Automated Processes of Ais

Automated Process of Accounting Information Systems

ACC/542 - Accounting Information Systems

August 16, 2010

Professor Khatrina Higgs, MBA, MSIS, CPA

Automated Process of Accounting Information Systems

In the process of automating its accounting information systems (AIS), Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) has reached a point in which it must determine whether to purchase and implement industry-specific application or custom develop its own.

Recommendation

The recommendation is to purchase industry-specific application for the following reasons (Visco LLC, 2005):

* Make use of expertise software development companies have developed in the industry from working with similar companies in the industry. These applications tend to be feature rich and will most likely contain not only what it needs to run KFF today but also elements it can make use of in the future as it grows and its needs change.

* Purchasing configurable applications will allow KFF to mold the software around it unique processes and how it runs its business.

* Developing customized software is expensive, time-consuming, and requires skills and knowledge the company does not currently have.  It would be better served to use its available capital on expanding aspects of the business, such as expanding product lines or opening another that would increase revenues than the substantial investment developing the applications needed. 

Automation Prioritization and Rationales

As the inventory is currently manually maintained and subject to errors, Inventory Processing is the first system that should be addressed, especially given the high percentage of perishables given away or thrown out and the desire always to have in stock merchandise that fulfills customers’ needs (Apollo Group, Inc., 2008). This appears to be the weakest area of the company and the one in which an AIS can provide both the most and quickest impact on the business. Selecting a system that would allow automatic...