Proportion of Brazilian companies selling online grows during pandemic, reaching 73%, reveals CGI.br survey

The ICT Enterprises 2021 also presents unprecedented data on the use of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Between 2019 and 2021 — a period marked by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic — the proportion of Brazilian companies that sold products and services online grew from 57% to 73%. The data is part of the 14th edition of the ICT Enterprises survey, released this Wednesday (21) by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). Conducted by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), the survey showed that among small businesses with up to 49 employees, the percentage that sold online rose from 57% to 74% during the period. In medium-sized companies, the increase was from 58% to 67%, and in large companies, from 52% to 68%.

The study also showed that among companies that sold online, messaging apps like WhatsApp were among the main channels used (78%), with higher usage among small companies (80%). In contrast, among large companies, the use of messaging applications appears in a smaller proportion (54%), with a preference for more traditional channels, such as email (71%) and the company's website (55%).

The most used payment method by companies to sell online was Pix, indicated by 82% of the companies interviewed. Among small businesses, the proportion was 83%.

"The use of messaging applications in sales was the way many companies found to circumvent the effects of the pandemic in a context of social distancing. The popularization of payments through Pix is also an important trend revealed by the ICT Enterprises indicators," evaluates Alexandre Barbosa, manager at Cetic.br|NIC.br.

Online presence and digital security
Another indicator signaling an increase in digitization among Brazilian companies is related to their presence on social networks. According to the study, 87% said they have their own profile or account, with the most used platform being WhatsApp, reported by 72%, a proportion of 54% in 2019. LinkedIn, on the other hand, was adopted by 15% of companies in 2019, rising to 23% in 2021.

Meanwhile, the percentage of companies that own a website rose from 54% in 2019 to 58% in 2021 — this resource being more present in large companies (89%).

The greater online presence was accompanied by a clearer concern with aspects of network security. If in 2019, 41% of companies stated they had a policy focused on digital security, in 2021, the proportion rose to 50%. Indicators of the current edition of the survey showed that 46% of small businesses claimed to adopt a policy on the subject, a percentage that was 89% in large companies.

Connectivity
The proportion of companies using fiber optic connections advanced from 67% in 2019 to 87% in 2021, reaching 96% of large companies and 93% of those in the information and communication sector. This increase has been observed even in small businesses: while in 2017, 46% of them used this technology, in 2019 the percentage was already 65%, and reached 86% in 2021.

"The growth of fiber optics, which allows better quality Internet connection, is a trend also verified in other studies conducted by Cetic.br|NIC.br. In a context of a greater digital presence of companies as observed during the pandemic, the demand for better connectivity has increased," comments Barbosa.

New technologies

The new version of the survey brought unprecedented indicators regarding the use of artificial intelligence in companies. In 2021, 13% of companies adopted some type of AI technology, something found more frequently in large companies (39%). Among the most cited applications were workflow process automation (in 73% of companies using AI), followed by image recognition and processing (32%).

The survey also showed that 14% of companies resorted to some type of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, especially those in the information and communication sector (36%). The most cited purpose was the security of installations, such as alarm systems, smoke detectors, door locks, and intelligent security cameras (85% of companies using IoT), followed by devices for managing energy consumption, such as meters, thermostats, or smart bulbs (44%).

"By offering a detailed diagnosis of the access to infrastructure, as well as the use and appropriation the private sector makes of digital technologies, the ICT Enterprises plays a role of extreme relevance, pointing out paths for the debate on innovation, one of the principles for the Internet governance and use of the Steering Committee, and also for the formulation of public policies in this area," concludes José Gontijo, coordinator of CGI.br.

The complete list of indicators can be found at https://cetic.br/pt/pesquisa/empresas/indicadores/. To watch the launch of the survey, visit https://youtu.be/3WXF-6W47Ak.

About the survey
Conducted since 2005, the ICT Enterprises survey measures the adoption of information and communication technologies in small, medium, and large Brazilian companies. In its 2021 edition, the study interviewed 4,064 companies with 10 or more employees throughout the national territory, with data collection occurring between August 2021 and April 2022. The study adopts international standards established by entities such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency.

About Cetic.br
The Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of NIC.br is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on Internet access and use in Brazil, disseminating periodic analyses and information on the development of the Internet in the country. Cetic.br|NIC.br is also a Regional Study Center under the auspices of UNESCO, having completed 17 years of activity in 2022. More information at https://cetic.br/.

About the Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br
The Brazilian Network Information Center — NIC.br (https://nic.br/) is a private, non-profit civil entity responsible for operating the .br domain, as well as distributing IP numbers and registering Autonomous Systems in the country. NIC.br implements the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee - CGI.br since 2005, and all resources raised come from its activities of an eminently private nature. It conducts actions and projects that bring benefits to the Internet infrastructure in Brazil. NIC.br is composed of: Registro.br (https://registro.br), CERT.br (https://cert.br/), Ceptro.br (https://ceptro.br), Cetic.br (https://cetic.br/), IX.br (https://ix.br/) and Ceweb.br (https://ceweb.br), as well as projects like Internetsegura.br (https://internetsegura.br) and the Best Practices for Internet in Brazil Portal (https://bcp.nic.br/). It also houses the office of the W3C Chapter São Paulo (https://w3c.br/).

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee – CGI.br
The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, responsible for establishing strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil, coordinates and integrates all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and the dissemination of offered services. Based on the principles of multistakeholderism and transparency, CGI.br represents a democratic Internet governance model, internationally praised, where all sectors of society have an equal stake in its decisions. One of its formulations is the 10 Principles for Internet Governance and Use (https://cgi.br/resolucoes/documento/2009/003). More information at https://cgi.br/.

Contacts for the Press – NIC.br:

Weber Shandwick
https://webershandwick.com.br/PABX: (11) 3027-0200 / 3531-4950
Ana Siqueira - asiqueira@webershandwick.com - (11) 99687-7152
Ana Nascimento - anascimento@webershandwick.com - (11) 98670-6579 

Communication Advisory – NIC.br
Carolina Carvalho - Communication Manager - carolcarvalho@nic.br
Soraia Marino - Communication Coordinator - soraia@nic.br 

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