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Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Methodology and quality
  3. ESMS metadata
  4. Community Survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in Enterprises

Community Survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in Enterprises

1. Contact
1.1. Contact organisation

Statistics Estonia

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Economic and Environmental Statistics Department

1.3. Contact name

Tiina Pärson

1.4. Contact person function

Leading Analyst

1.5. Contact mail address

51 Tatari Str, 10134 Tallinn, Estonia

1.6. Contact email address

tiina.parson [at] stat.ee

1.7. Contact phone number

37253840141

2. Metadata update
2.1. Metadata last certified

27/03/2025

2.2. Metadata last update

27/03/2025

3. Statistical presentation
3.1. Data description

Enterprises using computers; Internet connection and use of mobile Internet in enterprises, ICT specialists in enterprises, ICT security, enterprises using management software, enterprises sending/receiving e-invoices and enterprises using web sales by economic activity and number of persons employed

3.2. Classification system

Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK 2008) based on NACE Rev. 2

3.3. Sector coverage

The survey covers enterprises with 10 and more persons employed according to Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK 2008) based on NACE Rev. 2

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Broadband – continuous Internet connection (ADSL, cable, etc.). In contrast to dial-up service, the data transmission speed is also higher with wide bandwidth, i.e. broadband connection.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) – integrated data system for planning and managing activities prior to and after sales, and for collecting, integrating, processing and analysing client-related information.

Digital signature – a data set added to an electronic document linking the document to the signee. In Estonia, a digital signature is the legal equivalent of a hand-written signature.

xDSL (... Digital Subscriber Line: ADSL, SDSL, etc.) – asymmetric, symmetric, etc. digital subscriber line; a family of technologies which allow high bandwidth services to be transmitted over telephone lines.

E-invoice – the invoice information is transferred electronically from the invoice issuer’s IT system directly to the recipient’s IT system (using XML, EDI, etc.), enabling automatic processing and/or printing.

Enterprise – an enterprise consists of one or more companies (public limited company, private limited company, limited partnership, general partnership, commercial association) or branches of foreign companies or sole proprietors. Rail transport statistics do not cover branches of foreign companies and sole proprietors.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) – integrated management system for important business components, including product planning, supply, inventory, marketing, customer management, tracking orders, etc.

Firewall – hardware and software that prevents unauthorized access between private network and the Internet according to specified security criteria.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) – a digital network of integrated services; an international communications standard that allows the transmission of several data streams simultaneously over telephone lines.

Number of computers – PCs, servers, handheld computers, computer stations (terminals).

Persons employed – working:

- proprietors and unpaid family members;

- full- and part-time employees who are on the payroll;

- persons who work outside the unit (sales representatives, delivery personnel, repair and maintenance teams, etc.) but who are on the staff list and payroll of the enterprise;

- persons temporarily absent from work (persons on sick leave, paid leave, study leave, on strike, etc.);

- seasonal workers, trainees (apprentices) and homeworkers who are on the payroll;

- persons employed under contract for services.

Privacy statement describes how an organisation managing a website uses personal data (name, contact data, purchase preferences, etc.) collected during the use of the website.

Secure server – a server that separates the Internet and local network, that contains no delicate data and protects local network against third party tampering.

Website – a HyperText document located on the web (WWW). For building websites HTML Markup language is used, which defines the content (images, text, HyperText, video and audio files) and design of the website.

ICT security – ICT security includes measures, control and procedures applied on ICT systems in order to ensure integrity, authenticity, availability and confidentiality of data and systems.

Industrial robot – an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications. Hence, an automatically controlled machine-tool is not industrial robot. Software robots are not included either.

ICT specialists – ICT (information and communications technology) service managers, graphic and multimedia designers, ICT professionals, software and applications developers and analysts, electronics engineers, information and communications technology operations and user support technicians, telecommunications and broadcasting technicians, information technology trainers, telecommunications engineers, information and communication equipment installation and maintenance specialists and information and communications technology professionals. Based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO 08).

