The Laboratory of Digital Innovation for Competitiveness of Tunisian Enterprises (LINCET) has drawn a study on “ICT dissemination and Tunisian companies’ involvement in e-business.”
According to figures provided, 10% of Tunisia GDP come from ICT sector recording a 28,2% growth between 2007 and 2008. The study explains this increase by State incentives including the sector upgrading.
In terms of benchmarking, , the ICT market in EU countries accounts for 644 billion euros, representing more than 5% of GDP in 2006, the sector which provides 3.4% employment in EU countries registered a 50% productivity growth .
A comparison study, relating to the status of Tunisia in terms of technological ability, accessibility and regulations. shows that Tunisia is outranking Maghreb and African countries.
As for e-business intensity, the study noted an increase in terms of ICT infrastructure, but a poor dissemination of electronic processes and e-business.
Comparatively, UK and Germany are the most advanced countries, while Spain is involved in a dynamic development, France is experiencing a deep digital divide between SMEs and big companies and Poland a small gap.
The study highlights “a remarkable development in the dissemination of technological infrastructure in Tunisia, such as Internet where it rose from 56.6% up to 90.9%.
Regarding Internet use in Tunisia, it remains limited, according to the study which specifies that the search and mail and component has the largest share with 58.5%, while the mail component represents 25.8 %, search 11.9% and all others 3.8%.
On the other hand, a small budget is allocated to investment in ICT sector where the overwhelming majority of companies (91.3%) spend less than 25%, while those investing between 75 and 100% represent only 1.6% of the total.
On the adoption of management solutions and sharing knowledge, the study evokes of “restricted” part. However, ERP solution ranks first with 13.9%, followed by e-billing (10.7%), monitoring systems (8.8%). E-learning and KMS are the lowest with 1.3% and 0.3%.
Finally, the study pointed out that activities related to buying and selling online are restricted among Tunisian companies. Only orders are on the rise with 18.3%, followed by storing and tenders (respectively 11; 1% and 9; 6%); sales and payments don’t exceed 7.3% and 3.9%.
