This section examines alternative information technologies used in the revenue cycle. The first of these is a sales order system that employs batch processing and uses sequential files for storing accounting records. This is an example of an early legacy type system. This approach characterizes the era of data ownership in which files were designed exclusively for the use of a single user.
Second is a cash receipt system that employs batch processing and uses direct access files. This configuration is found in both modern systems and late-era legacy systems. The direct access file approach offers operational advantages over sequential file processing and permits limited data sharing. The final system is a modern real-time sales order entry and cash receipts system that uses database technology.