Article Search by: Mohd Syairol Azwan Shabudin (Accountant, Internal Audit Division)

This article discusses the results of the fourth edition of the Survey on Technology Adoption by the Accountancy Profession in Malaysia conducted by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA). The survey was conducted from 1 November 2024 to 31 January 2025 and involved 713 MIA members representing various accounting sectors. It continues its efforts since 2017 including the launch of the MIA Digital Technology Blueprint in 2018 and previous editions of the survey in 2019 and 2022, with the aim of identifying patterns and progress of digital transformation in the profession.

Current Technology Trends

The findings of the study show that the key technology trends in 2025 include automation, mobile technology, cloud computing, and the adoption of data standards such as XBRL. This trend is an improvement over previous surveys, thus reflecting the industry's willingness to move in line with technological developments. Among the technologies that have been widely used for more than three years are Microsoft applications, at 68%, followed by accounting software at 66%. In the last one to three years, there has been a significant increase in the use of cloud-based applications (26%) and data analytics tools (23%).

Interest in Future Technologies

Interest in the future use of technology is also significant, particularly in the application of sustainability-related software or tools (41%), generative AI (38%), and artificial intelligence (37%). This shows the increasing focus on technological innovation to improve the efficiency and relevance of the accounting profession in Malaysia.

The Impact of Technology Application

The impact of the adoption of this technology is clearly felt in all sectors, including Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB), public practice, and the public sector. The main advantages obtained are increased work efficiency and mobility, followed by compliance with regulations and accelerating digital transformation. Furthermore, some respondents also stated that the application of technology helps to improve the competitiveness of their respective organizations.

Technology Acceptance Stage

The survey also found that 97% of practitioners are at various levels of technology acceptance, while only 3% have not taken any steps in that direction. While there was a slight increase among respondents who were in the early stages of adoption (less than 30% of technology usage), the percentage of those who were in the high adoption level (above 70%) decreased slightly compared to 2022.

Major Barriers to Adoption

Among the main obstacles faced is the absence of a clear business justification for technology investments, outpacing the main challenges in 2022. A lack of understanding of the benefits of technology and a lack of talent to manage technology also remain major challenges. While cost is still an issue, it is now less prominent than before, and only 11% of respondents do not allocate any budget for the adoption of technology.

Conclusion

Overall, the results of this survey reinforce the fact that digital transformation continues to be a catalyst for progress in the accounting profession in Malaysia. MIA is determined to continue to play an important role in shaping and implementing strategic initiatives based on the insights gained from this survey, to enhance the digital capacity and competitiveness of its members in the future.

Article Source : Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) - 2025

Date of Input: 18/08/2025 | Updated: 18/08/2025 | faiz_suparman