Czech Statistical Office

Research, Development and Information Society Statistics Section

Czech Statistical Office

Na padesátém 81

Prague 10

10082

Czech Republic

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.

 NACE Rev.2 2008

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.

Micro-enterprises are not included in the survey.

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.

Statistical unit: Enterprise

The statistical unit enterprise has been implemented to the national business register and consequently to all relevant business statistics including SBS since 2001. The implementation, in conformity with Council Regulation No. 696/93, is based on an assumption that legal units represent a good approximation of enterprise. In addition, we continuously evaluate all methodological aspects related to the definition of the statistical unit "enterprise" and, if necessary, we are ready to take all necessary steps to maintain a consistently high relevance of statistical outputs.

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.

Not applicable

All territories of the country were covered.

Years 2022 and 2023.

Not applicable

Percentages of enterprises, Percentages of turnover, Percentages of employees and self-employed persons, Million euro.

Reference periods defined in the model questionnaire were followed. Where not specified respondents should consider as reference their current situation in 2023 when they are filling the questionnaire (e.g. February 2023). Year 2022 for the value or % of sales data and where specified.

Complementary national legislation constituting the legal basis for the survey on the use of ICT in enterprises:

Statistical surveys in the Czech Republic are in compliance with Act No. 89/1995 Coll., on the State Statistical Service, as amended, conducted by the Czech Statistical Office. An overview of statistical surveys is published every year in the form of a Decree on the Programme of Statistical Surveys.

We do not share data nor cooperate with data producing agencies in this survey.

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 : 

Minimum number of enterprises for breakdowns: unreliable outcomes of the survey are when we have answers from too few enterprises for particular combination of variable and breakdown. That means the number of enterprises in a given group is null or smaller than 5.

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 : 

We use "u" flag (unreliable) when we have answers from too few enterprises for particular combination of variable and breakdown. That means the number of enterprises in a given group is null or smaller than 5.

Rules for confidentiality treatment of both aggregate and microdata (for scientific purposes) are defined in special internal guidelines.

Moreover, special general guideline by the CZSO is available for other national authorities (ONAs) as a part of methodological guidelines for coordination of the Czech statistical system within scope of official statistics.

Standard frequency and dominance rules are used for aggregate outputs. The combination and rules varies among different statical domains (business statistics, households surveys, demographic statistics).

For business statistics, a combination of frequency and dominance rule is applied. The values of parameters are not publicly available to make quess the range for suppressed cells.

The primary confidential aggregate can be publish, if the CZSO gets written approval of all units in the aggregate.

The secondary confidentiality treatment is done by SW Tau-Argus and the outputs can be further manually modified by the subject matter statisticians

Secondary confidentiality treatment is almost solely by suppression, in some rare cases by cell aggregation.

For micro-level outputs:

Describe the procedures that are used in protecting confidentiality.

The approach for microdata files both in business statistics is as follows:

+ no direct identifiers (ID, address, name)

+ very sensitive variables are excluded from the microdata file,

+ descriptive variables (like nace, size groups) can be grouped,

+ perturbation of variables is not done.

In general, if the Eurostat provides the methodology, we apply it, only if necessary. The CZSO policy is to provide microdata as least modified, as possible.

We are not aware of any divergences from the best practises within the European Statistical System or OECD.

No checking for residual disclosure is carried out.

The publication of the ICT ENT survey is scheduled to be released on 18 January 2024. This date is published in the product catalogue of the Czech Statistical Office.

Catalogue of Products | CZSO

The publication can be found in the Catalogue of Products of the CZSO and has the code 062005-23. It will be published only in Czech at 18th January 2024.  

Statistical data are issued in various forms. The CZSO has for example:

- the Catalogue of products – a comprehensive list of all outputs of the CZSO. Besides publications, you can find there all time series, revisions, analyses, News Releases, and data sets; 
All products issued by the CZSO are published on dates determined in advance, usually at 9 a.m.

Catalogue of Products | CZSO

- Analyses, commentaries - commented development of the given statistical area;

- News Releases (in Czech language only) – information on topical issues, interesting things, invitations for press conferences, etc.;

News Releases | CZSO; 

- Publications – all issued publications sorted by year and topic;

 Využívání informačních a komunikačních technologií v podnikatelském sektoru - 2023 | ČSÚ (czso.cz) (in Czech language only)

Information Society in Figures - 2023 | CZSO (also in English language)

- Yearbooks - Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic since 2003, regional, demographic, and other thematic yearbooks;

Statistical Yearbook of the Czech Republic - 2023 | CZSO (chapter 22 Information Society)

Annual

At the end of October 2023 a press release was issued (in Czech only).  Issued were also tables with basic indicators + time series of the main indicators from the ICT ENT survey (survey data 2023) were published on the CZSO.cz website (Informační technologie v podnikatelském sektoru | ČSÚ (czso.cz))

The link to the press release is here:  Více než polovina podniků má účet na sociálních sítích | ČSÚ (czso.cz). We also issue quotations of important findings to accompany news releases (voice recordings in mp3 format). All in Czech language only.

