Moyo, V.Oseifuah, E. K.Rerani, Mmbofheni2026-06-202026-06-202026-05-19Rerani, m. 2026. The Role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Delivering Services in Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Firms in Johannesburg, South Africa. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3264MCom in AccountingDepartment of AccountancyThe swift progress of“Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies”is transforming the global scene and must not be disregarded. These technologies offer significant benefits when adopted across various industries. Notably,4IR technologies are now widely implemented in most accounting firms worldwide and have gained substantial traction across all sectors in South Africa. The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of 4IR technologies in delivering services in small and medium-sized accounting firms in Johannesburg, South Africa. This purpose was achieved through four objectives: (1) determining the benefits of adopting 4IR technologies by small and medium-sized firms in Johannesburg, South Africa; (2) examining the challenges of implementing“4IR technologies by small and medium-sized firms”in Johannesburg, South Africa; (3) investigating skills and training that accounting professionals need to effectively leverage 4IR technologies in their work in“small and medium-sized accounting firms;”(4) and by determining how“small and medium-sized firms”leverage 4IR technologies in their service delivery while maintaining data security and privacy. To accomplish these objectives, the study interviewed ten (10) financial managers from ten (10) small and mediumsized accounting firms based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was a“qualitative research approach which adopted a semi-structured interview as a method of data collection. Participants were sampled using a purposive sampling method. Moreover, during face-to-face interviews, participants granted permission to record each interview session. Hence, the researcher transcribed data for the thematic data analysis method. In addition, the study used NVivo Software for data analysi. Ethical issues were considered, and confidentiality was ensured and guaranteed. Nonetheless, the study found crucial results “on the role of 4IR technologies in the delivery of services by“small and medium-sized accounting firms. The study found that 4IR technologies benefit small and medium-sized accounting firms to save time, increase efficiency, increase accuracy, detect risk early risk, and improve customer trustworthiness. Despite the benefits of the 4IR on“small and medium-sized accounting firms, the study found that small and medium-sized accounting firms face cost challenges and a lack of knowledge to maintain 4IR technologies. Hence, the study concluded that accounting professionals should receive training in 4IR technologies such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, security, and other 4IR technologies. The study recommended that “small and medium-sized”accounting firms should adopt 4IR technologies because they are effective in service delivery. This implies that other accounting firms, big or small, “sought to utilise the findings of this study to make sound decisions on the adoption of the 4IR technologies.” .1 online resource (xi, 105 leaves)enUniversity of VendaAIR TechnologiesArtificial Intelligence (AI)UCTDBig Data BlockchainFourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)Internet of ThingsSmall and medium-sized Accounting FirmsRobotic Process Automation (RPA)DissertationRerani M. The Role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Delivering Services in Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Firms in Johannesburg, South Africa. []. , 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Rerani, M. (2026). <i>The Role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Delivering Services in Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Firms in Johannesburg, South Africa</i>. (). . Retrieved fromRerani, Mmbofheni. <i>"The Role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Delivering Services in Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Firms in Johannesburg, South Africa."</i> ., , 2026.TY - Dissertation AU - Rerani, mmbofheni AB - The swift progress of“Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies”is transforming the global scene and must not be disregarded. These technologies offer significant benefits when adopted across various industries. Notably,4IR technologies are now widely implemented in most accounting firms worldwide and have gained substantial traction across all sectors in South Africa. The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of 4IR technologies in delivering services in small and medium-sized accounting firms in Johannesburg, South Africa. This purpose was achieved through four objectives: (1) determining the benefits of adopting 4IR technologies by small and medium-sized firms in Johannesburg, South Africa; (2) examining the challenges of implementing“4IR technologies by small and medium-sized firms”in Johannesburg, South Africa; (3) investigating skills and training that accounting professionals need to effectively leverage 4IR technologies in their work in“small and medium-sized accounting firms;”(4) and by determining how“small and medium-sized firms”leverage 4IR technologies in their service delivery while maintaining data security and privacy. To accomplish these objectives, the study interviewed ten (10) financial managers from ten (10) small and mediumsized accounting firms based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was a“qualitative research approach which adopted a semi-structured interview as a method of data collection. Participants were sampled using a purposive sampling method. Moreover, during face-to-face interviews, participants granted permission to record each interview session. Hence, the researcher transcribed data for the thematic data analysis method. In addition, the study used NVivo Software for data analysi. Ethical issues were considered, and confidentiality was ensured and guaranteed. Nonetheless, the study found crucial results “on the role of 4IR technologies in the delivery of services by“small and medium-sized accounting firms. The study found that 4IR technologies benefit small and medium-sized accounting firms to save time, increase efficiency, increase accuracy, detect risk early risk, and improve customer trustworthiness. Despite the benefits of the 4IR on“small and medium-sized accounting firms, the study found that small and medium-sized accounting firms face cost challenges and a lack of knowledge to maintain 4IR technologies. Hence, the study concluded that accounting professionals should receive training in 4IR technologies such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, security, and other 4IR technologies. The study recommended that “small and medium-sized”accounting firms should adopt 4IR technologies because they are effective in service delivery. This implies that other accounting firms, big or small, “sought to utilise the findings of this study to make sound decisions on the adoption of the 4IR technologies.” . DA - 2026-05-19 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - AIR Technologies KW - Artificial Intelligence (AI) KW - Big Data Blockchain KW - Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) KW - Internet of Things KW - Small and medium-sized Accounting Firms KW - Robotic Process Automation (RPA) LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2026 T1 - The Role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Delivering Services in Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Firms in Johannesburg, South Africa TI - The Role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Delivering Services in Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Firms in Johannesburg, South Africa UR - ER -