Running a business means juggling countless tasks every day, so we’re always keeping an eye out for technology updates that can help save time and reduce administrative headaches. Here’s some of the great, timesaving features Xero has rolled out:
A Fresh New Look for Invoicing
Xero has officially retired its old invoicing screen and moved all users to a new standard invoicing experience. The updated design is cleaner, more modern, and mobile-friendly, making it easier to create and send invoices while helping your customers pay you faster.
Some of the standout features include:
- Automatic Branding: Upload your business logo and Xero can automatically match your invoice colour scheme to your brand, creating a more professional and consistent look.
- Improved Customisation: You can now easily adjust fonts, rename columns, and edit invoice details directly from the invoicing screen, giving you more flexibility over how your invoices appear.
- More Visible Payment Options: Bank account details and online payment buttons are displayed more clearly, making it easier for customers to pay and potentially reducing delays in receiving payment.
- Request Deposits Upfront: Businesses can now request deposits directly on invoices, either as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the total invoice value. This is particularly useful for businesses that require deposits before commencing work.
Quick Tip: If the transition to the new invoicing layout has affected the appearance of your invoices, don’t worry. We can help customise and tidy up your template to ensure it continues to look professional.
Looking Ahead: AI in Xero
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword. It’s becoming a practical tool that can significantly reduce time spent on administration. Xero has continued to invest in AI-powered features that help automate many repetitive bookkeeping tasks. This includes:
- Smart Receipt and Bill Processing: Simply upload a bill or take a photo of a receipt, and Xero’s AI can read the information, extract key details such as supplier, amount, and GST, and populate much of the transaction for you.
- Smarter Bank Reconciliations: Xero’s bank matching technology learns from your previous coding patterns and becomes increasingly accurate over time, helping you reconcile transactions quickly and with less manual effort.
Xero is also rolling out “Just Ask Xero” (JAX), an AI assistant that allows users to interact with Xero using natural language. Rather than navigating through multiple menus, users can type commands such as “Create an invoice for John for $150” or “Show me who owes me money”. JAX then performs the task or provides the information, helping users access key data faster and more intuitively.
We’re here to help
If you’d like assistance setting up the new invoicing features, improving your invoice branding, activating automated payment reminders, or exploring how Xero’s AI tools could streamline your business processes, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our team if you’d like to discuss how these updates could work for your business.
