Use of information technology in enterprises: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Use of information technology in enterprises
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises describe enterprises’ use of information technology and electronic business activities. The data are collected with an inquiry among enterprises. The data are published once a year.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises cover the main categories of the Standard Industrial Classification TOL 2008: C Manufacturing (10–33); D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35); E Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (36–39); F Construction (41–43); G Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (45–47); H Transportation and storage (49–53); I Accommodation and food service activities (55–56); J Information and communication (58–63); L Real estate activities (68); M Professional, scientific and technical activities (69–75); N Administrative and support service activities (77–82); and industry 951 Repair of computers and communication equipment.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The statistical unit of the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises is an enterprise.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The sample framework for the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises comprises enterprises in the following industries with at least 10 employees according to Statistics Finland’s Business Register:
• C Manufacturing (10–33)
• D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35)
• E Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (36–39)
• F Construction (41–43)
• G Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (45–47)
• H Transportation and storage (49–53)
• I Accommodation and food service activities (55–56)
• J Information and communication (58–63)
• L Real estate activities (68)
• M Professional, scientific and technical activities (69–75)
• N Administrative and support service activities (77–82)
• Industry 951 Repair of computers and communication equipment.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises cover the data of Finland.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
The lengths of the time series available in terms of the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises vary depending on the desired data. At maximum, time series are available starting from the statistics of 2000.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
Most of the data in the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises use the number of enterprises as a percentage of all enterprises, enterprises by industry or enterprises by size category. The other units of measure used are the euro and the proportion of personnel as percentages.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
In terms of the use of information technology, the reference period in most variables is the time of the inquiry, i.e. February to May of the statistical reference year. In terms of online shopping and some changing variables, the reference period is the previous year.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Broadband
Broadband means a telecommunications connection with a capacity of at least 256 Kbps. In the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises, broadband has in practice been defined through the type of technology used in the connection as either DSL (e.g. ADSL) or other broadband connection (faster than a traditional telephone modem or ISDN).
E-invoice
An e-invoice is an electronic invoice constructed according to a generally used message format, whose data can be handled and interpreted automatically. E-invoices are transmitted via a telecommunications service provider or a bank. E.g, Finvoice, eInvoice, TEAPPSXML, PostiXML.
E-mail invoice
An e-mail invoice is an invoice sent as a pdf-file attached to an e-mail.
EDI
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is a procedure by which information located in an enterprise's data system is used to produce a specified data flow that is transmitted electronically to a receiving enterprise, where it is directly incorporated into the data system (e.g. order, payment order for invoice, price list or product catalogue).
EDI commerce
EDI commerce is electronic commerce that takes place between enterprises through the medium of EDI.
EDI invoice
An EDI invoice is an electronic invoice in machine code according to the EDI structure standards. EDI invoices are often sent via a telecommunications service provider.
Electronic invoice
An electronic invoice is an invoice transmitted in electronic form: an EDI invoice, an e-invoice, an e-mail invoice or some other electronic invoice. Payments entered by a customer into an online banking system or direct debit are not electronic invoices.
Extranet
Private network service linking an enterprise and customer or business partner and based on Internet technology.
Homepage
A homepage here is defined as an enterprise's own Internet homepages or its section in the homepages of a group. Homepages do not refer for example to publication of an enterprise's contact details on various company and address lists.
Internet sales
Internet sales are communication between a person and a data system. Online shopping as defined here means an order placed by completing and sending a ready-made electronic form on the Internet and shopping in actual Internet shops. Orders placed by a standard email message are not defined as online shopping. Purchases made on an extranet subject to the same conditions are also counted as Internet sales.
Intranet
A network service based on Internet technology, limited to and reserved for the use of an enterprise's staff.
IT professional
An IT professional refers to a person with the capability to specify, design, develop, install, use, support, maintain, administer, assess or research information technology or information systems. Information technology is his/her main economic activity.
IT user skills
IT user skills refer to the ability to use efficiently the provided software, such as office programs or other programs required in the work concerned. Work requiring IT user skill refers to work in the performing of which information technology is an important tool and is used intensively daily.
