STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Not available.

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

LAMAČSKÁ CESTA 3/C

840 05 BRATISLAVA 45

SLOVAKIA

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.

The statistical unit corresponded to the enterprise included in the Register of statistical units according to the main (prevailing) activity and number of employees in line with Eurostat recommendations.

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

Target population covered the whole country at the level on NUTS2.

Grossing-up in these surveys will be done at the level of NACE, NUTS2 and size person category.

Data for a specific set of variables were delivered on NUTS 2 regional level. 

Years 2022 and 2023.

Not applicable

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

Reference periods in national survey was in the line with the reference periods defined in the Eurostat modes questionnaires.

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

Information on the use of ICT in enterprises SO SR collects in the statistical survey ICT ENT 2-01 included in the Program of State Statistical Surveys, issued for a three-year period in the Collection of Laws of the SR. The reporting obligation to submit statistical statements to entities is based on Act no. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics as amended (Section 18 (3)) and cannot be rejected (Section 18 (8)). The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes.

Statistical information from ICT survey is a source for fulfilling the obligations of the Slovak Republic resulting from the requirements of the European Statistical System, the requirements of international institutions and to meet the needs of the national information system. In 2004 was adopted Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics on the information society. An implementing regulation for the year in question is issued each year specifyingthe Eurostat data provision requirements.

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 : 

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic apply Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics. Minimum number of enterprises for breakdowns is 3.

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 : 

Protection of statistical confidentiality (protection of confidential statistical data) is a system of interrelated measures in the legislative, methodological, organizational, technical, security and personnel fields, preventing the leakage of confidential statistical data or the premature publication of statistical information. Authorities performing state statistics are obliged to ensure the protection of confidential statistical data from misuse in the manner set out in § 25a and § 29 and 30 of Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended.

The principles of the application of confidential statistical data protection are available on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic at:

https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/services/infoservis/confidential

Data from the survey on the use of ICT in enterprises are published on the SO SR portal and in the DATACUBE database at:

https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/products/publikacie/catalogue

The editorial program contains basic information about publications, release dates and language versions. All publications are available at the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

The editorial program is available on the website of the SO SR at: https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/products/publikacie/catalogue

The statistical information dissemination policy is formulated in accordance with the State Statistics Act, the Statistical Office Development Strategy, the Eurostat Information Dissemination Strategy and the European Statistics Code of Practice.

The principles of publishing and providing statistical information are available on the website of the Statistical Office of the SR at: https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/services/infoservis/principles

Annual

National dissemination of results

At national level :

Information society

National dissemination of results

After finishing of ICT data treatment the basic information on important trends in this area was published on Internet. Similar results will be disseminated in the publication with a planned date of issue in December 2023.

This document as well as the whole survey was realized under the European financial support.

Information society > Publications

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 :

Information society > Indicators

Not applicable

Not requested

Not requested

Methodological information on ICT statistics is provided in the ICT ENT 2-01 survey form, in publications and in tables of the public database of the SO SR.

Not requested

Internal documentation of the Statistical Office of the SR on ensuring the quality of statistical outputs:

• internal Methodological directive for application of mathematical-statistical methods for statistical surveys,
• internal Methodological directive - Quality indicators of statistical outputs and statistical processes.

On a yearly basis, quality reports are prepared in the ESS Metadata Handler for individual indicators in accordance with the ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (EQHQR) based on Eurostat requirements.

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 :

The SO SR has a quality management system in place. The Quality Manual includes a description of the quality management system and the fulfillment of ISO 9001 requirements. The application of the Manual ensures that all activities that affect the quality of the products being produced are planned, managed, reviewed, evaluated and meet the requirements accepted in the order.

The Quality Guide is available at: https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/wcm/connect/9ca43aa4-bfaf-4101-9dae-5263aa834df7/Prirucka_kvality.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=mu8R9IM&CVID=mu8R9IM

The basis of the whole quality management system is the Code of Practice for European Statistics: https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/aboutus/key.documents/code.of.practise.

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 :

Survey was organised in line with Eurostat recommendations so as in previous year.

There were based on questionnaires proposed by Eurostat.

The survey was included in the Program of state statistical surveys in 2021 – 2023.

The information that the survey is organised via web were sent to the eDesk of enterprise.