Internet – a global system of linked computer networks that allows data communication services such as remote log in, file transfer, electronic mail, etc. The Internet is also the foundation for the World Wide Web.

Intranet – internal computer network operating under the same protocols as the Internet.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) – an international telecommunications standard that allows a communications channel to carry several data streams simultaneously.

LAN (Local Area Network) – a network for communication between computers confined to a single building or in closely located group of buildings.

Maximum contracted download speed – the connection speed promised by the internet provider in the contract. If your enterprise uses different internet connections (e.g. ADSL and mobile connection of the same type in different locations), count the fastest one. Usually, the contracted download speed can be found in the invoice sent by the service provider.

Open source software – software with the possibility to use, copy, modify and (re)distribute it free from restrictions.

Persons employed – working:

- proprietors and unpaid family members;

- full- and part-time employees who are on the pay-roll;

- persons who work outside the unit (sales representatives, delivery personnel, repair and maintenance teams, etc.) but who are in the staff list and on the pay-roll of the enterprise;

- persons temporarily absent from work (persons on sick leave, paid leave, study leave, on strike, etc.);

- seasonal workers, trainees (apprentices) and homeworkers who are on the pay-roll;

- persons employed under contract for services.

Privacy certification – describes how the organisation managing the website uses personal data (name, contact data, purchase preferences, etc.) collected by the use of the website.

RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology – an automatic identification method to store and remotely retrieve data. RFID tag applied to a product or object transmits data via radiowaves.

Secure server – a server that separates Internet and local network that contains no delicate data and protects local network against third party tampering.

Web page – a document in the web (www). A web page is generated using the HTML markup language, which determines the content of the web page (pictures, text, hypertext links, audio and video files), presentation and design.

Website – a collection of related web files (HTML files) with home page as the main page. Every website has a web address, which may belong to a private person, firm or organisation. Websites are stored on web servers managed by firms themselves or ISPs. Large websites may be in separate parts stored on several separate servers. Website is a collection of web pages.

3.5. Statistical unit

Enterprise

3.6. Statistical population

Enterprises with 10 or more persons employed

FRAME

List of active enterprises with 10 or more persons employed. The list is generated from the Business Register for Statistical Purposes. Companies with 50 or more employees are included in the sample, among companies with 10-49 employees a simple random selection is made.

3.7. Reference area

Estonia as a whole

3.8. Time coverage

2003–…

3.9. Base period

Not applicable

4. Unit of measure

percentage

5. Reference period

Year

6. Institutional mandate
6.1. Legal acts and other agreements

DIRECTLY APPLICABLE LEGAL ACTS

Regulation (Ec) No 1006/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society

Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society

OTHER LEGAL ACTS

Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (Text with EEA relevance)

Regulation (Ec) No 1006/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society

OTHER AGREEMENTS

Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)

7. Confidentiality
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 32, § 34, § 35, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

The dissemination of data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in §§ 34 and 35 of the Official Statistics Act.

The principles for treatment of confidential data can be found here.

8. Release policy
8.1. Release calendar

Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. Every year on 1 October, the release times of the statistical database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications for the following year are announced in the release calendar (in the case of publications – the release month).

8.2. Release calendar access

Calendar

8.3. User access

All users have been granted equal access to official statistics: dissemination dates of official statistics are announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and mass media) is provided access to official statistics before other users. Official statistics are first published in the statistical database. If there is also a news release, it is published simultaneously with data in the statistical database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8:00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.

9. Frequency of dissemination

Annual

10. Accessibility and clarity
10.1. News release

The news release “Information technology in enterprises and households” once a year. The news release can be viewed on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section Uudiskiri (in Estonian).

