Statistics Belgium has published the results of the survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises[1][2] 2017. It has been found that:
Virtually all enterprises have access to the Internet, almost exclusively via a broadband connection.
Almost one third of enterprises employ ICT specialists.
For almost nine enterprises out of ten, the fixed connection speed meets the enterprise's requirements.
The number of enterprises receiving online orders has slightly increased compared to the previous year.
One enterprise out of five uses its own website or its own apps to receive online orders.
Four enterprises out of ten purchase cloud computing services[3] .
Six enterprises out of ten mainly use social media to enhance the enterprise's image or to sell products.
Virtually all enterprises have access to the Internet (99.6 %), almost exclusively via a broadband connection. One third of them employ ICT specialists. This proportion increases to 87 % for enterprises with at least 250 employees, i.e. a rise of 2 % compared to the previous year.
For 88 % of enterprises, the fixed connection speed meets the enterprise's requirements. For enterprises with at least 250 employees, this percentage increases to 90 %.
One enterprise out of five uses its own website or its own apps to receive online orders. For enterprises with at least 250 employees, this percentage amounts to 41 %.
The proportion of enterprises having received orders via another website during the year before the survey amounts to 21 %, i.e. an increase of 1 % compared to the previous year. However, we notice a 2 % increase for enterprises with at least 250 employees, from 41 % in 2016 to 43 % in 2017.
In Belgium, 40 % of enterprises purchase cloud computing services, that is an increase of 11 % compared to 2016. These services are mainly used by enterprises with at least 250 employees (76 %) and those working in the information and communication sector (77 %).
Finally, in 2017, 58 % of enterprises used social media, up from 53 % in 2016. That is a significant increase of 5 %. This proportion amounts to 88 % for enterprises with at least 250 employees. Social media are mainly used to enhance the enterprise's image or to sell products and to recruit staff.
[1] Enterprises with at least 10 employees..
[2] Survey organised at the European level based on the Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 and on the Regulation (EC) No 1006/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009.
[3] Cloud computing refers to IT services that are used on the Internet to access software, computing power or storage capacity.
| 2017 | 10 to 49 employees (small enterprises) | 50 to 249 employees (medium-sized enterprises) | 250 employees and more (large enterprises) | Total - 10 employees and more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to the Internet | 100% | 99% | 100% | 100% |
| Own a website | 81% | 92% | 97% | 83% |
| Use of social media | 56% | 65% | 88% | 58% |
| Cloud computing | 37% | 49% | 75% | 40% |
| Employment of ICT specialists | 23% | 55% | 87% | 29% |
| e-commerce | 19% | 27% | 43% | 21% |