To add positively to the value chain creation in our modern organizations and societies, Auditors need to retool themselves to keep up with the rapidly advancing technologies and the resulting changes in the needs of their clients and employers. As a critical success factor, technology is changing the organization chart and value change relationships. Nevertheless, no matter how much automation takes place in commerce and industry, a lot of human intervention will continue to be involved in solving information problems at the level of information reengineering.

This is where Auditors have a great opportunity, as information architects and systems integrators, to expand their services. This means that the role of technology will change the nature, timing and location of Auditors roles in the value creation process. For instance, Auditors will now do less of manual vouching of accounting documents (which computers will now take over) and become information systems consultants, analyzers and interpreters of data.

They have to become information architects and information professionals to be able to assist their clients and employers into the mainstream of the information age, in which efficient information system, enabled by appropriate technologies are waved into the overall corporate strategy.

A major concern among opinion leaders in audit profession today is that the staggeringly fast changing information technologies may overwhelm the control capabilities of Auditors, unless they constantly upskill themselves at a speed consistent with the changes taking place.

To be effective, Auditors need to understand the security sensitivity of Computer-based Environment and be able to combat computer – related fraud. Acquiring information technology skills requires the discipline of learning. They must engage in the learning process necessary to revamp their skills.