Data collection initiatives and the collection of business data in the Office for National Statistics - ARCHIVED

This paper discusses in detail issues dealing with the technical aspects of designing and conducting surveys. It is intended for an audience of survey methodologists.

Over the last five years, the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics has been implementing a series of initiatives to improve the process of collecting business statistics data in the UK. These initiatives include the application of a range of new technology solutions data collection; document imaging and scanned forms have replaced paper forms for all processes. For some inquiries, the paper form has been eliminated altogether by the adoption of Telephone Data Entry (TDE). Reporting all incoming data in electronic format has allowed workflow systems to be introduced across a wide range of data collection activities.

This paper describes the recent history of these initiatives and covers proposals that are presently at a pilot stage or being projected for the next four years. It also examines the future strategy of TDE data collection via the Internet, and the current pilots and security issues under consideration.