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For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support |
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1.1. Contact organisation | FPS Economy, SMEs, self-employed and Energy , Direction générale Statistique - Statistics Belgium |
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1.2. Contact organisation unit | Direction Thématique Economie ( DTE ) |
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1.5. Contact mail address | North Gate III - Blv du roi Albert II 16 - 1000 Bruxelles |
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2.1. Metadata last certified | 16/05/2024 | ||
2.2. Metadata last posted | 16/05/2024 | ||
2.3. Metadata last update | 16/05/2024 |
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3.1. Data description | |||
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. 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. Part of this is the "European strategy for data", envisioning a single market for data to ensure the EU's global competitiveness and data sovereignty, in which context a comprehensive set of new rules for all digital services was proposed: the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, which are centrepieces of the EU digital strategy. Furthermore, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a new “EU cybersecurity strategy”, which is intended to bolster the EU's collective resilience against cyber threats, safeguard a global and open internet and protect EU values and the fundamental rights of its people. Furthermore, data will allow monitoring the progress towards A Europe fit for the digital age, one of the six priorities for the period 2019-2024 of the von der Leyen European Commission. 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.
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3.2. Classification system | |||
3.3. Coverage - sector | |||
All economic activities in the scope of Annex I 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: NACE Rev. 2 sections C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, M and N, division 95.1. For micro-enterprises see the sub-concepts below. |
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3.3.1. Coverage-sector economic activity for micro-enterprises - All NACE Rev. 2 categories are covered | |||
3.3.2. Coverage sector economic activity for micro-enterprises - If not all activities were covered, which ones were covered? | |||
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 areas: - Access to and use of the Internet - E-commerce and e-business - Use of cloud computing services - Artificial Intelligence - Other topics: Data utilisation, sharing, analytics and trading, Invoicing. 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. |
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3.5. Statistical unit | |||
Enterprise |
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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 shall be covered by the survey. For micro-enterprises see the sub-concepts below. |
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3.6.1. Coverage of micro-enterprises | |||
Yes | |||
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. | |||
[2-9] |
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3.7. Reference area | |||
All country |
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3.8. Coverage - Time | |||
Years 2022 and 2023. |
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3.9. Base period | |||
Not applicable |
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Percentages of enterprises, Percentages of turnover, Percentages of employees and self-employed persons. |
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2023 and 2022 for certain variables |
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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: no
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6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing | |||
No data sharing. StatBel is solely responsible for the data collected |
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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 : no policy |
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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 : The data processing treatments do not pose any confidentiality issues |
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8.1. Release calendar | |||
Release calendar and accessibility of calendare =01/01/2023 |
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8.2. Release calendar access | |||
8.3. Release policy - user access | |||
Before diffusion, the results go through an internal validation process. Validation complies with the general dissemination policy. |
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Annual |
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10.1. Dissemination format - News release | |||
National dissemination of results https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/enterprises/ict-and-e-commerce-enterprises#news
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10.2. Dissemination format - Publications | |||
Results will be published as a downloadable Excel and SAS cube form on our website https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/enterprises/ict-and-e-commerce-enterprises#figures |
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10.3. Dissemination format - online database | |||
See detailed section 10.3.1. |
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10.3.1. Data tables - consultations | |||
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 : no data tables |
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10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access | |||
no microdata access |
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10.5. Dissemination format - other | |||
Not requested |
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10.5.1. Metadata - consultations | |||
Not requested |
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10.6. Documentation on methodology | |||
national reference metadata files : https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/enterprises/ict-and-e-commerce-enterprises#documents |
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10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate | |||
Not requested |
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10.7. Quality management - documentation | |||
national reference metadata files |
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11.1. Quality assurance | |||
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 : Use of methodological manual of EUROSTAT as guidelines |
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11.2. Quality management - assessment | |||
European level : 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 Methodological Manual provides guidelines and clarifications for the implementation of the surveys. National level : Use of methodological manual of EUROSTAT as guidelines |
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12.1. Relevance - User Needs | |||
European level : At European level, European Commission users (e.g. DG CNECT, DG GROW, DG JUST, DG REGIO, DG JRC) are the principal users of the data on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises and contribute in identifying/defining the topics to be covered. Hence, main users are consulted regularly (at hearings, task forces, ad hoc meetings) for their needs and are involved in the process of the development of the model questionnaires at a very early stage. User needs are considered throughout the whole discussion process of the model questionnaires aiming at providing relevant statistical data for monitoring and benchmarking of European policies. National level : At the national level, the regions and other departments of our SPF are consulted for the selection of optional questions. |
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12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction | |||
European level : At European level, contacts within the Commission, the OECD and other stakeholders give a clear picture about the key users' satisfaction as to the following data quality aspects: accuracy and reliability of results, timeliness, satisfactory accessibility, clarity and comparability over time and between countries, completeness and relevance. Overall users have evaluated positively (good, very good) the data quality on the ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises. National level : The regions and universities using the survey results are satisfied. Every year we receive requests for individual data from universities and other research organisations. After use, they are satisfied with the data and the quality of the data. |
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12.3. Completeness | |||
Detailed information is available in “ Annex I _ Completeness “ excel file - related to questionnaire, coverage, additional questions. |
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12.3.1. Data completeness - rate | |||
Not requested. |
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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 “ excel file - related to European aggregates, comments on reliability and use of flag. |
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13.2. Sampling error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For calculation of the standard error see 13.2.1.1. |
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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“ Sample and standard error tables 2023 “ excel file – worksheets starting with “Standard error". |
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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.
