Xero, the cloud-based accounting solution, has added a collection of new features recently. All enhance the experience of small businesses using the software, the company says. And all seem like lead-ins to the company’s planned introduction of a payroll solution in the second week of December 2013.
Jamie Sutherland, President of Xero US, in a recent phone interview said:
“We like to use the phrase ‘born in the clouds.’ The software really lets you understand the cash flow in your business.”
Unlike desktop driven solutions or those with a hybrid online version, Sutherland claims Xero offers real-time views of your business’s finances as changes occur. Sutherland says this is because the information resides on Xero’s third party servers and not in different versions on various computers.
Packages start at $19 per month for small businesses depending on the number of invoices and payments being processed.
The New Zealand-based company recently raised an additional $150 million in funding to compete in the U.S. market where it arrived two years ago.
New Xero Features
Below are the new features the company says it’s rolled out recently in a run-up to the introduction of its new payroll offering:
- Xero Touch is a new version of its Apple mobile operating system recently updated for iOS7. It allows users to check bank transactions, invoice, check with an accountant and more directly from a smartphone.
- Xero Files is a new drag and drop application. It lets you add invoices, transactions, expense receipts, fixed assets, contracts and just about any other kind of files into Xero. You can then attach them to related files and documents making them easy to find, the company says. See the video below:
- Xero Purchase Orders now allows you to put together purchase orders for your business in the same way you can already put together invoices on Xero.
New Payroll Feature Coming
Sutherland says the new payroll service is coming to Xero the second week of December 2013 with several price packages based on the size of your company.
Xero will be sharing more details about the new service at a live online “roadshow” presentation scheduled for Dec. 3, 2013.
Aira Bongco
That’s interesting. I think that this will really be valuable to a lot of businesses. The problem is getting them to leave their old ways and actually use this technology in their accounting. Maybe you should put up some tutorials or events that can teach that.