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

2. 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 !
Internet response rate is growing, … month after month

3. 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

4. An external high-security web site
The online collection is accessible directly via:
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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

14. A view of the online questionnaire

15. Some personnal feedback

16. 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.

19. May I help you?
Hotline
By phone: working days from 7h30 to 18h15 uninterrupted.
By mail:

20. We need your !
Need the 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 on paper and online form.
Definition of regular firms that will no more receive paper forms.
is essential to increase the internet response rate.

21. A personalized message of access to the website

22. Internet response rate is growing, …month after month
Beginning of sending of personalized message %

23. 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!

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