An annual survey on information communication technology (ICT) availability and usage revealed that almost all enterprises employing at least 10 full-time equivalent employees had at their disposal both a computer and internet access.

Computer and internet availability by enterprises

The survey, carried out during the first quarter this year, shows that 96 and 65 per cent of 10+ enterprises and micro-enterprises respectively made use of a computer during the period under review. The vast majority of the former enterprises had internet access. All 10+ enterprises forming part of the financial sector had access to both a computer and the internet. Over 98 per cent of 10+ enterprises had access to a broadband connection.

Computer and internet use by enterprises

The majority of enterprises that employ a 10+ full-time equivalents had the facility of local area network (LAN). Results show that 30 and 29 per cent of 10+ enterprises made use of Extranet and Intranet respectively.

Online banking and financial services was made use of 81 per cent of the targeted 10+ enterprises which have internet access. Around 32 per cent of enterprises within the same size class offered training courses through the internet.

E-government services were utilised by 83 per cent of those 10+ enterprises using internet. In fact, obtaining information and downloading forms from government institutions was the online service most sought for by enterprises.

Nearly 70 per cent of 10+ enterprises availing of internet had also the facility of a website or a webpage. .

E-Commerce

The results of the survey under review indicate that nearly 14 and 22 per cent of online sales and purchases respectively took place in enterprises employing at least 10 employees. Nearly 48 per cent of the enterprises within the hotel and accommodation industry received orders either through their website or through other automated data exchange. With regard to placing online orders, the largest proportions of enterprises with such practices emerged in the wholesale and retail trade (Table 10). Most e-commerce transactions took place with EU countries.

Survey results show that 59 per cent of enterprises practicing e-commerce indicated that the benefit of e-commerce most valuable to them was lower transaction costs. All 10+ internet users saw product specifications as being the main obstacle to e-commerce.

Computer and internet usage by employees

The results of the survey indicate that 46 per cent of the working population employed with 10+ enterprises in the NACE categories under review make use of a computer in their work place.

In addition, 34 per cent of persons employed with enterprises forming part of the 10+ category had access to the internet at their place of work.

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