Xero stories
Cash flow pressure is building for US small firms as payment times lengthened and late invoices rose in Xero's March quarter data.
Small businesses and accountants can now automate month-end close and approvals without coding, as early access opens to XeroForce.
Asia-based Xero users can now compare revenue growth, margins and cash metrics with local peers to spot problems earlier.
Hollywood fears over AI are surfacing as Taika Waititi says the technology speeds up mediocre work and is already displacing artists.
Irish fintechs are helping finance chiefs cut costs, speed up funding decisions and ease compliance across capital, accounting and payments.
The tool could cut repetitive finance admin for accountants and small businesses, while keeping every automated step logged for compliance.
Small businesses can now query live Xero data in Claude as the accounting group widens its AI push to 4.5 million subscribers.
Small businesses can now ask Claude for live cash and invoice data from Xero without leaving their accounting records.
Australian businesses are pushing AI beyond pilots, prompting Glean to nearly double local headcount as ANZ customers rise more than 60 per cent.
The move strengthens Xero’s North American engineering base as it pushes AI tools into its core accounting software for small businesses.
A Sydney base and local team are meant to help Anthropic win more Australian and New Zealand customers as AI adoption gathers pace.
The UK firm said automated payment chases have also improved cash collection as more smaller businesses outsource day-to-day finance work.
Most New Zealand SMEs now use AI tools, but many want firmer safeguards and training before widening adoption.
Rugby clubs and provincial unions will get discounted accounting software as Xero deepens ties with New Zealand Rugby beyond branding.
Privacy worries and mistrust are slowing AI uptake among Kiwi small firms, despite 61% already using the technology, Xero says.
Customer-facing firms were hit hardest as weak demand and higher costs left UK small businesses with their slowest sales growth in two years.
Momentum stayed firm for Australian small businesses in the March quarter, as sales, jobs and wages all rose despite higher fuel costs.
Improving demand and higher interest-rate relief helped New Zealand small businesses post 3.9% sales growth in the March quarter.
Cash flow is tightening for Canadian small businesses as March sales improved only slightly, while payment times lengthened and late bills rose.
Unused subscriptions are leaving UK SMEs exposed to rising SaaS bills, with some firms able to trim GBP £10,000 a year.