Digitalisation and ICT in the public sector, 2008

A total of 71.5 per cent of the enterprises in public administration state that they are responsible for purchasing products and services. For the rest, the purchasing is done by a superior public enterprise. About seven out of ten publish their basis of competition and handle the submission and receipt of offers electronically, while slightly more than half handle evaluation and assignment similarly. A total of 38.2 per cent state that they use electronic ordering systems.

Introduction and usage of IT systems

Slightly more than half of the public enterprises state that they form a quorum on implementing new and/or maintaining existing IT systems. Amongst these, three out of four state that they are using systems for electronic business procedures. They estimate that about 60 per cent of all relevant cases are handled by such systems.

A total of 87 per cent of the enterprises have employees that often work away from the office, and have limited or full access to the IT systems. Six out of ten enterprises state that they exchange EDI messages, such as XML, with other companies.

Six out of ten enterprises in public administration are using open source software in one or several areas. Open source software is being used by 44.6 per cent of the enterprises on servers, and 17.1 per cent uses such software as office programs. Four out of ten enterprises use open source software in other areas.

Electronic services provided

Almost two out of three public enterprises have forms intended for filling by companies or private individuals. Slightly more than 30 per cent of these forms are available for electronic filling and reporting. The enterprises state that between 30 and 40 per cent of the users make use of systems for the electronic filling of forms where available.

Downloading and printing forms are the most offered electronic services by the public enterprises. Over fifty per cent offer electronic communication (e-mail, chat, SMS) and online ordering of material such as brochures and forms. Only eleven per cent offer online payment on their website, but as much as 4 out of ten enterprises state that offering this service is not relevant to them.

Dissemination and contents of IT strategy

Half the enterprises in this survey state that they are responsible for making decisions on creating and developing an ICT strategy. But only one half of them have a strategy that has been created or updated in the last two years. Among the enterprises that have an updated strategy, almost all have included IT security and ICT infrastructure in their strategy. Less than half of them have included use of open source software, electronic purchase processes and standardisation of ICT solutions with other enterprises in the same public sector.

Tables:

• Table 1 Use of electronical business processes. 2008. Per cent
• Table 2 Use of open source software. 2006-2008. Per cent
• Table 3 Share of enterprises that offer different electronic services. 2004-2008. Per cent
• Table 4 Share of enterprises with selected areas included in an updated ICT-strategy. 2008. Per cent.