So far, the latest publication issued in January 2023 (from the ICT ENT 2022 survey): Využívání informačních a komunikačních technologií v podnikatelském sektoru - 2022 | ČSÚ (czso.cz). 

The publication with data from the 2023 ICT ENT survey will be published on the CZSO.cz website on 18th January 2024.

Along with the publication, we also publish tables with international comparisons of the main indicators - the source is Eurostat's comprehensive database. We also publish cartograms with selected key indicators. This is again a summary of the main indicators in international comparison (EU27 countries).

See detailed section 10.3.1.

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 :

Public CZSO database with ICT ENT tables, link: Parameters selection VDB (czso.cz)

Data up to survey year 2022 are currently available in the public CZSO database. Indicators from survey year 2023 will be released together with the publication on 18th January 2024.  

Number of accesses to on-line database is not available.

Micro-data from ICT ENT surveys are not disseminated, not publicly available.

Not requested

Not requested

The publication includes a methodological introduction to the ICT ENT survey and this document is also available on the CZSO.cz website (in Czech only): Informační technologie v podnikatelském sektoru | ČSÚ (czso.cz)

It is a PDF file called "Metodika" in Czech.

Not requested

The CZSO Quality management is treated in its strategic documents CZSO Quality Commitment and Quality Policy of the CZSO (see https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/key_documents)

Quality Indicators are compiled in accordance with current version of ESS Handbook for Quality Reports.

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 :

CZSO use Eurostat's Methodological manual with provided guidelines and standards for the implementation of the ICT survey. The ICT survey is carried out and prepared in line with standards used in CZSO for enterprise surveys and in line with ICT surveys in previous years.

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 :

Eurostat model questionnaire and Methodological Manual were used.

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 :

Consultation with ministries, universities and IT experts (authorities).

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 :

Not available.

Detailed information is available in “ Annex I _ Completeness “ excel file - related to questionnaire, coverage, additional questions.

Not requested. Any relevant qualitative information is available in the column “Any deviation from question / item in model questionnaire” in the Annex file.

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.

For calculation of the standard error see 13.2.1.1.

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".

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.

See detailed sections below.

See concept 18.1.1. A) Description of  frame population.

Over-coverage units were identified during data collection and appropriately coded. They were eliminated from the central set of data and the weights were corrected. Inappropriate units are included in the list although they do not belong there according to their activities. During the survey, the level of inappropriateness also takes account of the units that were appropriate when the selection for the survey was made, but then changed their activity or stopped operating during the year. Over-coverage rate was computed as the proportion of units from the sample which do not belong to the target population to the overall sample size. 

Over-coverage rate for year 2023 is 0,12 % (unweighted data) and 0,07 % (weighted data). 

Not requested

A special training is organized for staff that process the questionnaires and transfer data from printed questionnaires to databases (data entry). When the respondent fills inconsistencies into the online questionnaire (e.g. failure to comply with the filter question, year-to-year inconsistency in answers), he is alerted to this error(s) by interactive controls (checks).

See detailed sections below.

See detailed sub-concepts below.

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.

In order to reduce unit non-response two reminders with attached questionnaire were sent by e-mail (data box) to any enterprise that didn’t return filled questionnaire by the asked date. Later a telephone reminder was carried out in order to ensure responses from enterprises of particular importance for the quality of the results of the survey (generally for enterprises within NACE /size groups in which the number of responses was found to be too low).

We sent to all respondents together with the questionnaire also enclosure with the main results from previous year’s survey and answers on frequently asked questions. We considered this is the way to motivate the respondents to fill in the questionnaire.

Not available, we do not have response rate below 60 %.

Item non-response is not an issue (no imputations made for item non-response) except of imputation of some variables (persons employed, turnover) not be available in SBS database.

Other comments relating to the item non-response

Processing error is reduced by many measures.

For each statistical form, set of logical check and consistency rules are defined.

They are applied for online questionnaires, so respondents can see message errors (inconsistencies) before submitting the questionnaire.

The more detailed sets of these rules are applied to data by coresponsible for data capturing. If there are some serious errors, respondents are contacted by phone or e-mail. Key variables are also evaluated in time series for individual respondents.

For each questionnaire, the global quality score (EQA) is computed automatically. If the score is below 4, the questionnaire is treated as unit non-response. In these cases, further contacts of respondent are carried out to improve the quality to satisfactory level.

No quantitative measures are computed.

Not requested

See detailed section below.

Not applicable

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 : 

The publication of the ICT ENT survey is scheduled to be released on 18 January 2024. This date is published in the product catalogue of the Czech Statistical Office.

 See detailed section below.

Date of data delivery to Eurostat: 27/09/2023; no time lag; 09/10/2023 the data set resubmitted again after some corrections (we had an error in the calculation system of weights (grossing up procedure in CZ data)).

The release date of tables with key indicators national data: 18/10/2023

The publication of the ICT ENT survey is scheduled to be released on 18 January 2024.

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.

Not applicable

See section below.

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.

