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10-12-2018 12:56

Results of the survey on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) usage and e-commerce in enterprises 2018

Internet connections

In 2018, enterprises with internet connection speeds over 100Mbit/s have nearly doubled reaching 10,2% of all enterprises, compared to 5,3% in the previous year. 35,4% of all enterprises have download speed over 30Mbit/s compared to 24,2% in 2017. Internet speeds between 10Mbit/s and 30Mbit/s still remain the most popular among enterprises in Cyprus (38,1%). (Figure 1, Τable 1)

Cloud Computing Services

In 2018, 26,6% of enterprises with at least 10 employees bought Cloud Computing Services compared to 10,2% in 2014. Cloud computing is very popular in the Information and Communication Sector (NACE Rev.2) in which half of the enterprises (51,1%) are using these services. (Figure 2)

The most common cloud computing services purchased were e-mail (21,7%), storage of files (17,7%), office software (15,9%) and finance or accounting software applications (8,2%). (Table 2)

E-Commerce

In 2017, 33,5% of all enterprises placed orders and 14,2% received orders for goods and services via computer networks. Enterprises prefer to do their purchases and sales via websites or apps. (Figure 3, Table 3)

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Specialists

In 2018, 22,8% of enterprises (10+) employ ICT specialists. 88,4% of large enterprises employ ICT specialists compared to 48,0% and 17,5% for medium and small enterprises respectively. 8,8% of all enterprises recruited or tried to recruit ICT specialists during 2017 with almost half of them (4,3%) facing difficulties in filling those vacancies. (Figure 4)

Website

Following the trend of the last 2 years, the percentage of enterprises having a website is decreasing, from 74,7% in 2016 to 70,9% in 2018. Among the facilities provided by the enterprises through their website, the most common is the description of goods and services and price lists which is provided by the 70,9% of all enterprises. 44,7% of all enterprises have links or references to the enterprise’s social media profiles (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube, etc.) and 12,7% offer personalized content for regular / repeated visitors. (Table 4)

Table1
Download Speed (% on total number of enterprises (10+))	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Less than 2 Mbit/s	3,5	1,1	1,1	0,6	0,9	1,0
At least 2 Mbit/s but less than 10 Mbit/s	70,5	68,5	62,0	41,7	25,5	19,8
At least 10 Mbit/s but less than 30 Mbit/s	16,6	21,4	25,1	39,4	44,0	38,1
At least 30 Mbit/s but less than 100 Mbit/s	1,9	4,6	5,8	11,8	18,9	25,2
At least 100 Mbit/s	0,8	0,5	1,0	2,6	5,3	10,2

Table 2
Use of Cloud Computing (% on total number of enterprises (10+))	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Enterprises using any Cloud Computing	10,2	13,0	15,3	21,8	26,6
E-mail (e.g. Email Enterprise, Microsoft Exchange Online / Office 365, etc.)	7,0	8,7	10,9	16,3	21,7
Office software (e.g. word processors, spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Office Cloud), etc.))	4,0	6,0	7,9	12,5	15,9
Storage of files (e.g. Dropbox, Amazon S3, EMC Mozy, Acronis Online, Diino, etc.)	7,1	8,1	11,0	13,9	17,7
Finance or accounting software applications(e.g. StepStone, Hubwoo, SAP Business By Design, etc.)	2,3	3,4	3,9	5,6	8,2

Table 3
E-Commerce (% on total number of enterprises (10+))	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Sales
Via website	7,5	7,7	10,7	9,9	12,4	11,5	13,3
Via EDI- typed messages	1,7	1,7	1,6	1,7	2,6	2,6	2,5
Purchases
Via website	17,0	12,3	14,4	21,8	42,7	40,7	32,9
Via EDI- typed messages	3,5	2,5	2,9	2,6	2,5	3,5	4,7

Table 4
Website (% on total number of enterprises (10+))	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Enterprises having a website	60,3	66,0	70,0	71,8	74,7	72,8	70,9
Website facilities
Description of goods or services, price lists	58,3	62,7	68,6	70,8	74,3	72,7	70,9
Links or references to the enterprise΄s social media profiles	:	:	27,9	34,9	40,9	41,7	44,7
Personalised content in the website for regular/repeated visitors	8,0	9,7	11,8	12,3	14,5	12,7	12,7

METHODOLOGICAL NOTES

Aim

The aim of the survey is to collect data about the use of information and communication technologies by the enterprises, the use of computers, the employment of ICT specialists, the access and use of the Internet, the use of cloud computing services, the use of 3D printing, the use of robotics, big data analysis, invoicing and e-commerce. These data are necessary for the implementation of policy programmes of both the Government and the Private Sector.

Coverage

The survey took place during January-May, 2018 and covered 1.904 enterprises with 10 or more employees in the following economic activities:

NACE Rev.2	Description
C	Manufacturing
D	Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply
E	Water Supply, Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities
F	Construction
G	Wholesale and Retail Trade. Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods
Η	Transport and Storage
I	Accommodation and Food Service Activities
J	Information and Communication
L	Real Estate Activities
M	Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities
N	Administrative and Support Service Activities
S	Other Service Activities

The survey covers all the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Sampling

The sampling method used was stratified random sampling. Two variables were used for the stratification, NACE group (16 NACE groups) and Size (3 Size groups: Small enterprises (10-49 employees), Medium enterprises (50-249 employees) and Large enterprises (250+ employees)).

Data Collection

The data collection was conducted with the use of a web based questionnaire and through personal interviews with the IT manager of the enterprise.

Reference Period

The data refer to 2018 unless otherwise stated.

Definitions

Electronic commerce (e-Commerce): An e-Commerce transaction is the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing of orders.

Download speed: The maximum download speed according to the contract with the Internet service provider.

Computers: Includes personal computers, portable computers (e.g. laptops, notebooks, netbooks), tablets, other portable devices like Smartphones.

Website: Location on the World Wide Web identified by a Web address.

Cloud Computing: Cloud Computing refers to ICT services that are used over the Internet to access software, computing power, storage capacity etc.

ICT specialists: Employees for whom ICT is their main job. For example, they are responsible for the development, operation or maintenance of ICT systems or applications.

Further information:

Survey Results –Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Usage and E-Commerce in Enterprises Survey, 2018

Statistical Service (CYSTAT) Website, subtheme Information Society

Contact

Constantinos Minas: Tel.: +35722602112, Email: cmina@cystat.mof.gov.cy

(AH)

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