Statistical presentation

Data description

Some questions are included in the questionnaire every year, such as enterprises e-commerce sales, websites and access to the internet. Other questions are repeated after few years, e.g. the enterprises' use of digital business solutions (ERP and CRM software), artificial intelligence and ICT security measures. Finally, in 2026 there are new questions regarding suppliers of Cloud Computing, as well as enterprises’ use of Digital Post and MitID A considerable number of variables are replaced each year as a result of the development in user needs and the need to measure new technology. In the 2026 survey, the statistics cover the following main topics related to ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises:

• Access to the internet
• e-Commerce sales
• ICT specialists and skills
• Data utilisation, sharing and analytics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cloud computing
• ICT Security
• ICT related security incidents
• Datatypes
• E-government services
• Investments in digital technology
• Use of satellit based services

The population is defined as enterprises in the private non-agricultural industries (except Mining and quarrying and Financial and insurance activities) with at least 10 full-time employees is determined by EU regulation. In 2019 and 2021 the population also covers microenterprises with 5-9 employees. The following industries are included in the population: Manufacturing and utilities, Construction and civil engineering, Trade,transport, accommodation and restaurants., IT and media, Business services and repair of consumer goods.

Classification system

Survey results are reported by activity and size class. From 2026, the applied activity nomenclature is Danish Industrial Classification 2025 (DB25), internationally NACE Rev. 2.1. In the period 2008-2025, the applied activity nomenclature is Danish Industrial Classification 2007 (DB07), internationally NACE Rev.2. In the period 2004-2007, the applied activity nomenclature is Danish Industrial Classification 2003 (DB03). By activity groupings, Statistics Denmark’s standard groupings are applied. For further information, see Danish industrial classification.

In the StatBank, the size of the enterprise is defined by the number of full-time employees, divided into groups 10-49, 50-99, 100-249 and 250+ full-time employees. Information regarding microenterprises with 5-9 full-time employees (2019-2024) can be found in the tables ITAV10 and ITAV11 in the StatBank.

Sector coverage

The survey covers private, non-financial enterprises, excluding primary activities such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying. The financial sector is only covered in the reference periods 2005-2010.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Use of 3D printing: Use of 3D printing - also called additive layer manufacturing - refers to the use of special printers either by the enterprise itself or the use of 3D printing services provided by other enterprises for the creation of three-dimensional physical objects using digital technology.

Cloud Computing: Cloud computing refers to ICT services that are used over the internet to access software, computing power, storage capacity etc., where the services have all of the following characteristics: i) are delivered from servers or service providers, ii) can be easily scaled up or down, iii) can be used on-demand by the user, at least after the initial set-up, iv) are paid for, either per user, by capacity used, or they are pre-paid.

E-commerce sale : E-commerce sale is the sale or purchase of goods or services conducted over the internet or other computer networks. Orders placed by e-mail are not included. The payment and delivery of the goods or services do not have to be conducted online. E-commerce covers: i) web e-commerce, i.e. orders made at an online webshop or via web forms on the internet or extranet, and ii) EDI e-commerce, i.e. orders placed through electronic transmission of EDI-type business messages allowing for automatic processing and without the individual message or order being manually typed. EDI e-commerce in practice is business-to-business e-commerce.

GPS and satellite-based services: Satellite-based services include the use of signals and data from satellites, e.g. navigation signals, positioning signals, GPS signals, satellite images or communications outside internet coverage through satellites. GPS is included only in cases where the use is integrated with the enterprise's ICT-systems, or where the data generated is subsequently processed further (e.g. for fleet management or driving records).

Internet of Things (IoT): The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to interconnected devices or systems, often called “smart” devices or systems. They collect and exchange data and can be monitored or remotely controlled via the Internet. Examples of usage are: i) Smart thermostats, smart lamps or smart meters. ii) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Internet Protocol (IP) tags applied or incorporated into a product or an object in order to track them. iii) Sensors for tracking the movement or maintenance needs of vehicles monitored over the Internet.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence: Machine learning and artificial intelligence includes the use of computer software, which with a starting point in data “thinks”, analyzes, problem solves and forms connections in patterns, for instance images, audio and text. It may include computer generated annual report, chat bots or automated marketing.

Use of robotics: An industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications. A service robot is a machine that has a degree of autonomy and is able to operate in complex and dynamic environment that may require interaction with persons, objects or other devices, excluding its use in industrial automation applications. Software robots (computer programs) is out of the scope in the survey.

Statistical unit

Enterprise.

Statistical population

The population is private, non-financial urban industries with 10 or more employees.

Reference area

Denmark.

Time coverage

1998-

Base period

Not relevant for this statistics.

Unit of measure

Percent of enterprises and percent of revenue.

In the StatBank table ITAV22, ITAV23, ITAV24, ITAV26, ITAV27, ITAV28, ITAV29 and ITAV30. are specified the percentage of enterprises that either have answered "Yes" or "No" to a question (categorical variable). There are enterprises that have not answered all questions, so the sum of the categories "Yes" and "No" does not total up to 100 percent.

In the StatBank table ITAV25, enterprises e-sales are stated as percentage of the year's turnover. Enterprises annual turnover is obtained from the latest version of the Business Register.

Reference period

The reference period is January of the same year (for some variables the previous calendar year, e.g. for variables on e-Commerce sales).

Frequency of dissemination

The survey is published annually.

Legal acts and other agreements

The Act on Statistics Denmark (Lov om Danmarks Statistik), cf. Order no. 15 of 12 January 1972, as amended by Act no. 386 of 13 June 1990, Act no. 1025 of 19 December 1992, Act no. 295 of 2 May 2000 and Act no. 610 of 30 2018.

EU Commission Regulation (EC) No 960/2008. From 2006 the survey is a part of the EU regulation on statistics on the Information Society (EC regulation No. 808/2004). The regulation is extended in Regulation (EC) No 2022/1344.

Cost and burden

The reporting burden is set at 1.881 hours for 2201 enterprises with 10 or more persons employed that have answered the question concerning time consumption (total sample was 4.010 enterprises). It gives an average time per enterprise of about 51 minutes.

Questionnaire: ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises 2026.

The sample size is regulated to minimize the number of enterprises that are burdened while still adhering to quality demands from Eurostat. For this reason the 2024-2026 sample is reduced by around 450 enterprises compared to 2023.

Comment

Find information on the subject website about ICT usage in enterprises. Additional information can be obtained from Statistics Denmark.