The Task Group on measuring e-commerce value (TG-eCOM) was set up to respond to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Member States’ needs for statistics on the value of digitally ordered transactions, including country requests for technical assistance on measuring the value of e-commerce and digitally ordered trade.
The group was proposed by Member States through the Working Group on Measuring E-commerce and the Digital Economy and subsequently endorsed by senior officials through the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital Economy.
The Task Group is a forum for detailed technical discussions on measuring e-commerce value and work to develop statistical guidelines.
Members
The Task Group is composed of experts from national and international organizations with hands-on involvement in measuring the value of e-commerce transactions by businesses (i.e. e-commerce sales and purchases). Those working on developing initiatives to measure e-commerce value are also encouraged to participate.
Objectives
The objective of the Task Group is to develop internationally agreed guidelines on measuring the value of e-commerce transactions involving businesses, and thereby to support the development of internationally comparable statistics on e-commerce value and the related concept of digitally ordered trade.
These guidelines will serve as the basis for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.
The Task Group:
- Clarifies the policy needs related to the measurement of e-commerce value.
- Discusses the strengths and limitations of existing approaches to measuring the value of e-commerce.
- Considers all relevant methodological aspects – including recommended breakdowns.
- Considers circumstances specific to developing countries (such as the role of email and social media in facilitating online ordering).
- Discusses associated capacity building efforts.
Meetings and working methods
The Task Group meets quarterly, with most sessions being held online. Meetings are informal, with all participants encouraged to share experiences. In-person meetings are held up to once a year as resources allow. The first meeting took place in November 2023.
Task Group members have access to the group’s online platform which hosts meeting records, working materials and online discussions. The group works closely with the OECD Working Party on Digital Economics, Measurement and Analysis, which is responsible for the internationally agreed definition of e-commerce.
The Task Group and OECD Working Party held a joint workshop entitled “Perspectives on measuring e-commerce using the OECD definition and guidelines” in November 2024.
The Task Group reports to the Working Group on Measuring E-commerce and the Digital Economy that meets at the end of each calendar year.
