SCIENCE ARTICLE
Automation of Office Work: Key Challenges and Limitations
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Accounting and Financial Audit, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Institute of Accounting and Financial Management,, Poland
 
2
Department of Corporate Resource Management, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Institute of Management,, Poland
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2024-07-26
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-01-17
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-01-28
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-03-20
 
 
Publication date: 2025-04-17
 
 
Corresponding author
Marzena Remlein   

Department of Accounting and Financial Audit, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Institute of Accounting and Financial Management,, al. Niepodległości 10, 61-875, Poznań, Poland
 
 
Management 2025;(1):17-42
 
KEYWORDS
JEL CLASSIFICATION CODES
M15
M21
M41
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Research background and purpose: The Automation of Office Work finds extensive application in enterprise management and support areas, including finance, sales and customer service, accounting, warehouse operations, logistics, and more. However, implementing automation is not solely about improving efficiency or enhancing working conditions. Many enterprises encounter challenges related to investment and start-up costs, ongoing automation management expenses, and opportunity costs such as changes in employee behaviour and their approach to work. The aim of this article is to identify and assess the key challenges that enterprises may face when implementing Automation of Office Work. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the aim, survey research was conducted in the first quarter of 2024 with a sample of 109 enterprises. A statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using Statistica software. Findings: The study confirmed the stated hypotheses. Regarding H1, implementation costs represent a particularly significant challenge in automation. These costs encompass initial investments, ongoing expenses for maintenance, employee training, and the adaptation of business processes, all of which significantly impede the efficient utilization of Robotic Process Automation platforms. H2 was also confirmed, indicating a direct impact of automation on human factors such as job satisfaction, engagement, and creativity. Value added and limitations: The study revealed that automation can reduce interpersonal interactions among employees, weakening social bonds and potentially leading to burnout. To mitigate these negative effects, a balanced approach that prioritizes employee development and satisfaction is essential. The study is subject to several significant limitations that may influence its results and interpretations: (1) selection bias –purposive selection of financially stable companies; (2) Exclusion of MicroEnterprises; (3) Overemphasis on Certain Legal Forms; (4) Focus on Established Markets
REFERENCES (23)
1.
Almgren, E. (2021). Opportunities and Challenges of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the Administration of Education. [Master’s thesis. KTH Industrial Engineering and Management]. https://www.diva-portal.org/sm...
 
2.
Aghion, P., Antonin, C., Bunel, S., & Jaravel X. (2022, May 5). The Direct and Indirect Effects of Automation on Employment: A Survey of the Recent Literature. https:// scholar.harvard.edu/files/aghion/files/ direct_and _indirect_effects_of_automation.pdf
 
3.
Aguirre, S., Rodriguez, A. (2017). Automation of a Business Process Using Robotic Process Automation (RPA): A Case Study. In J., Figueroa-García, E., López-Santana, J., Villa-Ramírez, & R. Ferro-Escobar (Eds.). Applied Computer Sciences in Engineering. WEA 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 742 (pp. 65–71). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-....
 
4.
Arntz, M., Gregory T. & Zierahn U. (2016). The Risk of Automation for Jobs in OECD Countries: A Comparative Analysis. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, No. 189, OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/5jlz9h....
 
5.
Borowiec, L. (2022). The cost-benefit of robotizing selected accounting processes. Theoretical Journal of Accounting, 46(2), 11-26. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.300....
 
6.
Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. W.W. Norton & Company.
 
7.
Bumann, J., & Peter, M. (2019). Action fields of digital transformation–a review and comparative analysis of digital transformation maturity models and frameworks. In A. H. Verkuil, K. Hinkelmann & M. Aeschbacher (Eds.), Digitalisierung und andere Innovationsformen im Management (pp. 13–40). Edition Gesowip.
 
8.
Choi, D., R’bigui, H., & Cho, C. (2021). Robotic Process Automation Implementation Challenges. In P. K., Pattnaik, M., Sain, A., Al-Absi, & P. Kumar (Eds.). Proceedings of International Conference on Smart Computing and Cyber Security (pp. 1-8). Springer.Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-98...
 
9.
da Silva Costa, D., A., Mamede, H., S., & da Silva, M., M. (2022). Robotic Process Automation (RPA) adoption: a systematic literature review. Engineering Management in Production and Service, 14(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.2478/emj-20....
 
10.
Dhawan, A., Jain, P., Dhawan, A., Tilokchandani, P., & Kiran, M.B. (2022). Challenges in Automation - A review. Proceedings of the First Australian International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 12(7), 2341-2348. https://doi.org/10.46254/AU01....
 
11.
Doguc, O. (2020). Robot Process Automation (RPA) and Its Future. In U. Hacioglu (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Strategic Fit and Design in Business Ecosystems (pp. 469-492). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-...
 
12.
Frey, C. B., & Osborne, M. A. (2017). The future of employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerization? Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 114(1), 254-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tech....
 
13.
Guznajeva, T., Gutierrez, J. G., Konstantynova, A., Zeqo, K., Nausedaite, R., & Kooijmans, O. (2022). PILLARS – Pathways to Inclusive Labour Markets: Discussion of impacts of automation technologies on the labour market. PILLARS.
 
14.
Ignatczak, W., & Chromińska, M. (2004). Statystyka. Teoria i zastosowania [Statistics: Theory and applications]. Wydawnictwo Wyższej Szkoły Bankowej.
 
15.
Kroll, C., Bujak, A., Volker, D., Wolfgang, E., & Esser, M. (2016, May 5). Robotic Process Automation: Robots Conquer Business Processes in Back Offices. Capgemini Consulting https://www.scribd.com/documen... robotic-process-automation-study.
 
16.
Lahtinen, L., Mahlamäki, T., & Myllärniemi, J. (2023). Benefits and Challenges of Robotic Process Automation. Proceedings of the 15th International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management, 3, 249-255. http://doi.org/10.5220/0012208....
 
17.
Manyika, J., & Sneader, K. (2018, June 1). AI, automation, and the future of work: ten things to solve for, briefing note prepared for. McKinsey Global Institute. https://www.mckinsey.com/featu....
 
18.
Nesterak, J., & Gąsiorek, P. (2020). Advantages and obstacles to implementing robotic process automation in the enterprises. In M. Dziura, A. Jaki, & T. Rojek (Eds.). Restructuring Management Models – Changes – Development (pp. 77-87). Toruń:TNOiK “Dom Organizatora”.
 
19.
Pham, Q. C., Madhavan, R., Righetti, L., Smart, W., & Cgatila, R. (2018). The Impact of Robotics and Automation on Working Conditions and Employment. IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine, 25(2), 126-128. http://doi.org/10.1109/MRA.201....
 
20.
Radke, A., M., Dang, M., T., & Tan, A. (2020). Using robotic process automation (RPA) to enhance item master data maintenance process. LogForum, 16 (1), 129-140. http://doi.org/10.17270/J.LOG.....
 
21.
Remlein, M., Bejger, P., Olejnik, I., Jastrzębowski, A., & Obrzeżgiewicz, D. (2022). The application of Robotic Process Automation in the financial accounting in entities that operate in Poland. Theoretical Journal of Accounting, 46(1), 47-65. http://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001...
 
22.
Siderska, J. (2020). Robotic Process Automation — a driver of digital transformation?. Engineering Management in Production and Services, 12(2), 21-31. http://doi.org/10.2478/emj-202....
 
23.
Zarooni, L. A., & Khatib, M. E. (2023). Robotics Process Automation (RPA) and Project Risk Management. International Journal of Business Analytics and Security, 3 (1), 74-90. http://doi.org/10.54489/ijbas.....
 
eISSN:2299-193X
ISSN:1429-9321 (1997-2019)
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top