Accounting information systems and organizational performance in the cloud computing era: evidence from SMEs

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether cloud-based accounting information system (AIS) usage contributes to AIS effectiveness, with firm size acting as a moderator. Furthermore, the role of AIS effectiveness as a mediator in the relationship between cloud-based AIS usage and organizational performance (OP) is further evaluated. In this context, the study is a bridge to show that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) try to apply cloud accounting to improve profitability, thereby funding more social-environmental activities on the path to sustainability. - Design/methodology/approach: The study conducted an online survey of chief accountants in Vietnam’s SMEs. Data from 193 responses were gathered and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. - Findings: The findings show that cloud-based AIS usage considerably contributes to AIS effectiveness and OP and that AIS effectiveness has a beneficial influence on OP. Furthermore, the study shows that firm size moderates the relationship between cloud-based AIS usage and AIS effectiveness. Further findings show that cloud-based AIS usage influences OP via AIS effectiveness. - Practical implications: The findings of this study expand the existing body of knowledge on cloud-based AIS usage and benefit managers when formulating their business information models. In practice, SMEs need to increase the use of cloud-based AIS to better manage AIS. Enhancing profitability through cloud accounting also determines the ability to finance sustainability activities in SMEs. - Social implications: One of the practical values of this study is the impact on Vietnam’s socioeconomic growth and sustainability. With cloud-based AIS, SMEs may enhance information and system quality, boost system usage frequency, gain satisfaction and increase performance. Furthermore, the comprehensiveness of AIS from cloud-based AIS usage is also a condition for SMEs to enhance accountability for social-environmental information in future sustainable reporting. These advantages improve the efficiency of strategic decision-making, hence increasing SMEs’ competitiveness and social-environmental performance. These benefits will work directly or indirectly toward fostering broader socioeconomic and environmental sustainability in developing economies. - Originality/value: To open a bright perspective of cloud-based AIS usage for AIS effectiveness as well as OP in SMEs toward sustainability in a developing economy, the authors conducted an exploratory study because this topic is quite new in these firms, especially in a developing economy such as Vietnam. These discoveries partly support SMEs to quickly achieve sustainable development goals in the future.