The Effects of Blockchain Technology on Accounting Information Systems in Free Zones (FTZ): A Systematic Review of Architectural and Functional Transformation

Abstract

The operational environment of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) is characterized by high-volume, complex cross-border transactions, and stringent demands for verifiable data integrity and customs compliance. Conventional, centralized Accounting Information Systems (AIS) are demonstrably suboptimal for this environment, constrained by retrospective reconciliation procedures, transactional latency, and systemic vulnerability to data manipulation.

This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) investigates the foundational impact of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), specifically Blockchain Technology (BC), on the architectural structure and functional mechanics of the AIS within the FTZ context. BC facilitates the essential paradigm shift from a private data store to a decentralized, self-verifying evidence platform, replacing traditional reliance on human intermediates with cryptographic trust. The change is thoroughly examined using three integrated architectural pillars of BC: Triple-Entry Accounting (TEA), Smart Contracts (SC), and Immutability.