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13.3. Non-sampling error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See detailed sections below. |
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13.3.1. Coverage error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See concept 18.1.1. A) Description of frame population. |
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13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not available |
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13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not requested |
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13.3.2. Measurement error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No measurement errors detected |
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13.3.3. Non response error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See detailed sections below. |
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13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See detailed sub-concepts below. |
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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.
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13.3.3.1.2. Methods used for minimizing unit non-response | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We try to minimize unit non-response by sending reminder letters and contacting no-responding by phone |
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13.3.3.1.3. Methods used for unit non-response treatment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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13.3.3.1.4. Assessment of unit non-response bias | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not available |
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13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not available |
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13.3.3.2.1. Methods used for item non-response treatment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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13.3.4. Processing error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
correct the processing error by :
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13.3.5. Model assumption error | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not requested |
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14.1. Timeliness | |||
See detailed section below. |
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14.1.1. Time lag - first result | |||
Not applicable |
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14.1.2. Time lag - final result | |||
European level : 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 : December of the reference year. T+0 for indicators referring to the current year, T+12 months for other indicators referring to the previous year. |
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14.2. Punctuality | |||
See detailed section below. |
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14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication | |||
respect the deadline: The results are sent on October 5th, and the quality report is due on November 5th. The publication is scheduled for December 12th. |
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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 “ excel file - related to questionnaire, coverage, additional questions. |
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15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient | |||
Not applicable |
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15.2. Comparability - over time | |||
See section below. |
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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.
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15.3. Coherence - cross domain | |||
Not applicable |
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15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics | |||
Not applicable |
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15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts | |||
Not applicable |
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15.4. Coherence - internal | |||
Not applicable |
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Restricted from publication |
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17.1. Data revision - policy | |||
No national practice but by particular situation |
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17.2. Data revision - practice | |||
No national practice but by particular situation |
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17.2.1. Data revision - average size | |||
Not requested |
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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: Stratified random sample
C) Gross sample distribution More detailed information is available in “ Sample and standard error tables 2023 “ excel file (Worksheet: GROSS SAMPLE)
D) Net sample distribution More detailed information is available in “ Sample and standard error tables 2023 “ excel file (Worksheet: NET SAMPLE) |
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18.1.1. Population frame | ||||||||||
A) Description of frame population
B) Frame population distribution More detailed information is available in “ Sample and standard error tables 2023 “ excel file (Worksheet: FRAME POPULATION) |
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18.2. Frequency of data collection | ||||||||||
Annual |
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18.3. Data collection | ||||||||||
See detailed sections below. |
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18.3.1. Survey period | ||||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||
Web survey, telephone interview |
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18.3.5. Survey participation | ||||||||||
Voluntary | ||||||||||
18.4. Data validation | ||||||||||
Data has been validated by server based EDIT validation and by the internal validation service. |
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18.5. Data compilation | ||||||||||
Grossing-up procedures Production d’une table 'RATE' sur base des taux de réponses par STRATE par division NET sample et de la Population pour les variables ENT,TURN et EMP |
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18.5.1. Imputation - rate | ||||||||||
Not available |
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18.6. Adjustment | ||||||||||
Not applicable |
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18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment | ||||||||||
Not applicable |
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Problems encountered and lessons to be learnt: |
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19.1. Documents | ||||||||||
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Completeness Accuracy Sample and standard error tables DE National questionnaire FR National questionnaire NL National questionnaire Quality report - an2 Quality report - an3 Quality report |