Barriers to Cloud Accounting Adoption in Nigerian SMEs Beyond Cost and Infrastructure Constraints

This study examines the multifaceted barriers inhibiting the adoption of cloud accounting among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, extending beyond the conventional focus on cost and infrastructure limitations. Employing a sequential mixed-methods design, the research integrates quantitative survey data (n=300) with qualitative interviews (n=20) to provide a comprehensive analysis of adoption challenges. Quantitative findings, analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple regression, identify organizational barriers (β = -0.30, p < 0.001) and security/privacy concerns (β = -0.25, p = 0.002) as the most significant deterrents. Thematic analysis of qualitative data corroborates these results while revealing nuanced psychological and socio-cultural barriers, including technophobia, resistance to change, and vendor trust deficits. The study contributes to technology adoption literature by demonstrating how contextual factors—such as regulatory ambiguities and cultural preferences for traditional accounting methods—interact with technological considerations to shape adoption decisions. Practical implications highlight the need for multi-level interventions addressing awareness gaps, organizational readiness, and policy frameworks to facilitate digital transformation in Nigeria's SME sector.