The respondents were reminded by notification via web or by e-mail.

Reference periods in national survey was in the line with the reference periods defined in the Eurostat modes questionnaires.

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 :

Not available

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 :

Survey was organised in line with Eurostat recommendations so as in previous year.

There were based on questionnaires proposed by Eurostat.

Since 2009, the Statistical Office of the SR has been conducting customer satisfaction surveys with its products and services at two-year intervals. The aim of the surveys is to get information about the interest and opinions of users on providing and quality of statistical products and services. The information obtained is a valuable source for the further activities of the SO SR.

The results of the satisfaction survey are available on the website of the SO SR at (only in slovak language).

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

Not requested. 

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.

0%

Not requested

Not applicable

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.

The survey was included in the Program of state statistical surveys in 2021– 2023 as mandatory.

The letter with information that the survey is organised via web were sent to the enterprises eDesk.

The respondents were reminded by notification via web or by e-mail.

None

None

Other comments relating to the item non-response

No processing errors were detected.

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 : 

Data were sent 2.10.2023.

Publication were disseminated 14.12.2023 - 9 mounth after the last day of the reference period.

 See detailed section below.

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.

Data for specific set of variables were delivered on NUTS 2 regional level. There is no problem of comparability across the country’s regions.

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.

Survey was organised in line with Eurostat recommendations so as in previous year.

There were based on questionnaires proposed by Eurostat.

Not applicable

 Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

The revision policy governs the basic rules and general procedures by which the pre-drafted data is later revised as well as applied in revisions for other reasons.

The revision policy and calendar is available on the SO SR website at: https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/products/revisions

The primary source of routine revisions is the need for data revisions due to new data received from reporting agents or corrected data from reporting agents. The publication of revised data is performed regularly in accordance with the Calendar of Revisions. The data are considered final at the time of first publication and are not usually adjusted. In the case of any revision (also in previous years), the databases and in the relevant publications of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic state that the data have been revised. Changes in the methodology are reported after their introduction in the form of methodological notes or notes on published data.

 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: 

The sample was created on the base of the same methods, which were used in other surveys organized by SO SR (short-term surveys, business surveys). In comparison with other surveys the boundary between exhaustive and sample survey was changed in the direction upwards.

In this enterprises survey the sample was organised in enterprises with 10 to 249 employees whereas in STS and SBS the sample concerns the enterprises with 1 to 19 employees.

Stratification sampling was realised according to:

- NACE,

- NUTS2,

- Number of employees.

 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 web survey was included in the Program of state statistical surveys in 2021– 2023.

The information that the survey is organised via web were sent to the eDesk of enterprise.

The respondents were reminded by notification via web or by e-mail.

Data validation is embedded in the integrated statistical information system of the SO SR. The following checks are distinguished when collecting data:

1 - formal checks carried out automatically in the data collection process

2 - informal controls to check the complexity and relationships between variables.

From the point of view of the severity of errors:

I - informatic Errors - provide additional information that is needed for the process of checking and correcting data. They provide information on possible overruns of specified limits, partial non- response, etc.

Z - material errors - indicating specific errors that need to be corrected or justified by the reporting agent. These errors are discussed by the SO SR staff with the reporting unit and corrected.

Grossing-up procedures

After the end of data collection, the following activities are performed with the database:

- Logical checks are performed between the individual survey variables

- Missing values in module X (turnover and purchases) are supplemented from the annual structural survey (SBS)

- 3 types of weights are calculated for individual strata

      ENT_WGHT (enterprise weight) - calculated as the share of the number of submitted questionnaires in the ICT survey and the number of reporting units in the frame population

      TURN_WGHT (sales weight) - calculated as the share of reported turnover in the submitted questionnaires in the ICT survey and total calculated turnover for units in the frame population (using annual structural survey SBS)

      EMP_WGHT (weight based on employment) - calculated as the share of reported employed persons in the submitted questionnaires in the ICT survey and total recalculated employed persons for units in the frame population (using annual structural survey SBS)

- All weights are calculated exactly according to EUROSTAT recommendations

- These weights are used in the calculations of individual variables according to the Transmission format material

- The aggregated variables calculated in this way are validated by EUROSTAT

- Validated and clean data are sent to EUROSTAT in the required structure

Imputation was not used.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Problems encountered and lessons to be learnt: