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Electronic ReportingElectronic ReportingDoes It Make Sense or Cents?Does It Make Sense or Cents?

This presentation is released to informed interested parties of ongoing research and to encourage discussion of work in progress. Any views on statistical, methodological, technical, or operational issues are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Presented by Thomas L. Mesenbourg Associate Director for Economic ProgramsThomas.L.Mesenbourg.Jr.@census.gov

June 2007

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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

• History

• Objectives

• Electronic Reporting Strategies

• Electronic Reporting Rates

• Lessons Learned

• Is Electronic Reporting Cost Efficient

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Electronic Reporting ObjectivesElectronic Reporting Objectives

• Transform to an E-Gov environment• Provide value-added services to

businesses• Facilitate and accelerate reporting• Improve data quality and reduce

processing costs

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Electronic Reporting StrategiesElectronic Reporting Strategies

• Different solutions for different programs• Generalized vs. Custom Systems• Contracted vs. In-house Development• Four development paths

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Generalized Instrument DesignGeneralized Instrument Design

• Economic Census, Report of Organization, ASM• Generalized, designs paper and electronic

instruments, meta data driven• Developed by private contractor• Downloadable CSAQ, import and export capabilities• Complex, long development time• Expensive to develop and support• Users require assistance and support• Handles 550 different economic census forms,

complex reporting, and authentication; provides import and export functionality

• Too costly and complicated for most surveys

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Census TakerCensus Taker

• Six current surveys use web-based instruments• Generalized, web-based, simple meta data• Developed by IT Directorate• Quick development, inexpensive, minimal

support• Easy to use, minimal user support required• Can not easily handle surveys with large

number of different forms or complex reporting arrangements

• No import and export capabilities

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Automated Export SystemAutomated Export System

• Electronic filing of export declaration• Customized, contractor developed, no meta data• Mainframe and web-based application• Long development time, enhancements, slow to

implement• Very low development costs, but substantial fee-

based charges and support services• Cost effective, and mandatory electronic

reporting• Enhancements require multiple agency

agreement

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Government Division SurveysGovernment Division Surveys

• Six quarterly/annual surveys use web-based instrument

• Fast, inexpensive development, modest support

• High participation rates

• Not generalized, won’t easily support surveys with large number of forms

• No import, export capability

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Electronic Filing RatesSurvey Frequency 2005 2006 2007

(latest)

Report of Organization (GIDS) Annual 8.0% 14.0% 14.0%

Annual Survey of Manufacturers (GIDS) Annual 7.1% 11.3% 11.3%

Quarterly Financial Report (GIDS) Quarterly 15.4% 23.2%

Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (Census Taker)

Monthly 17.4% 19.7% 24.0%

Retail Trade Survey (Census Taker) Annual 20.0% 20.0%

Wholesale Trade Survey (Census Taker) Annual 27.0% 27.0%

Quarterly Services Survey (Census Taker) Quarterly 36.0% 42.3% 45.9%

Quarterly Financial Report (Census Taker) Quarterly 53.6%

Local Finance Survey Annual 47.9% 49.1% 49.1%

Annual Retirement Survey Annual 25.2% 30.9% 30.9%

Quarterly Retirement Survey Quarterly 76.5% 74.6% 81.7%

Annual Employment Survey Annual 43.3% 50.2% 50.2%

Property Tax Collection Survey Quarterly 12.7% 23.7% 35.1%

Sales & Income Tax Collection Survey Quarterly 20.6% 32.9% 71.6%

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned• Software must provide tangible benefits to

respondents• No single solution for every program

– establishment-based surveys and surveys with a large number of different report forms

– company based surveys generally much simpler

• Electronic reporting related research paying dividends

• Development and support costs generally substantial, especially for large complex programs

• Require business case analysis before undertaking project

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Is Electronic Reporting Cost Efficient?Is Electronic Reporting Cost Efficient?

• Development and support costs are significant• Automated Export System has demonstrated cost

savings, improvements in quality, and reduction in burden

• Electronic reporting for Economic Census– not cost efficient if viewed in isolation– savings associated with design of paper instruments and

data capture savings bring it close to break-even• Census Taker is cost effective for company based

surveys with relatively few report forms, but can not efficiently handle surveys with numerous forms

• Government’s electronic reporting is cost effective