Digital Austria in a European comparison

Focus 2023 on progress in the context of the European Digital Decade

The DESI 2023 shows above-average results for Austria in terms of human capital, digitisation of companies and digital administrative services. 
The European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) is the central measuring instrument for the degree and progress of digitisation in the EU Member States.

In line with Europe's Digital Decade (2020 - 2030), the focus is on four core areas that play a central role in the digital transformation. These include the dimensions "human capital" with regard to digital skills, the topic area "infrastructure", the area "use of digital technologies by companies" and the field of action "digital administrative services".

In order to improve the methodology of the index, to provide an up-to-date picture of the digital "performance" of the EU Member States and to take account of the latest technological developments, the DESI is regularly updated.

For the DESI 2023, 20 of the 32 indicators were newly surveyed last year. The values of the other 12 indicators, particularly in the areas of human capital and corporate digitisation, were updated.

In addition to internet usage in the area of human capital, four new indicators have been added to the measurement dimension for digital administrative services: user support, mobile user- friendliness, service transparency and access to health data.

This means that half of the eight indicators in this area are being assessed for the first time. The effects of current and recently implemented projects in these areas will only become visible in the coming years.

Austria also above EU average in 2023

The eGovernment Benchmark has been analysing digital administrative services (eGovernment) every year since 2001. For the year 2022, these were analysed in 35 countries (27 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Albania and Macedonia).

The benchmarks taken from the European Union's Digital Agenda - user-centricity, transparency, cross-border services and key technological elements for online service delivery - serve as the basis for the comparison.

These four central benchmarks are analysed annually on a rolling basis using individual life situations for citizens and companies that require interaction with public authorities. For the eGovernment Benchmark 2022, the five life situations Health, Transport, Regular Business Operations, Moving and Small Claims Procedure were analysed

Quelle: Europäische Kommission

The eGovernment Monitor analyses the situation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland every year and paints a comprehensive picture of the use and acceptance of digital administrative services. The 2023 survey shows that Austria remains "Top in D-A-C-H comparison". In the areas of use and awareness of administration portals, Austria remains clearly ahead with oesterreich.gv.at. In terms of satisfaction with eGovernment services, Switzerland (78%) and Austria (75%) are ahead of Germany (58%).
Every year since 2012, the eGovernment Monitor study has provided a comprehensive overview of the use and acceptance of digital administrative services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. According to this year's results, 80% of Austrians are familiar with the local federal portal (oesterreich.gv.at), compared to 68% in Switzerland and 30% in Germany in the previous year. Austria also has the highest utilisation rate for e-government services at 70% (Switzerland: 60 per cent, Germany: 56 per cent). And 73% of the citizens in this country see the digital processing of administrative procedures as an advantage over the physical route.

In terms of mobile eGovernment usage, Austria with 56% is ahead of Germany with 54% and Switzerland with 53%. The Republic has thus recorded a significant increase in mobile use via smartphone or tablet of seven per cent compared to 2022. And the "Digitales Amt [Digital Office]" app shows relatively even growth in all age groups: Last year, there was an increase of six per cent - from 32 to 38 per cent - in the number of users in Austria.

E-Government and AI

For the first time this year, the use of "artificial intelligence (AI)" in
eGovernment and the use of "wallets", i.e. "electronic purses", for storing cards, tickets and similar items were also surveyed:
 
When it comes to the use of AI, the results show a differentiated picture with high expectations and certain reservations: 56% of respondents expect the use of AI to shorten the processing time for official procedures. 35% expect a reduction in processing errors and 33% think that the use of AI will make decisions more objective. 20% still reject the use of AI in eGovernment services. This scepticism can be reduced by providing more information. The most important factor for acceptance is the question of the final decision, which for 48% should be made by the person.

Wallets are not yet used by 74% of Austrians, the main reason for this being a lack of demand according to 40% of respondents.

Study design

The study has been analysing the current eGovernment situation in Germany every year since 2011.

Austria and Switzerland have been used as comparative countries since 2012. Interviews and analyses are conducted on awareness, use, satisfaction, barriers to use and identification in connection with digital administrative procedures: In Austria and Switzerland, 1002 people were surveyed, in Germany 8112 (around 500 per province), in order to allow a detailed analysis of the eGovernment situation in the individual German federal states. The population consists of people aged 16 and over in private households who use the Internet privately. The survey was conducted by means of an online survey. The target group of the study is an expert audience and decision-makers from politics, administration and business.

Statistics of Austria: ICT in companies

IIn 2023, 11% of companies will be using artificial intelligence/AI technologies. Two years ago it was only 9% according to Statistics of Austria. According to the survey on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in companies, the size of the company is decisive for
AI use. The larger a company, the more likely it is to use
AI technologies.

More than half (54%) of companies using AI use artificial intelligence primarily for text recognition and processing. 43% of these companies use technologies for automated data analysis based on machine learning, 32% use AI for process automation and the creation of decision aids. The AI technologies mentioned are used more frequently in service companies than in manufacturing companies
.
More on the survey in the press release: 13 181-209/23 (German)

Statistics of Austria: ICT in households

Three out of ten people in Austria report having come across content online in the three months prior to the survey that they perceive as hostile or humiliating. Online hate is most frequently directed against political and social views. People who are active on social networks are confronted with such content much more frequently than people who do not use social networks.

Almost 95% of all people in Austria between the ages of 16 and 74 used the internet in the last three months before the survey, which was conducted from April to July 2023. This represents a slight increase compared to the previous year (+1.7%) . The majority, around 77%, used the internet several times a day. Social media channels are also used by a large proportion (63%) of the population. In total, around 31% of the Austrian population have perceived online content that they perceive as hostile or humiliating towards certain (groups of) people
.
More on the survey in the press release: 13 184-212/23 (German)