The Census Bureau is planning for the first time next month to conduct the Economic Census of more than four million businesses using its own web-based system instead of relying solely on paper forms – a lesson for every federal agency looking to cut costs.

It will be the largest survey conducted online by the Census Bureau since it developed its web-based Centurion system in 2009. Until now, the Census has used Centurion for 50 smaller surveys from the monthly wholesale trade survey to the quarterly plant capacity survey. Keep reading →