Studies
With its monitoring system, Digital Public Services Switzerland obtains an overview of eGovernment progress in Switzerland and compares it with other countries. National and international studies form the information basis for this.
Overview of national and international studies
Study | Subject | ||
---|---|---|---|
Study | eGovernment Monitor study | Subject | Satisfaction with and (mobile) use of electronic public services, usage barriers. |
Study | eGovernment Benchmark report | Subject | Examines the extent to which online public service offerings fulfil the requirements of "user-friendliness", "transparency", "cross-border mobility for the population and businesses" and "basic services". |
Study | National eGovernment Study | Subject | Use and availability of electronic public services. |
Study | Global Innovation Index | Subject | Indicators: human capital, research, infrastructure, market and business sophistication (input)/knowledge and technology, and creativity (output). |
Study | eGovernment Survey | Subject | eParticipation Index and eGovernment Development Index (= Online Service Index, Telecommunications Infrastructure Index and Human Capital Index). |
Study | Omnibus 2021: survey on internet usage | Subject | As part of the annual census, the Federal Statistical Office carries out surveys on a variety of topics. In 2021, the Omnibus survey was on internet access/usage. |
eGovernment MONITOR 2023
The eGovernment MONITOR 2023 survey, published on 13 October 2023 by Initiative D21 and the Technical University of Munich, uses a representative survey of the online populations in Germany (DE), Austria (AT) and Switzerland (CH) to look into the (mobile) usage and acceptance of digital government services. The 12th edition focuses on the need for, barriers to the use of and trust in digital government services and the state.
First of all, most Swiss citizens are still very satisfied with the digital government services offered and believe in the benefits of digital administration. This has a positive effect on trust in the state and its efficiency. The eGovernment MONITOR is an instrument for the public administration to identify the requisite need for action and to derive targeted measures.
Key findings of the survey
The use of online public services remains stable at a high level: 60% (-1) of respondents in Switzerland have used an online government service in the last 12 months. With regard to this indicator, Switzerland lies between Austria 70% (-2) and Germany 56% (+4). 92% of respondents who used a digital government service would like to use the online service again (AT: 95% and D: 94%). 72% of respondents who used a service in analogue format are interested in using the online channel the next time (AT: 67% and D: 69%).
Mobile use is rising significantly in all countries: 53% (+7) of citizens in Switzerland use mobile devices to access digital government services (AT: 56% and D: 54%). Generation Y has the highest usage at 68%.
The government services most frequently used online are: ordering an extract from the register of convictions (86%), completing a tax return (80%), ordering an extract from the debt collection register (79%) and reporting problems (73%).
The usage gap is narrowing: 43% (-3) of respondents who needed a government service accessed this entirely offline. Reasons for this included, in particular, deliberately choosing the offline solution (habit), lack of awareness and findability. Half of the respondents still prefer personal contact.
Almost 60% of respondents in Switzerland consider themselves in a position to use online services (AT 70% and D: 66%): however, 40% of citizens still describe themselves as not digitally savvy. Digital services must be user-centric and accessible to all citizens.
Satisfaction with digital government services is highest in Switzerland at 78% (AT 75% and D 58%): in all three countries, about 7 out of 10 people see an advantage compared to the non-digital solution.
Trust in digital technologies is much higher in Switzerland (61%) than in D (35%) and AT (34%): the federal system and the population's high level of civic engagement probably have a positive impact on trust in the state and its efficiency.
Published by: Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Initiative D21; conducted by Kantar
EU's 2023 eGovernment Benchmark report
On 27 September 2023, the European Commission published the eGovernment Benchmark 2023 report. The report examines the availability and the state of development of eGovernment services in line with the EU's strategic objectives, and compares how administrations across Europe deliver digital public services. How does Switzerland compare?
