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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

18 October 2021

Press Statement Information Society Statistics – Enterprises 2021

Almost one in five firms provided a click & collect service during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • More than four in five (82%) businesses have a website
  • Four in ten businesses sell online while more than half (54%) make purchases online
  • The most common source of online orders was from customers based in Ireland
  • Just over a third (34%) of enterprises made use of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices
  • Almost six in ten (59%) businesses purchased Cloud Computing services
  • More than three in ten (31%) large enterprises use Artificial Intelligence

Go to release: Information Society Statistics Enterprises 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (18 October 2021) published Information Society Statistics – Enterprises 2021, an analysis of E-commerce and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) activities by enterprises in Ireland.

Commenting on the publication, Statistician Colin Hanley said: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has made enterprises across Ireland change how they do business. One in ten (10%) have set up a website to facilitate online sales while 18% provided a click & collect service. Almost one in five (19%) have indicated that they have seen an increase in sales through websites or apps. One in twelve (8%) have set up a new social media account while 31% have increased their use of social media during the pandemic.

In 2021, 82% of enterprises in Ireland have a website or a homepage. This compares to 79% of firms in 2020 and 2019. The most common facility provided by a business on their website or homepage were links to references to their social media profiles (43%) followed by a facility to access online ordering or reservations (27%).

Four in ten (40%) enterprises conducted sales electronically. Large enterprises (250+ persons engaged) had a higher proportion of firms selling electronically at 63% compared to 36% of small businesses (10-49 persons engaged). More than half (54%) of enterprises made purchases electronically. A third (33%) of enterprises received orders online from customers based in Ireland while 10% received orders from the EU.

Just over a third of firms (34%) made use of interconnected devices or systems that can be monitored or remotely controlled via the internet, more commonly known as the Internet of Things (IoT). The most common use of IoT devices in 2021 was for the security of the enterprise's premises.

Almost six in ten (59%) firms purchased cloud computing services, an increase from 51% the previous year. The most common type of cloud computing service in 2021 was e-mail followed by office software with 47% and 43% of businesses availing of these services respectively.

One in twelve (8%) enterprises use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their business with machine learning being the most common AI use. Marketing or sales (3%) and business administrative processes (3%) were the most common reason for using AI. Large firms are more likely to use AI in their business. Almost one in three (31%) large enterprises use AI compared to 13% of medium sized firms (50-249 persons engaged) and 6% of small businesses.'

For further information contact:

Colin Hanley (+353) 21 453 5559

or email business_stats@cso.ie

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