Office automation system is a man-machine information system, which is a system formed by combining office automation technology, management science, behavior science and organization theory. It runs through all aspects of office activities and has a series of influences on these aspects. Its purpose is to make full use of information resources as much as possible and improve office quality and efficiency.

Office automation system is a man-machine information system, which has the characteristics of general information system. At the same time, due to the uncertainty of office process and office activities, people should always be in a dominant position in the system. The main body of office is office staff, and equipment is only a technical means to serve people. After the establishment of office automation system, people's office activities and the office process of social organizations are inseparable from the operation of equipment, but combined with it to form a unified system. The purpose of establishing office automation system is not simply to improve office efficiency or reduce office staff, but to improve office quality first. On the basis of improving office quality and efficiency, various decision-making models can provide information to assist decision-making in time and realize scientific management and decision-making. In addition, the office automation system is an open system. When designing and establishing the system, we should fully consider the connection with the social environment.

The function of office automation system is different from that of office automation in concept. Office automation function usually refers to the equipment with automation function in the office, which can realize the automation of some office activities or the automation of a unit's business; Office automation system is a complete system which is developed on the basis of office automation function, taking office automation technology as the main body and combining with people, organizations, systems and environment.