Online shopping
Online shopping is the ordering of goods and services via a computer network, regardless of payment or delivery method.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The data of the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises are delivered to Eurostat annually.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The statistics are based on separate data collection. The data collection is carried out as a sample survey in which all enterprises in the sample framework employing at least 100 people are included in the inquiry. Enterprises with 10 to 99 employees are subject to sampling. The sampling design is a simple random sampling stratified according to industry and size.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The data collection for the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises is carried out annually.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data collection for the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises is carried out as an online inquiry.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The data collected for the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises are validated by ensuring internal consistency of the response, comparing the data with those from previous years, and comparing the data of an enterprise with the background data available in the register.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
All enterprises in the sample framework employing at least 100 people are included in the inquiry. Enterprises with 10 to 99 employees are subject to sampling. The sampling design is a simple random sampling stratified according to industry and size.
The received responses have been inflated to correspond to all enterprises employing more than 10 people in the studied industries or by size category to correspond to all enterprises within the size category. The weighting factor used in analyses pertaining to the numbers of enterprises is the ratio between the framework and the number of respondent enterprises by stratum. The weighting factor in monetary analyses was the ratio between the total turnover of the business enterprises included in the inquiry and the turnover of the respondents by stratum. Some enterprises to be considered extreme values in terms of the size of online shopping have been removed from the calculation of euro-denominated weighting factors. These form their own post-stratum with a weighting factor of 1.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
Sample surveys always include statistical uncertainty factors. The key uncertainty factors are sampling errors, measurement errors and nonresponse.
The random variation inherent in the sampling design is called a sampling error. While the significance of a sampling error can usually be kept minor at reported levels, it can cause annual fluctuations in some more detailed industry-specific reviews.
A measurement error can become apparent in the statistics mainly through complicated technological concepts that are not necessarily clear to all respondents. The resulting measurement error can nevertheless be considered minor in binary yes/no questions. Concepts may typically prove difficult for those who do not have some technology, in which case they usually provide a ‘no’ answer, or the question falls under item nonresponse. A measurement error’s significance in interpretation also reduces when monitoring time series, and when the measurement error can be expected to be repeated as it is.
In terms of item nonresponse, nonresponse is accounted for in the calculation of the results with the use of inflating coefficients. Even after the inflation, the nonresponse causes uncertainty if the attributes of the missing responses differ materially from the attributes of the responses received. The impact of nonresponse on estimates can be expected to be minor.
For the most part, item nonresponse has not been subject to corrections, meaning that partly missing responses have not been imputed in any manner other than as logical corrections. Item nonresponse is not especially significant in any of the variables and is interpreted in practice as a ‘no’ answer for yes/no questions.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
The quality of the statistics is assessed at several different stages of the statistical process. The coherence of the unit data of the statistics is reviewed against the previous year’s data during the data collection phase. Macro-level reviews focus on possible errors in the production process.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The data are published in November, and they primarily describe the situation during the data collection period each year, i.e. the situation from February to May. Some data refer to the previous year’s situation or some 11 months back.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
There is no delay between the delivery and target dates of the data.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The data are comparable with the data of other European statistical agencies.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
From 2021 onwards, the coverage has changed slightly as veterinary activities (75) have been included in the population in section M. Due to the small size of the industry this has no effect on statistical figures.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
No other statistics
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Statistics Finlands release calendar Future publications
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The data in the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises are published annually on Statistics Finland’s website.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published annually on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
The data are published only at a level so aggregated that the disclosure of the data of an individual data supplier is not possible. A majority of the statistics data are based on binary yes/no answers, in which linking the observations to individual data suppliers is not possible. The value of online shopping is published only at a highly aggregated level.
The data in the statistics on the use of information technology in enterprises are made available for research purposes through Statistics Finland’s research services. The data do not include identifiers. The use of the data for scientific research and statistical surveys is possible only on the basis of a separate application for licence to use statistical data and in unidentifiable form.
In tabulations delivered to Eurostat, sensitive cells are marked as protected, due to which Eurostat does not publish the data in question. However, the data can be used in calculating summary data at the EU level.