Accounting System Design Under an Information Technology Environment to Reduce Errors and Delays: A Case Study of a Fabric and Yarn Wholesale Business in Bangkok Yai District

Abstract

The research objectives are: 1) to study the problems related to current accounting practices in the case study; 2) to design a new accounting system that supports the use of information technology and helps reduce errors and delays in accounting process; and 3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the newly developed accounting system in reducing errors and delays in accounting process. This research is qualitative research, collecting data through observation and interviews with 4 key informants who are involved in accounting and information technology systems of the case study business. The research tools included interview records, flowcharts illustrating workflow and data transfer, and data analysis through the study of flowcharts and discussions with relevant informants to arrive at conclusions leading to the design of a suitable new accounting system.

The research findings revealed that 1) a study of current accounting problems in the business case study showed that various departments use spreadsheet programs to prepare data and send files to the accounting department for accounting purposes. The use of spreadsheets leads to errors, causing time spent constantly correcting calculation formulas, resulting in delays in the accounting process; 2) the research established a new accounting system, including a new chart of accounts, a digital data file format for recording data in a central database, and a screen design for data entry; and 3) the evaluation of the new accounting system implementation, as outlined in the research, shows that it can significantly speed up accounting processes from two weeks to one business day, while increasing accuracy and standardization by over 80% overall. The results are satisfactory.