ICT use by companies broken down by sector of industry (SIC 2008), 2008
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
This table contains figures on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) by companies. These include:
- use of computers;
- internal and external networks, including the internet;
- software and its application;
- Supply Chain Management;
- Automated Data Exchange;
- communication with government via the internet;
- the extent to which companies use the internet for buying and selling;
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
The figures refer to companies with 10 and more employed persons. Reference date is 31 December.
Data available from: 2008.
Status of the figures:
The figures are final.
Changes as of 8 March 2019:
None, this table is discontinued.
When will new figures be published?
Not applicable anymore
Description topics
- ICT specialists and users on 31 December
- ICT stands for information and communication technology.
An ICT specialist is an employee who may specify, design, develop,
install, administer and manage ICT systems, including network management
and conducting evaluations and ICT research, such as a software developer,
system administrator or a 'head IT department'.
An ICT user is an employee using a computer and standard packages (such as
word processing, spreadsheets, databases) and/or office-related software
(such as accounting packages, CAD/CAM packages, SPSS) at work.- Staff working with internet
- Number of employed persons regularly using a computer with internet
access for their work.
- Companies with internal networks (LAN)
- Use of linked computers in the company. This includes links between
different locations of the same company. Such a link (network) is
called a Local Area Network (LAN) and may be a "fixed" and "wireless"
connection. A company can have several types of LAN (wireless, intranet,
extranet).- LAN
- Number of companies with a LAN (Local Area Network).
- Intranet
- Number of companies with an internal company communications network
allowing internal file exchange between its users.
- Companies with external networks
- External networks include internet or other networks than the internet,
such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
EDI is a standard for electronic exchange of structured messages between
business partners.- Teleworkers
- Number of companies with employed persons who regularly, at least half a
day a week, work outside their place of work and have access to the ICT
system of the company. The employed person must have access to files
and/or software, not just email.
- Internet, type of connection
- The use of internet by companies broken down by type of connection. A
company can use more than one type of connection.- Broadband
- Companies that use ADSL, SDSL etc., cable (radio and tv cable) or other
high-quality fixed connections such as glass fibre and leased lines for
their internet connection.- Total broadband
- Number of companies that use ADSL, SDSL etc., cable (radio and tv cable)
or other high-quality fixed connections such as glass fibre and leased
lines for their internet connection.
- Internet, general applications
- Use of internet by companies for one or more of the following general
applications: education and training and financial services.- At least one general application
- Number of companies that use the internet for one or more general
applications. A company may use multiple applications simultaneously.
- Training and education
- Number of companies that use the internet for training and education
(e.g. e-learning).
- Internet, facilities offered
- Supply of facilities/equipment by companies on the internet, such as
after sales support and information about the company and its products.- At least one facility offered
- Number of companies that offer one or several facilities on the internet.
A company may offer several facilities simultaneously.
- Staff recruitment
- Number of companies that recruit staff on the internet, e.g. through
vacancies on the website.
- Use for sales
- Sales via external networks, or online sales, are defined here as sales
of products ordered electronically (excluding hand typed email).
They include sales via the company website (public, generally accessible),
or via non-public systems including Automated Data Exchange (ADE).- Sales via external networks
- Number of companies that use external networks for sales of goods and
services.
- Via a website
- Via a website (public, generally accessible).
- Turnover value >= 1% of total turnover
- Number of companies that sell products via external networks and where
the value of that turnover is 1% or more of the total turnover of the
company.
- Use for purchase
- Purchases via external networks or electronic shopping is defined here as
placing an order electronically (excluding hand typed email).- Purchase value >= 10% of total purchase
- Number of companies that purchase products via external networks and the
value of that purchase is 10% or more of the total purchase value of the
company.
- Companies with software/ICT applications
- ICT applications: special software with a limited application (e.g. an
accounting package).- ERP software
- Number of companies using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
ERP software systematically integrates data of various units within the
company, such as planning, purchasing, logistics and production.
- CRM software
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
CRM software collects, analyses and disseminates company-wide customer
data to increase the sales potential of the organisation, also cross
selling.- Total CRM software
- Number of companies using CRM software.
- Open source software
- Open source software is not necessarily free of charge and is
characterised by three aspects:
1 the source code of the software is freely available, at least in part;
2 everyone can add to it or improve it;
3 everyone can distribute it.- Total open source software
- Number of companies using open source software.
- ICT applications for order processing
- Use of related software and hardware for processing the received sales
and/or purchase orders placed in other companies. The orders do not have
to be sent/received by computer.- Sales
- Total sales order processing systems
- Number of companies using ICT applications for processing sales orders.
- Purchases
- Total purchasing processing systems
- Number of companies using ICT applications to process purchasing orders.
- Automated Data Exchange (ADE)
- Automated Data Exchange is the electronic data exchange between companies
through internet or another network, in an agreed format (e.g. XML,
EDIFACT). Hand typed emails are excluded.- At least one form of ADE
- Total number of companies using one or more Automated Data Exchange (ADE)
applications. A company can apply multiple forms of ADE.
- Sending electronic invoices
- Number of companies using Automated Data Exchange to send electronic
invoices.
- Supply Chain Management (SCM)
- Supply Chain Management is the integration of a company's business and
ICT system with that of its business partners to coordinate the
availability and supply of products/services. This is electronic data
exchange on expected production, stock, demand, supply, product
development etc. and can be done via:
- the internet or another network;
- Automated Data Exchange.
Hand typed emails are excluded.- Total number of companies using SCM
- Total number of companies using Supply Chain Management.
- With suppliers
- Total SCM with suppliers
- Total number of companies using Supply Chain Management with suppliers.
- With customers
- Total SCM with customers
- Total number of companies using Supply Chain Management with customers.
- SCM method used
- Total use of SCM method
- Total number of companies using Supply Chain Management via website (e.g.
of their own company) or via Automated Data Exchange (ADE).
- Companies that secure messages
- Companies taking measures to protect electronic data flows.
- Total of secured messages
- Number of companies using a form of security when sending or receiving
electronic messages, such as a digital signature or a cryptographic
protocol.
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology with which data can
be remotely transferred through radio waves with the aim of identifying
or tracking objects, animals or people. An 'RFID-tag' - often a chip - is
used as a transmitter which is very easy to transport because of its
small format. Such a tag is attached to or incorporated in the object to
be tracked and the tag transmits a unique identification number by means
of radio waves. A receiver recognises this number and thus identifies the
object concerned.
RFID is an alternative for the barcode.- At least one form of RFID application
- Total number of companies using one or more Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) applications. A company can use more than one RFID application.
- Personal identification/access control
- Total number of companies using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for
personal identification or access control (access badge).