ONLINE DATA COLLECTION AND RESULTS THE FRENCH EXPERIENCE ON BUSINESS SURVEYS SCHERRER Philippe, INSEE, France

Plan The online collection and results program An external protected web site Information feedback An internal validation tool May I help you? We need your e-mail! Internet response rate is growing, … month after month

The online collection and results program Done: January 2004: Whole sale trade survey November 2005: Industry survey May 2006: Service survey To come: Begin 2007: Construction survey End 2007: Investment survey 2008: Retail trade survey

An external high-security web site The online collection is accessible directly via: http://conjoncture.entreprises.insee.fr. It is composed of a protected application: - of collection of the answers on line - of consultation of the return of personalized results and of nonprotected links allowing the consultation: - of public results and general information on business surveys

An external high-security web site a unique application inter-connection of two systems (statistical and internet) Same web site Data Collection User-only results Back office treatments

An external high-security web site an external application for data collection an internal application for data editing connection with the back office via XML Back office treatments Data Collection Data editing

An external high-security web site Data to prepare each questionnaire at the beginning of a campaign Response of the firms every night Validated questionnaires twice a day XML file Usual application Businesses Data editing tool XML file XML file

An external high-security web site High level of security outside: special internet zone at INSEE Only authorized servers can dialog High level of security inside: Codes and passwords Passwords only by mail Locking after ten attempts

An external high-security web site Major principles for respondents Nothing is written on the distant computer Total confidentiality Same possibilities with the internet as with the paper Attention paid to ergonomics

An external high-security web site Translated into IT specs No software needed (light client) SSL encryption Identification through LDAP Possibility to add / delete some products, comments Save & send actions Easy to read and to fill in

Information feedback Personnal feedback with login/password Public feedback (public results, information about the survey…)

A view of the online questionnaire

Some personnal feedback

An internal validation tool Between the Web and the data processing application, an internal validation tool: micro-analysis of all answers to control them and classify them in 3 groups (green, orange, red). Green questionnaire: all is well. Orange questionnaire: at least a weak criterion of control not passed. Red questionnaires: at least a criterion of strong level not passed. These questionnaires are then treated within the team.

May I help you? Hotline By phone: working days from 7h30 to 18h15 uninterrupted. By mail: assistance-conjoncture@insee.fr

We need your e-mail! Need the e-mail of the respondent to send a message: to inform them of the opening of a new collection campaign, to recall them to answer, to inform them of the publication of the results. Collect e-mail on paper and online form. Definition of regular firms that will no more receive paper forms. E-mail: is essential to increase the internet response rate.

A personalized message of access to the website

Internet response rate is growing, …month after month Beginning of sending of personalized e-mail message %

Internet response rate is growing, …month after month Profits: - earlier answer (not-dependent on the postal times, internet respondents answer faster) reduction of the overhead: impression, sending, keyboarding of data. regular respondents Costs: - data-processing development, computer equipement hot-mail, communication … developing this system of collection requires constant efforts which bear progressively return!

ONLINE DATA COLLECTION AND RESULTS THE FRENCH EXPERIENCE ON BUSINESS SURVEYS SCHERRER Philippe, INSEE, France