Exploring the Improvement of Financial Reporting through Robotic Process Automation within a System Representation Framework
Keywords:
Robotic Process Automation, Financial Reporting, System Representation ApproachAbstract
The objective of this study is to identify the drivers, mechanisms, and consequences of enhancing financial reporting through Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and to develop a systematic representation model. This developmental–exploratory mixed-methods study employed grounded theory in the qualitative phase through 14 in-depth expert interviews, yielding 4 categories, 8 core components, and 48 conceptual themes. In the quantitative phase, a two-round Delphi analysis and a 7-point matrix checklist were used to assess reliability and evaluate interrelationships among components. Pairwise comparison matrices were then analyzed to determine influence–dependency patterns and to construct the final system representation model. All eight core components were confirmed, and matrix analysis revealed a structured pattern of systemic drivers and outcomes. The extensible-language information flow emerged as the primary systemic driver, while the Internet-of-Things-based flow constituted the ultimate systemic outcome. Primary consequences included strengthened capacities in big-data analytics, cloud-computing flows, and expert-system processes. Robotic Process Automation has the potential to fundamentally transform the architecture of financial reporting by enabling integrated, rapid, and transparent information flows. The resulting model provides a strategic roadmap for policymakers and organizations seeking to modernize disclosure practices and transition toward intelligent, real-time, data-driven reporting systems.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Younes Edalati Nezhad (Author); Maryam Shahri (Corresponding author); Hassan Valyan, Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, Mohammad Reza Abdoli (Author)
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