Evaluating accounting processes in an Enterprise Resourse Planning (ERP) systems environment

Abstract

This study is on evaluating accounting processes in enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) environment. The purpose of the study was to assess the changes brought in by the introduction of ERP systems and the associated benefits especially on the accounting processes. The objectives are to assess the kind of modules being used in the ERP environment and the impact they have on accounting processes. To evaluate changes in accounting methods and practices and investigate and document why ERP adopters have, or have note, experienced changes in their accounting processes. The research was largely quantitative. The results show that Microsoft dynamics is the major ERP in Uganda representing 81% of the total respondents contrary to other earlier studies from different parts of the world. Implementing ERP has tremendous benefits ranging from consolidating data from different departments of an organization to easy of generation of operational and management reports despite being very expensive. However, the study revealed that if users are not well versed with the system, they are likely to input wrong data and the reports generated may not be useful as intended. Implementing ERP has a huge impact on the work of accountants. Accountants and other users should be brought on board from the time of acquiring the software. Efforts should be made to avoid escalation of costs in the implementation process. A qualitative research is required in future in order to assess the qualitative effects of implementing ERP’s on accountants and the long-term impact on their productivity in Uganda.