The changes we make in the national questionnaire are based only on the annual changes in the model questionnaire.

The exception is the question regarding the use of ERP: Unlike the MQ, we have questions on the use of business software in a separate part of the questionnaire called Use of selected information systems. Between 2021 and 2023, there was no change in the wording of the question in the national questionnaire, nor we did not change the module. 

Not applicable

 Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

In general the data revisions are treated in the CZSO publicly available key document CZSO Data Revision Policy - As of April 2020 (see https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/key_documents). There are no ordinary revisions planned for the ICT ENT survey (see Chapter 2.19 of the CZSO Data Revision Policy - As of April 2020): "Final data from the ICT 5-01 survey are published usually in January of the following year. Data as at these dates are considered final and are not revised by ordinary revisions; nevertheless, an occasional revision may be performed." The user would be informed on an occasional revision in advance with explanation of its reason in the Catalogues of Products and on the CZSO website.

Online questionnaires (computer assisted) includes all necessary consistency checks (controls). We set approximately 200 of consistency checks (controls) in the questionnaire every survey year. Inconsistencies in controls notify junior statisticians of necessity to check answers. Phone calls are used for validation of the data (corrections) and quality improvement if necessary. Reminders are sent out during May and June/July to obtain higher response in general (but especially in low response strata and important enterprises with annual large share of e-commerce or with great turnover according to its size). Reminders are sent via data mailboxes and some of them are made by phone.

Validated data are saved into database. Time series of different shares and percentages on microdata level are analysed. Abrupt changes of individual data are verified and respondents are contacted.

 Not requested

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 sampling for enterprises with 10 - 249 and census for 250 and more employees with respect to Business Register. An intent sampling was used for enterprises with large share of e-commerce or with huge turnover according to its size.
Number of enterprises and number of employees was used for stratification. The sample was designed with no reference to any other survey. Sample size was designed to enable accurate, reliable and representative results.

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)

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)

Annual

See detailed sections below.

The survey is a combination of computer assisted filling (web questionnaires or PDF questionnaires) in and paper questionnaires. There is a possibility for enterprises to fill in PDF format of questionnaire or web (online) questionnaire available to fill in the special application especially developed for the purpose of this survey. Respondents receive instructions (via a message in their data box) describing how to get the online questionnaire (computer assisted) or have an opportunity to download the online questionnaire from the CZSO website. We send paper questionnaires to enterprises that do not own data boxes (approximately 500 enterprises a year), paper questionnaires are sent and returned by post.  

Before data are transmitted we saved them into the database. Time series of different shares and percentages on microdata level are analysed. Abrupt changes of individual data are verified and respondents are contacted.

We used the validation tool provided by Eurostat - we used the EDAMIS "Acceptance" validation environment, which provided feedback reports, and after we removed the errors, we sent the data in the required SDMX format to the EDAMIS "Production" environment.

Grossing-up procedures

According to results from previous years we expect to collect approx. 7000 questionnaires for enterprises with 10 or more persons employed (=Net sample).

Results are then reweighted on whole population of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed.  The estimates are made by re-weighting method. Generalized Regression Estimators (GREG) using model with three auxiliary variables and without intercept is applied.

Initial weight IWi for each sample unit i from h^th stratum

                      IW_i =IW_h= N_h/n_h ,

    where N_h = number of unit of  h^th stratum BR

                   n_h =  number of unit of  h^th stratum sample.

Let m_h = number of responding units in h^th stratum sample.

Because of non-response, IWi is recalculated on RWi:

for each sample response unit i from h^th stratum

               RW_i=IW_i * n_h/m_h = (N_h/n_h)n_h/m_h,

It holds RW_i=0 for each sample non-response unit i.

Finally, we use auxiliary information from BR about number of social security policyholders, number of persons employed and turnover according to administrative data and number of enterprises to recalculated RWi by calibration method (GREG – Generalized Regression Estimators). Calibration is applied in three stages to weight in strata given by combination of CZ NACE and size class. Weights from one stage are further recalculated in another stages. Moreover, in each stage constraints on the weight change is imposed to guarantee that resulting weight is not to be smaller than 1. In the first stage starting weights are calibrated to preserve number of enterprises and number of social policyholders in strata. In the second stage starting weights are calibrated to preserve number of enterprises and number of persons employed in strata. In the third (final) stage starting weights are calibrated to preserve number of enterprises and sum of turnover in strata.

Note1: The mentioned treatment doesn’t ensure equality of all weight in a given frame stratum.

Note2: All kind of recalculation are pursued with respect to h, that are defined according to NACE and SIZE of BR (not surveyed one).

Note3: We have in our file including enterprises with real number of employees < 5. These units weren’t excluded from treatment because ones represent possible overcoverage of our frame opposite the BR. The number of persons employed in BR is updated by number of person paying social insurance that is always higher than real number persons employed. For this reason we include very small units in fact because these are higher in BR.

This issue is not relevant, no imputation procedures are applied, only complete questionnaires are used for estimation of aggregates.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Problems encountered and lessons to be learnt: