Business process automation: New challenges to increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of companies

Background: Scientific and technical progress are unstoppable. Nowadays, information technology affects every sphere of social and economic life. The automation of business processes is a common part of business and accounting practice. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the automation in companies. Regularly occurring transactions, which were performed manually before, are gradually being replaced by information technology and automatic robotic systems. The companies fully use cloud storages, artificial intelligence, or blockchain technologies. Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to identify areas and possibilities for improvement of business and accounting processes with use of information technologies, digitalization, and automation. Methodology: For the purpose of the paper, a standard methodology review of literature sources was performed. Then we conducted a brief questionnaire survey in order to find out the level of automation and digitization of business processes in companies in the Slovak Republic. Findings and conclusions: It is expected that, as a result of robotization and automation of business processes, some professions will gradually disappear within a few decades. Even the crisis related to COVID19 pandemic had an impact on the acceleration of using information technologies in business processes related to their digitalization and automation. The paper describes possibilities of automation with focus on e-shop, which make the processes safer, faster, more effective, eco-friendly, with fewer errors. On the other hand, there are some challenges and threats the accounting entities have to consider when implementing artificial intelligence, information technology in their business processes, such as cyber security, the Internet and electricity outages. We have observed that companies in Slovakia have their business processes more or less automated. However, the automation is the domain of bigger and multinational companies. The higher initial costs related to automation are limitation for smaller companies that need to consider benefits and costs the automation requires. Limitations and future research: Our paper is based on the theoretical background with a brief research in the area of implementing information technologies in companies in the Slovak Republic. The number of returned questionnaire surveys that were the base for our brief and initial research was very low. More detailed analysis of level of automation in the Slovak companies in comparison with companies abroad, their readiness for changes related to automation, as well as threats, challenges, pros and cons of automation may be the topic for the future research

Applications of Blockchain Technology in International Logistics - a Case Study

This work gives some insights about the beneficial impact that blockchain technology could have on the trust paradigm of modern supply chains, especially in the international logistics sector. The first two parts cover a non-technical but detailed description of how the Bitcoin protocol works and a deep dive on the possible applications of blockchain technology in the logistics industry. The third part is reserved for the Case Study, theorized with the help of Luxottica

Taxation in the Digital Economy

A robust and efficient tax administration in a modern tax system requires effective tax policies and legislation. Policy frameworks should cover all aspects of tax administration and include the essential processes of capturing, processing, analyzing, and responding to information provided by taxpayers and others concerning taxpayers’ affairs. By far the greatest challenges facing tax administrations in all countries are those posed by the continuing developments in the digital economy. Whereas societies are grappling to come to terms with the transitions from the third industrial or digital revolutions, revenue authorities grapple with the consequences for the sustainability of their tax bases and the efficient administration and collection of taxes. This book presents a critical review of the status of tax systems in Asia and the Pacific in the era of the digital economy. The book suggests how countries can maximize their domestic resource mobilization when confronted by the challenges that digitalization inevitably produces, as well as how they can best harness or take advantage of aspects of digitalization to serve their own needs. The full implications of the COVID-19 crisis are still too uncertain to predict, but it is clear that the crisis will accelerate the trend towards digitalization and also increase pressures on public finances. This, in turn, may shape the preference for, and the nature of, both multilateral and unilateral responses to the tax challenges posed by digitalization and the need to address them. This book will be a timely reference for those researching on taxation in digital economy and for policy makers.

Blockchain Technology Based Supply Chain Systems and Supply Chain Performance: A Resource-Based View

Blockchain technology (BCT) is set to transform firms’ present ways of managing supply chains. This thesis explores how the efforts by firms to integrate BCT into their supply chain systems and activities, can enable certain supply chain capabilities and subsequently, improve supply chain performance. Using an abductive research approach, qualitative content analyses of 126 cases of firms’ efforts in BCT-based supply chain systems (BCT-SCS) across multiple industries are conducted to identify the BCT-enabled supply chain capabilities and their performance outcomes. Findings reveal that the present BCT-SCS efforts are mainly oriented towards improving the operational-level capabilities namely, information sharing and coordination capabilities rather than strategic-level capabilities namely, integration and collaboration capabilities. The predominant performance outcomes resulting from these capabilities along with the BCT-SCS are quality compliance and improvement, process improvement, flexibility, reduced cost, and reduced process time. However, the performance outcomes vary with industry type, based on the risks that the industry faces. Based on the study’s findings, an integrated framework of research propositions is presented to facilitate future empirical research

Cyberspace, Blockchain, Governance:How Technology Implies Normative Power and Regulation

Technologies and their inherent design choices create normative structures that affect governance. This chapter aims to illustrate how blockchain technology in particular introduces new norms into a legal framework. We first analyze the different forms of governance by distinguishing between old and new governance. With a view to code that functions as legal norms, Blockchain technology is particularly suited to create governance structures and mechanisms. However, one needs to be aware of the norms that are implicitly introduced into the legal system by a specific blockchain technology. We look at the blockchain technology that underlies cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This blockchain introduces a decentralized, transparent, cryptographically locked and thus immutable shared ledger. In summary, these design choices have normative powers over the user and over user interaction. If this is indeed the case, then regulators have to actively assess newly introduced digital ledger technology and other technologies for their effect on the normative and legal system.</p

Aspects of Financial Literacy

Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Aspects of Financial Literacy" are devoted to finding a systemic solution to multidisciplinary problems in the field of modern development, management, administration of various systems, corporate social responsibility, innovation management in various fields of environmental management. For scientists, scientists, students, graduate students, representatives of business and public organizations and higher education institutions and a wide range of readers