10.2. Publications

Not published

10.3. Online database

Data are published in the statistical database at https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat under the subject area “Economy / Information technology and communications / Information technology in enterprises” in the following tables:

IT001 Enterprises connections to the internet and having websites by economic activity and number of persons employed

IT0081 Enterprises using e-commerce by economic activity (EMTAK 2008) and number of persons employed

IT030 Enterprises having bought cloud computing services over the internet by economic activity and number of persons employed

IT033 Enterprises by invoices sent, by economic activity and number of persons employed

IT138 Presence of ICT specialists by economic activity of enterprise and number of employed persons

IT141 Enterprises analysing big data by economic activity and number of persons employed

IT145 Enterprises using 3D printing by economic activity and number of persons employed

IT146 Enterprises using robots by economic activity and number of persons employed

IT148 Enterprises using Internet of Things by economic activity and number of persons employed

10.4. Microdata access

The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 33, § 34, § 35, § 36, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act. Access to microdata and anonymisation of microdata are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes.

10.5. Other

Not used

10.6. Documentation on methodology

10.7. Quality documentation

A quality report is sent to Eurostat for each survey period.

11. Quality management
11.1. Quality assurance

To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements in § 7. “Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act.

11.2. Quality assessment

Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process; this information can take many forms, including feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

12. Relevance
12.1. User needs

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications

12.2. User satisfaction

Since 1996, Statistics Estonia has conducted reputation and user satisfaction surveys. All results are available on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section User surveys.

12.3. Completeness

In compliance with the rules (regulations)

13. Accuracy and reliability
13.1. Overall accuracy

The type of survey and the data collection methods ensure sufficient coverage and timeliness.

13.2. Sampling error

The error due to probability sampling is estimated for more important indicators.

13.3. Non-sampling error

Not measured

14. Timeliness and punctuality
14.1. Timeliness

The data are published 260 days after the end of the reference period (T + 260).

14.2. Punctuality

The data have been published at the time announced in the release calendar.

15. Coherence and comparability
15.1. Comparability - geographical

The data are comparable with the data of other European Union countries because common methods, concepts and definitions are used.

15.2. Comparability - over time

Data on key issues are comparable over time. Additional questions vary from one survey to another.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

Not applicable

15.4. Coherence - internal

Not applicable

16. Cost and burden

Total time of filling in reports of the statistical activity, working days: 411

Average time of filling in the reports, hours per report:

Infotehnoloogia ettevõttes: 1.12

(data for 2022)

17. Data revision
17.1. Data revision - policy

The data revision policy and notification of corrections are described in the section Principles of dissemination of official statistics of the website of Statistics Estonia.

17.2. Data revision - practice

The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available.

18. Statistical processing
18.1. Source data

SURVEY DATA

Population includes 6,600 objects. The sample includes 3,400 objects.

Enterprises with 50 or more persons employed are completely observed, among enterprises with 10–49 employees stratified sampling by economic activity is used.

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Annual reports of enterprises are obtained from the commercial register of the Centre of Registers and Information Systems. Data on the following tax returns are obtained from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board: value added tax return (form KMD); declaration of income and social tax, unemployment insurance premiums and contributions to mandatory funded pension (form TSD).

DATA FROM OTHER STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

Data from statistical activity 20300 “Financial statistics of enterprises (annual)” are used.

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Annual

18.3. Data collection

Data are collected and the submission of questionnaires is monitored through eSTAT (the web channel for electronic data submission). The questionnaires have been designed for independent completion in eSTAT and include instructions and controls. The questionnaires and information about data submission are available on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section Questionnaires.

Data are collected with the annual statistical questionnaire “Information technology in enterprises”.

The data from the Tax and Customs Board are obtained via X-Road and FTP-server. The data from the commercial register are obtained via X-Road.

18.4. Data validation

Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with other data. Before data dissemination, internal coherence of the data is checked.

18.5. Data compilation

In the case of missing or unreliable data, estimates are imputed according to set rules. Variables and statistical units which were not collected but which are necessary for producing output are calculated. New variables are calculated by applying arithmetic conversion to already existing variables. This may be done repeatedly; the derived variable may, in turn, be based on previously derived variables. Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes summation of data according to the classification and calculating various statistical measures, e.g. average, median, dispersion, etc. The collected data are converted into statistical output. This includes calculating additional variables.

18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable

19. Comments

Not available

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stat [at] stat.ee

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