Understanding Malaysian SMEs’ Adoption of e-Invoicing: Insights from a UTAUT2 Study

October 19, 2026
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As Malaysia advances its e-Invoice policy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are navigating a pivotal stage in their digital transformation.

e-Invoicing is more than a tax compliance requirement. It may also create opportunities for businesses to improve operational efficiency and reduce the costs associated with paper-based records. But what factors influence business owners’ willingness to adopt it?

A study published in the International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies applies an extended version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) to examine Malaysian SME owners’ behavioural intention to adopt e-Invoicing.

What Is UTAUT2?

UTAUT2 is a framework for studying how people adopt and use technology. The study extends the framework to a business digitalisation and e-government context. It examines core factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions, alongside additional factors including trust, security and perceived risk.

The findings offer insight into how Malaysian SMEs may respond to e-Invoicing:

Research dimension	Focus	Finding and implication
Social influence	Peer expectations, industry associations and regulatory guidance	The strongest positive driver identified. Business owners may be influenced by their wider business environment and policy direction.
Security and risk	Concerns about data breaches and system reliability	A significant negative influence. Concerns about cybersecurity and system stability may make businesses hesitant to adopt e-Invoicing.
Performance and effort expectancy	Potential efficiency gains and ease of use	Important considerations, although they may not be decisive differentiators in a policy-driven adoption context.
Facilitating conditions and trust	Software, hardware and support, and confidence in the system	A foundation for supporting businesses through digital transformation.

Three Key Findings

1. Social influence can encourage adoption

The study found that social influence was the strongest positive factor affecting SME owners’ intention to adopt e-Invoicing.

When business peers and partners begin preparing for e-Invoicing, and guidance from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN), industry associations and professionals is available, business owners may develop a stronger sense that they need to keep pace. Peer influence, combined with policy direction, can encourage businesses to take the first step.

2. Security concerns can be a significant barrier

In contrast, security concerns and perceived risk had a significant negative effect on adoption intention.

SMEs may not have the dedicated IT security resources available to larger organisations. As a result, they may be concerned about the exposure of sensitive financial data, system failures or potential technical vulnerabilities. Building confidence in the security and reliability of government and third-party systems is therefore important in addressing these concerns.

3. Performance and convenience matter, alongside support

Performance expectancy and effort expectancy are among the factors considered in the study. Its findings suggest that, in the context of a national digital policy, Malaysian SMEs may also focus on compliance requirements and longer-term efficiency.

Facilitating conditions—such as clear government guidance, suitable software and technical support—can help reduce the difficulties businesses may encounter during the transition.

Implications for Businesses and Policymakers

The findings point to several practical considerations for businesses, professional advisers and software providers:

Build trust and confidence: Software developers and relevant organisations can strengthen data protection and system security, and communicate compliance safeguards clearly.

Use peer examples: Sharing practical experiences from businesses that have adopted e-Invoicing may help others understand the transition and its benefits.

Provide accessible support: Clear guidance, user-friendly processes, technical training and responsive customer support can help SMEs navigate implementation.

Conclusion

The adoption of e-Invoicing involves more than a technological upgrade; it can also influence how businesses manage their operations and records.

In keeping with CCS’s “Beyond Numbers” approach, understanding the practical concerns and perspectives of business owners is important to supporting effective compliance and a more positive digital transition.

References

Ilias, A., Baidi, N., Ghani, E. K., & Mohammad, K. (2026). “Understanding Behavioural Intention to Adopt E-Invoicing in The Case of Malaysia Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): A UTAUT2.” International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 13(1), 56–67.

Venkatesh, V., Thong, J. Y., & Xu, X. (2012). “Consumer acceptance and use of information technology: Extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology.” MIS Quarterly, 36(1), 157–178.

深度解析：马来西亚中小企业如何看待 e-Invoice？UTAUT2研究带来的启示

随着马来西亚持续推进 e-Invoice 政策，中小型企业（SME）正处于数码转型的重要阶段。

e-Invoice 不仅是一项税务合规要求，也可能为企业提升营运效率、降低纸本记录成本带来机会。然而，哪些因素会影响企业主采纳 e-Invoice 的意愿？

近期发表于《International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies》的一项研究，运用扩展版的技术接受和使用统一理论2（UTAUT2），探讨马来西亚中小企业主采纳 e-Invoice 的行为意愿。

什么是UTAUT2？

UTAUT2是用于研究人们如何采纳及使用科技的理论框架。该研究将此框架延伸至企业数码化及电子政务的情境，分析绩效期望、努力期望、社会影响及便利条件等核心因素，并纳入信任、安全与感知风险等扩展因素。

研究结果有助了解马来西亚中小企业对 e-Invoice 的可能反应：

研究维度	关注重点	研究发现与启示
社会影响	同行期望、行业协会及监管指引	研究中最强的正向影响因素。企业主可能受到周边商业环境及政策方向影响。
安全与风险	对数据泄露及系统可靠性的担忧	显著的负向影响因素。对网络安全及系统稳定性的顾虑可能使企业对采纳 e-Invoice 犹豫不决。
绩效与努力期望	提升效率的可能性及操作是否简便	属于重要考量，但在政策推动的采纳情境中，未必是决定性的差异因素。
便利条件与信任	软硬件及相关支持，以及对系统的信心	为企业推动数码转型提供基础保障。