The regulation of digital platforms: the case of pagoPA

How can EU regulation affect innovation. Digital revolution: How big data have changed the world and the legal landscape. The regulation of digital platforms in Europe. Digital revolution: How distributed ledger technologies are changing the world and the legal landscape. Regulation of digital payments: the case of pagopa

Waste to 3D Printing: the development of additive symbiotic networks

Industry 4.0 technologies, such as additive manufacturing (AM) and blockchain technology, may drive the implementation of a new generation of circular economy strategies. However, the role of these new technologies in designing and implementing circular economy ecosystems is not a trivial issue. In this sense, this PhD research work intends to foster knowledge for developing industrial symbiosis networks within the AM industry - the so-called additive symbiotic networks. A systematic literature review reveals current circular economy relationships within the AM industry and highlights the potential of this industry to create and develop additive symbiotic networks in which plastic wastes from other industries may be used as material inputs for AM processes. However, given the digital nature of AM and considering challenges related to trust or implementing transactions, there is a need to find tools that enable additive symbiotic networks. Blockchain technology may be an enabler of such symbiotic networks, and its adoption within these settings may have implications for the supply chain of the additive symbiotic networks. Using an abductive research approach, two case studies are conducted concerning two additive symbiotic networks comprising companies that use AM processes to valorize plastic waste streams. Case study A proves there is space within the context of additive symbiotic networks to explore the adoption of blockchain technology and identifies a set of requirements that support the technology adoption in that specific network context. From this point, case study B is developed in order to understand the consequent implications of adopting such disruptive technology as blockchain in the supply chain structure of an additive symbiotic network. Results suggest that with the adoption of blockchain there is a reduction in the number of intermediary stakeholders involved in the network and an adaption of the value flows within the network. By offering a tool that helps to deal with the challenges associated with the additive symbiotic networks, exploring its adoption and some of its implications in the supply chain of those networks, this PhD thesis promotes the development of the additive symbiotic networks, contributing to the efficient use of natural resources, promoting the collaboration between industries and reducing waste streams to achieve more sustainable production.As tecnologias que compõem a Indústria 4.0, como a manufatura aditiva (MA) e tecnologia blockchain, podem impulsionar a implementação de estratégias de economia circular. No entanto, o papel dessas novas tecnologias na conceção e implementação de ecossistemas de economia circular não é uma questão trivial. Este trabalho de doutoramento pretende fomentar o conhecimento para desenvolver redes de simbiose industrial na indústria da MA - as designadas redes simbióticas aditivas. A realização de uma revisão sistemática da literatura revela as relações entre a economia circular e a indústria da MA, destacando o seu potencial para desenvolver redes simbióticas aditivas. Nestas redes, resíduos ou subprodutos de outras indústrias podem ser utilizados como matéria-prima secundária em processos de MA. No entanto, considerando a natureza digital associada à MA e desafios relacionados com as redes de simbiose industrial, como a confiança ou a implementação de transações na rede, existe necessidade de encontrar ferramentas que possibilitem a implementação das redes simbióticas aditivas. A tecnologia blockchain pode ser uma facilitadora e sua adoção pode ter implicações para cadeia de abastecimento das redes simbióticas aditivas. Utilizando uma abordagem de investigação abdutiva, dois estudos de caso são desenvolvidos, em relação a duas redes simbióticas aditivas compostas por empresas que usam processos de MA para valorizar fluxos de resíduos e subprodutos. O estudo de caso A comprova que há potencial no contexto das redes simbióticas aditivas para a adoção da tecnologia blockchain e identifica um conjunto de requisitos que suportam a adoção desta tecnologia no contexto específico da rede em estudo. O caso de estudo B é desenvolvido com o objetivo de compreender as implicações da adoção da blockchain na estrutura da cadeia de abastecimento de uma rede simbiótica aditiva. Os resultados sugerem que com a adoção da blockchain há uma redução no número de entidades intermediários envolvidas na rede e há uma adaptação dos fluxos de valor dentro dessa mesma rede. Ao oferecer uma ferramenta que ajuda a lidar com os desafios associados às redes simbióticas aditivas, explorando a sua adoção e algumas das suas implicações na cadeia de abastecimento dessas redes, esta tese de doutoramento promove o desenvolvimento das redes simbióticas aditivas, contribuindo para uma eficiente utilização de recursos naturais, promovendo a colaboração entre as indústrias e reduzindo os fluxos de resíduos para alcançar uma produção mais sustentável

Designing Data Spaces

This open access book provides a comprehensive view on data ecosystems and platform economics from methodical and technological foundations up to reports from practical implementations and applications in various industries. To this end, the book is structured in four parts: Part I “Foundations and Contexts” provides a general overview about building, running, and governing data spaces and an introduction to the IDS and GAIA-X projects. Part II “Data Space Technologies” subsequently details various implementation aspects of IDS and GAIA-X, including eg data usage control, the usage of blockchain technologies, or semantic data integration and interoperability. Next, Part III describes various “Use Cases and Data Ecosystems” from various application areas such as agriculture, healthcare, industry, energy, and mobility. Part IV eventually offers an overview of several “Solutions and Applications”, eg including products and experiences from companies like Google, SAP, Huawei, T-Systems, Innopay and many more. Overall, the book provides professionals in industry with an encompassing overview of the technological and economic aspects of data spaces, based on the International Data Spaces and Gaia-X initiatives. It presents implementations and business cases and gives an outlook to future developments. In doing so, it aims at proliferating the vision of a social data market economy based on data spaces which embrace trust and data sovereignty

Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Production Systems and Logistics (CPSL 2021)

Proceedings of the CPSL 202