2.3.4. Integration of digital technology

The integration of digital technology dimension is broken down into two sub-dimensions, one related to the degree of the existing digitalisation in companies and another one at the level of SMEs online commerce. The first has four indicators and a relative weight on the dimension of 60% and the second one consists of three indicators and contributes to 40%.

Table 7 shows the values ​​and positions of the Basque Country in each of these sub-dimensions.

Table 7. Integration of digital technology sub-dimensions comparative.
Tabla 7 Integration of digital technology sub-dimensions comparative
Source: Author’s calculations

The Basque Country is a leader in business digitalisation, occupying the first position of the ranking. On the other hand, the degree of e-commerce of Basque SMEs could be improved, since it currently reaches only the twenty-fourth place.

Table 8 offers the results at the level of indicators.

Table 8. Integration of digital technology indicators comparative.
Tabla 8 Integration of digital technology indicators comparative
Source: Author’s calculations

The analysis of technology implementation indicators in companies reflects the same contrast detected at the level of sub-dimensions. On the one hand, in the four indicators of business digitalisation the Basque Country is among the leading positions in all of them, with two highlighted first ranks in the electronic information exchange (ERP) and in the use of social media (at least two of them). On the opposite, the proportion of Basque SMEs that conduct electronic commerce at national and international level is lower than the EU-28 average, which is reflected in a low turnover for this type of sales.