1. Data integration methods
New Techniques and Technologies for Statistics
Brussels, 12 March 2019
Data integration methods
and tools in the ESBRs
Razvan Cristian IONESCU – Eurostat G1

2. The ESBRs project
ESBRs = European system of interoperable Statistical Business Registers
A VIP project in the ESS to address 3 main shortcomings in business statistics
Inconsistencies and different practices as concerns the use and role of national business registers
Lack of globalized approach to business statistics for describing cross-border phenomena
Inefficiencies in data handling and duplication of work due to a lack of common approaches, tools and remote access facilities

3. Data Integration in the ESBRs
Business statistics from different sources
national Statistical Business Registers (EU+EFTA)
Commercial data providers (mainly non-EU)
Interactive Profiling Tool (selected groups)
Each separate view alone is incomplete
Data integration is the solution for achieving the complete view on the structure and activities of multinational groups operating in the EU

4. The Business Architecture approach
Holistic approach answering data integration challenges (lack of harmonisation, low level of interoperability)
Main aspects of data integration:
Authentic source: information stored only once, can be change only by one role
Unique identification: use of unique identifier (LEID), no duplicates
Single flow: consistent data integration process over time
Interoperability: data harmonisation and standardisation
Workability: limitation to what is needed to achieve the objectives, in respect of subsidiarity and proportionality principles

5. The EuroGroups Register
The EuroGroups Register (EGR) is a statistical business register of multinational enterprise groups in the EU Member States and in the EFTA countries
EGR frame population
127K global enterprise groups
almost 800K enterprises
over 1M. legal units

6. ESBRs tools – EGR applications
EGR Identification Service (EGR IS)
Application supporting the EGR users in identifying legal units.
EGR Core application (EGR CORE)
The 'heart' of EGR 2.0 system, it stores, transforms and consolidates input data of different sources and generates the EGR frames.
EGR Interactive Module (EGR IM)
Interactive web interface to browse and validate data in the consolidation area of EGR CORE.
EGR FATS online interface (EGR FATS)
Application providing users with a FATS statistics oriented web interface to browse and download EGR data.

7. ESBRs tools - Interactive Profiling Tool (IPT)
Common tool to support European profiling
In production since April 2016 (3 cycles completed)
Growing number of countries participating
291 global groups profiled in IPT
Easier data exchange between countries participating in a profiling process
Faster responses within a profiling workflow
Better visualization of profiling process and its results

8. Commercial Data Providers
Data integration flows in the ESBRs
Eurostat
Commercial Data Providers
NSIs
Identification service
Legal units identification
EGR
NSI data:
Legal Units
Relations
Enterprises
Commercial data:
Legal Units
Relations
Data processing
FINAL FRAME
Preliminary frame update
European Profiling
Interactive Profiling Tool 8

9. The ESBRs interoperability pilots 1/2
Practical aspects
Focus on testing interoperability aspects and creating best practices
Execution calendar: Jan Jun 2019
20 participating countries working on 12 topics
Based on ESBRs deliverables (tools & methodology)
Use of other projects’ deliverables (TESTA network, SDMX tools)
3 test environments created for the pilots

10. The ESBRs interoperability pilots 2/2
Areas of interest
A: Data Exchange: standardization & automation
B: Collaboration and Governance: collaboration using interactive tools
C: Calendar/Timing:
Adaptability to (and shortening of) yearly cycle
Interaction with national processes
D: Quality improvement
input data improvement
output data assessment

11. CONCLUSIONS Many sources are needed to achieve the global picture
Using many sources has important shortcomings
Data integration is the solution
In the ESBRs, the data integration is addressed by the Business Architecture approach and using the ESBRs tools (EGR and IPT)
ESBRs can be viewed as an ecosystem where the information is continuously improved at all network nodes

12. Thank you for your attention!
Contact:
Unit G1, Eurostat