Survey from NIC.br indicates sophistication in Internet use in Brazilian companies

The study also presents indicators on electronic commerce, electronic government, network security, and skills in the use of ICTs

The Information and Coordination Center of Ponto BR — NIC.br (https://www.nic.br), a non-profit civil entity created to implement decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee — CGI.br (https://www.cgi.br), today released the results of the 3rd Survey on the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Brazil — ICT COMPANIES, conducted between October and November 2007 across the national territory. The highlights of this year were the increase in technological sophistication at companies and the greater ease in hiring individuals who know how to handle computers in their basic aspects for various functions within companies.

ICT Companies presents data on the penetration and use of the Internet in companies across the country, including indicators on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), electronic commerce, electronic government, network security, and skills in using ICTs. Produced by the Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies (CETIC.br), the third edition of the study presents the numbers gathered from 2,300 companies with 10 or more employees belonging to the organized sector of the economy in Brazil, listed in the RAIS (Annual Social Information Report) and the Central Register of Companies of IBGE.

The surveyed companies belong to seven segments of the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE 1.0) – sections D (manufacturing industry), F (construction), G (trade, repair of motor vehicles, personal and household goods), H (accommodation and food services), I (transport, storage, and communications), K (real estate, rentals, and business services), and O (other community, social and personal services), excluding groups 90 (urban cleaning and sewerage and related activities) and 91 (associative activities). In 2007, a pilot study was also conducted with 1,000 establishments with up to nine employees, in the same market segments, to evaluate the use of ICTs in micro-enterprises. The results of this study will be disclosed later.

Check all details at: https://www.cetic.br/empresas/2007/destaques-empresas-2007.pdf.

All survey results are available at: https://www.cetic.br/.

Technological sophistication

According to the survey, computers are present in 95% of companies, with informatization increasing according to size. Among those using computers, internet access is almost universal: 97%. The study points out that 64% of companies use digital modems via telephone line “xDSL”. Next is access via cable modem (18%), and radio connection (15%). Dial-up access “dial-up connection” covers only 8% of companies. The survey detected growth in the percentage of companies with wireless networks, from 17% in 2006 to 28% in 2007, while the percentage of those with wired networks decreased from 87% to 77%.

“The data shows an evolution in the use of more sophisticated technologies like wireless local networks and management systems such as ERP, and in the use of e-government and e-commerce tools,” explains Mariana Balboni, manager of CETIC.br. “With the initial adoption phase, the ‘being on the Web’, consolidated, now comes the time to leverage the potential of online tools to optimize the management process and the value chain.”

Among the companies accessing the Internet, 44% have networks with download speeds between 301 Kbps and 2 Mbps, and 26% with speeds of up to 300 Kbps. Only 4% of companies have connections above 2 Mbps, and 26% did not know how to respond with what speed. The North and Northeast regions present the highest percentages of companies with lower download speeds: 33% and 35%, respectively, have networks with speeds of up to 300 Kbps.

Considering areas of operation, computer use is practically absolute among companies in the sectors of real estate, rentals, and business services; and transport, storage, and communication. It is very high (96%) in the trade sector, repair of motor vehicles, personal and household goods. In the manufacturing industry, computer use reaches 94% of companies, and in other sectors of the economy, 84%.

The use of open-source operating systems remained stable compared to 2006 (28% of companies) but varies according to size. Among organizations with more than 250 employees, 61% use this type of software on servers or client computers. Meanwhile, the use of ERP packages for data and process integration encompasses 47% of companies, and 40% use CRM applications to manage customer information.

The Southeast has the highest number of employees using computers and the internet (56% on average), higher use of network (81% have a wired LAN; 39% have an intranet), and also website ownership (52%). The North and Northeast regions also have high rates of computer use (93% and 98%, respectively) but use fewer other more sophisticated technologies.

Another notable data in the survey is the fact that 89% of companies use some e-government service, a percentage that is almost universal (97%) among companies with 250 employees or more. The most used services are: the consultation of FGTS (64%), the consultation of the state registration database (62%), and the submission of the IR declaration (61%). Regarding network security, less than half (40%) have a security policy or acceptable use policy for IT or communication resources. By region, the Southeast and South have the highest percentages of companies with information security training programs for employees: 27% and 26%, respectively. The lowest rate (19%) is in the Northeast.

Companies increasingly use the Internet to make purchases. In 2006, it was 52%. In 2007, 64%. The larger the company, the higher the percentage of companies placing orders online, whether via email or form. Among those with 10 to 49 employees, 62% have already placed an order; among those with 50 to 249 employees, 69%; and among those with 250 employees or more, 78%.

Specialized workforce

The ICT Companies survey reveals that approximately 20% of companies with 10 or more employees hired IT specialists in the 12 months prior to the survey, and 38% reported difficulties in the hiring process, a scenario that reflects the increasing demand for such specialized professionals in the country.

The survey also shows that 40% of companies hired or attempted to hire people with ICT skills, i.e., regular computer and Internet users, and of these, 34% reported some type of difficulty. “While it becomes easier to find individuals who know how to handle computers in their basic aspects, it becomes harder to find those who are specialists in the sector,” says Mariana.

The manager of CETIC.br explains that the majority (79%) of companies that had difficulty hiring IT specialists attribute it to the lack of specific qualifications (study and/or training). The lack of professional experience in the field was cited by 69% of the companies, and the high salary expectations by 58% of the companies that declared having difficulty hiring these professionals.

Check all details at: https://www.cetic.br/empresas/2007/destaques-empresas-2007.pdf.

All survey results are available at: https://www.cetic.br/.

About CETIC.br
The Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies - CETIC.br - is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on the availability and use of the Internet in Brazil, releasing periodic analyses and information about the network's development in the country.

About the Information and Coordination Center of Ponto BR - NIC.br

The Information and Coordination Center of Ponto BR — NIC.br (https://www.nic.br) is a non-profit civil entity created to implement the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee — CGI.br (https://www.cgi.br), which is responsible for coordinating and integrating Internet service initiatives in the country. NIC.br is responsible for domain name registration — Registro.br (https://www.registro.br), the Center for Studies, Response and Treatment of Security Incidents in Brazil — CERT.br (https://www.cert.br), the Center for Studies and Research in Network Technology and Operations – CEPTRO.br (https://www.ceptro.br), and the Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies — CETIC.br (https://www.cetic.br), aiming to produce and disseminate information and statistics about Internet availability and usage in the country.

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee

The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee coordinates and integrates all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and the dissemination of offered services.

More information at https://www.cgi.br/.

For more information, access: https://www.s2.com.br or https://www.cgi.br/.

Press contacts - CGI.br:
S2 Comunication Integrated - https://www.s2.com.br
Veronica Cassavia - veronicac@s2.com.br
José Luiz Schiavoni (MTb 14.119) - joseluiz@s2.com.br