Volume 20 Issue 3, December 2025
ASIA-PACIFIC MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING JOURNAL. VOL. 20 ISSUE 3
A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CLOUD ACCOUNTING ADOPTION IN SMES: A THEMATIC SYNTHESIS OF FACTORS, IMPACTS, AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
Budi Septiawan1*, Intan Salwani Mohamed2 , Yuslina Zakaria3, and Atang Hermawan3
1Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
2Faculty of Accountancy & Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
3Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
4Postgraduates Program, Universitas Pasundan, Indonesia
This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) to synthesize current research on cloud accounting adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Guided by the PRISMA protocol and Kitchenham’s framework for systematic reviews, thirty peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2025 were analyzed across multiple databases. The review identifies supporting and inhibiting factors, impacts, and theoretical underpinnings of cloud accounting adoption. Findings show that adoption is shaped by a complex interplay of technological, organizational, environmental, and individual factors. Compatibility, scalability, vendor support, and top management commitment consistently emerge as enablers, while cybersecurity risks, limited IT skills, and resistance to change act as barriers. The impacts of adoption extend beyond operational efficiency to strategic outcomes, including enhanced competitiveness, improved financial decision-making, and business continuity. Moreover, cloud accounting has been conceptualized variably as a dependent, independent, or mediating variable in empirical models. By consolidating these insights, this study advances theoretical understanding and provides practical implications for SMEs, software vendors, and policymakers navigating digital transformation.
Keywords: Cloud Accounting, SMEs, Technology Adoption, TOE Framework, Systematic Literature Review