Switzerland has improved in all indicators, especially in terms of transparency, for example when it comes to online notifications when a stage in a procedure has been successfully completed. Switzerland has reached or surpassed the European average in the indicators relating to user centricity and cross-border mobility for the population. It has made particular improvements in the diversity of services: 78% of all government services can currently be used online, versus 63% in 2022. It is worth noting that 97% (EU: 93%) of all government websites are adapted for mobile devices, and 84% (EU: 91%) offer feedback functions and online support. Although Swiss administrations are steadily expanding their services, Switzerland ranks 29th out of 35 in the report's overall evaluation (total score 58), far behind leading countries such as Malta (96) and Estonia (92), and also below the European average (70). Neighbouring Austria (14th) and Germany (20th) are ranked higher than Switzerland.
National eGovernment Study
The National eGovernment Study published on 10 May 2022 confirms the trend: the demand for electronic public services is greater than the supply available from the public authorities. As part of the study, the Swiss population, Swiss businesses and the public services were asked about the use and implementation of e-services.
Published by: Digital Public Services Switzerland and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Global Innovation Index 2022
On 27 September, Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly published the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023. The study shows which countries are leading in global innovation by examining the global innovation trends of 132 economies worldwide. The 16th edition of the GII measures innovation on the basis of 80 criteria such as institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, investment, adaptation, knowledge diffusion and creative outputs. Switzerland is the world's most innovative economy for the 13th year in a row. It ranks first in the GII, followed by Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Germany achieves 8th place, as it did last year.
The study is compiled on the basis of a country's "innovation inputs" and "innovation outputs". Innovation inputs include a country's human capital, research, infrastructure, and market and business sophistication. Innovation outputs include knowledge and technology, as well as creativity. As in the previous year, Switzerland ranks third in terms of innovation inputs and first in innovation outputs. Switzerland's greatest strengths include the number of country-specific top-level domains, the business environment, the number of patents and patent families, global brand value, and the use of new technologies and technical know-how. As in the previous year, its weaknesses include direct foreign investment, high-tech imports and labour productivity growth.
Published by: Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
eGovernment Survey 2022
The eGovernment Survey 2022, published by the United Nations (UN), examines global and regional e-government development in 193 member states through a comparative assessment of national government portals. The study is published every two years and creates a ranking in the area of digital administration (e-government Development Index EDGI). This consists of the weighted average of three sub-components: the Online Service Index (OSI), the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) and the Human Capital Index (HI). The survey also includes the E-Participation Index (EPI), which focuses on the use of online services through "electronic information exchange," "electronic consultation," and "electronic decision making." The topic of the 12th edition of the survey is "The Future of Digital Government." The 2022 survey is the first edition that includes the e-government status of the most populous city in each case.
In the latest study Switzerland ranks 41st in the EPI (2020: 18th; 2018: 41st) and 23rd in the EDGI (2020: 16th; 2018: 15th).
Published by: United Nations (UN)
Overview of other surveys on the digitalisation of public services
In the World Digital Comptetiveness Ranking 2023, the Lausanne Institute for Management Development examines the digital competitiveness of 63 countries. The results are divided into three main categories of knowledge, future capability and technology - with sub-categories. Switzerland is at the fifth position in the global ranking again.
2023 commune survey on digitalisation
The third representative commune survey on digitalisation conducted by the association Myni Gmeind together with the Association of Swiss Communes (ASC) and the polling institute TransferPlus shows – as in the last two editions – that the vast majority of communes generally see digitalisation as an opportunity. The motives for digitalisation are also the same as in previous years: the communes hope to boost efficiency and improve their services. A total of 736 communes throughout Switzerland took part in the 2023 commune survey on digitalisation.
Published by: Myni Gmeind and the Association of Swiss Communes
The Index of Digital Political Participation in Switzerland (DigiPartIndex) records the extent to which it is possible to participate digitally in the political process in Switzerland and maps the cantons in a comparable manner.
Published by: The Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA)
The Swiss Accessibility Study focuses on the accessibility of mobile apps in 2023.
Published by: Access for all, foundation for accessible technology use
Based on the websites of 171 Swiss cities and urban communes, the Digital City Monitor surveys the status of digital transformation and provides a rating for each city and urban commune surveyed.
Published by: Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW in collaboration with KPMG Switzerland
Every year, the DigitalBarometer measures how the Swiss population perceives digitalisation and what needs there are in terms of participation.
Published by: Stiftung Risiko_Dialog, in partnership with Die Mobiliar