Impacts of Implementing RPA and AI in a Medium-Sized Accounting Company
Määttä, Juuso (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121737371
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121737371
Tiivistelmä
Robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly transforming the accounting industry by automating repetitive, rule-based tasks and shifting the work of an accountant from manual routines to a more analytical and advisory role. RPA mimics human actions to handle tasks such as data entry, and report generation, while AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing are used for more complex functions like automated purchase invoice processing, fraud detection, and information retrieval. While RPA and AI improve efficiency and accuracy of the accounting process, implementing them in the accounting process has its risks and challenges, such as risks of errors, concerns for job loss, and the need for new skills.
This thesis explores the impacts of RPA and AI in a medium-sized Finnish accounting company. The aim is to identify how these technologies are used, what benefits and challenges they have brought, and how employees have experienced the changes brought by these technologies to the work environment.
A literature review was conducted on RPA and AI in accounting, followed by a study using a mixed methods research design consisting of an interview and a questionnaire. The findings show that automation has reduced manual work, improved efficiency, and enabled employees to focus more on expert and consulting tasks. Most employees view the changes positively and consider RPA and AI useful in their work. However, concerns emerged regarding the sufficiency of training, the increasing complexity of remaining tasks, and the risk of losing an overall understanding of accounting processes.
Overall, RPA and AI have had a positive impact on the company, but continued training, communication, and support are needed to ensure successful long-term adoption.
This thesis explores the impacts of RPA and AI in a medium-sized Finnish accounting company. The aim is to identify how these technologies are used, what benefits and challenges they have brought, and how employees have experienced the changes brought by these technologies to the work environment.
A literature review was conducted on RPA and AI in accounting, followed by a study using a mixed methods research design consisting of an interview and a questionnaire. The findings show that automation has reduced manual work, improved efficiency, and enabled employees to focus more on expert and consulting tasks. Most employees view the changes positively and consider RPA and AI useful in their work. However, concerns emerged regarding the sufficiency of training, the increasing complexity of remaining tasks, and the risk of losing an overall understanding of accounting processes.
Overall, RPA and AI have had a positive impact on the company, but continued training, communication, and support are needed to ensure successful long-term adoption.