed population based on the stratums used in the sampling procedure. In general, weighting by number of enterprises will be applied. Selected variables are weighted by turnover or employment, in accordance with EU requirements. By grossing up a reweighting and calibration using regression techniques is applied to the weight of the individual enterprise.
Grossing up is done using CLAN with the assistance of in‐house methodology experts.
To implement the statistical unit complex enterprises, the recommendations from Eurostat regarding percentage of total number of persons employed and percentage breakdown of web sales was implemented.
Grossing-up procedures
Grossing up is done using the software package CLAN.
A) Frame population description and distribution
For more information see concept 18.1.1.
B) Sampling design - Sampling method
Description of the sampling method used (e.g. stratified random sample, quota sampling, cluster sampling; one-stage or two-stage sampling) and information which variables were used to stratify, the categories of those variables, in particular for the NACE Rev. 2 categories related to the "possible calculation of European aggregates", and the final number of strata:
The sampling method is random, stratified sampling based on the Statistical Business Register (SBR) of Statistics Denmark by size and activity. About a quarter of Danish enterprises with 10+ employees are included in the survey sample. The sampling strata applied correspond to the requested and revised breakdowns by NACE and size groups as outlined in the regulation and model questionnaire. For the first time, the revised activity breakdowns cover NACE Rev. 75. This change has been implemented when designing the sample and NACE Rev. 75 has been included in the sample with 6 enterprises.
A take‐all approach is used for enterprises having 100+ employees and NACE categories between 47.91.10 and 47.91.20 as well as NACE 9510-9519. The take‐all approach is furthermore used for strata with 10 or fewer enterprises where a higher selection rate is applied to ensure the best sampling with a view to the accuracy of the aggregated results. As of the survey covering the reference period 2015, a three‐year rolling panel structure was introduced, mainly to improve data quality and validation procedures. The final number of strata was 133 in the 2024 sample.
The target population comprises enterprises including complex ones having the main attributes (e.g. given NACE code and size) in the scope of the ICT survey. The attributes for the complex enterprise as a whole were taken into consideration for including the enterprise and its underlying legal units in the sample, even if one or more legal units were out of scope. In order to implement the statistical unit “enterprise” (ENT), the sample was drawn at the level of enterprise. The attributes of the enterprise were used as they are registered in the statistical business register (SBR). Unit consistency with SBS at the national level was ensured by harmonizing the two samples as regard to complex enterprises and their underlying legal units.
C) Gross sample distribution
More detailed information is available in “ Annex III. Sample and standard error tables 2024 “ (Worksheet: GROSS SAMPLE)
D) Net sample distribution
More detailed information is available in “ Annex III. Sample and standard error tables 2024 “ (Worksheet: NET SAMPLE)
Annual
See detailed section in the Full metadata report.
The model questionnaire is generally used by the countries that conduct the survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises. Due to (small) differences in translation, in the used survey vehicle, in non-response treatment or different routing through the questionnaire, some results for some countries may be of reduced comparability. In these cases, notes are added in the data.
Detailed information on differences in the wording of the questions in the national questionnaires is available in “ Annex I. Completeness “ - worksheets related to questionnaire, coverage, additional questions.
Comparability between regions:
There are no issues with comparability between regions.
Detailed information on the provision of data on NUTS 2 regional level is available in “Annex I. Completeness“ – worksheets related to regional data.
