ICT usage in enterprises, 2008

The enterprises reported the proportion of total turnover which came from orders received via electronic networks. The electronic channels included homepages, automatic data exchange via the Internet and over other computer networks. In 2007 electronic sales among enterprises with at least ten employees made up 19 per cent of total turnover. This implies a tripling of the proportion since 1999. The strong growth began in 2004 and is characterised by two leaps, from 2003 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2006. In 2003 the proportion of electronic sales made up six per cent of total turnover. The proportion increased to 12 per cent in 2004, and continued increasing in 2005. In 2006 the proportion of electronic turnover increased further, to 23 per cent. In 2007 the proportion decreased to 19 per cent. Additional surveys will determine if this last result implies stagnated electronic sales or is a random aberration.

Since the calculation of electronic turnover is based on observations with great variation, the uncertainty is larger than for results where the enterprises respond either affirmative or negative (as in questions about Internet access or usage of homepage). Uncertainty in the data can bring large yearly fluctuations. In the publication of electronic turnover Statistics Norway has not included Banking and finance.

More than every third enterprise thinks ICT increases earnings

All enterprises with a computer were asked to report their own subjective view about benefits of ICT usage by estimating the significance of implemented IT projects on reorganisation and simplification of work routines, release of resources, earnings and development of new goods and services. More than every third enterprise thought the IT projects had caused higher earnings. Statistics Norway has earlier published an objective measurement of impacts of ICT in enterprises (in Norwegian).

Two out of three has broadband

A possible definition of broadband is transmission capacity of at least 2 Mbit per second. This survey asked enterprises if they were connected to Internet via various DSL-technologies or other types connections with capacity of ay least 2 Mbit per second. Since 2001, the proportion of enterprises connected to Internet via broadband has increased from 19 to 67 per cent. Two out of three enterprises are now connected to the Internet with a broadband connection. In the same period, the proportion enterprises with wireless connection to Internet increased more than nine times. In this survey the transmission capacity of wireless Internet connections was not specified. Because several enterprises have more than one type connection to the Internet, proportions for Internet connections do not correspond to the proportion for Internet access.

Less than ten per cent use open source operating systems

Use of open source operating systems varies greatly by the size of the enterprises. In 2008, over 20 per cent of the enterprises with 100 employees or more used open source operating systems. For enterprises with 10-19 employees the proportion was only 5 per cent. The proportion with open source operating systems is highest in banking and finance. In this industry, 13 per cent used operating systems with open source in 2008. On the other hand, usage by enterprises in Construction was only two per cent.

Many other European countries produce statistics about ICT usage in enterprises in cooperation with EUs statistical office Eurostat. The plan for this survey is adapted to Eurostat guidelines. Internationally comparable figures can be found here:

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=2973,64549069,2973_64553608&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Tables:

• Table 1 Proportion of all enterprises with Internet access, by employment groups, area of industry and counties. 1998-2008. Per cent
• Table 2 Proportion of all small enterprises (5-9 employees) with Internet access, by area of industry. 2001-2008. Per cent
• Table 3 Proportion of all enterprises with different types of Internet connections, by employment groups and area of industry. 2008. Per cent
• Table 4 Proportion of all small enterprises (5-9 employees) with different types of Internet connections, by area of industry. 2008. Per cent
• Table 5 Proportion of all enterprises with broadband, by employment groups and area of industry. 2001-2008. Per cent
• Table 6 Proportion of all enterprises with permanent connection with less transmission capacity than 2 Mbit per second, by employment groups and area of industry. 2001-2008. Per cent
• Table 7 Proportion of all enterprises with homepage, by employment groups, area of industry and counties. 1998-2008. Per cent
• Table 8 Electronic sales, by employment groups and area of industry. 1999-2007. NOK billion
• Table 9 Proportion of all enterprises with various security measures. 2003-2008. Per cent
• Table 10 Proportion of all enterprises using Internet for dealing with public authorities, by employment groups, area of industry and counties. 2003-2008. Per cent
• Table 11 Enterprises's evaluation of the quality of public electronic services. Proportion of enterprises using Internet to communicate with public authorities (information search, downloading forms, sending in information in web format, full electronic case handling, submit a proposal in an elektronic tender system), by employment groups, area of industry and counties. 2007. Per cent
• Table 12 Proportion of all enterprises which used broadband telephony, by employment groups and area of industry. 2006-2008. Per cent
• Table 13 Proportion of all enterprises which used open source operating systems (e.g. Linux), by employment groups and area of industry. 2007-2008. Per cent
• Table 14 Enterprises's perceived benefits of ICT projects in the last two years. 2008. Per cent