Item: Xero
Rating: 10
Author: Kielan Faria

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Xero allows us to manage the Bookkeeping for our clients in the cloud. It provides up-to-date information at an instant allowing us to assist our clients in more meaningful and relevant ways. Prior accounting software packages were often complex and the everyday business owner could not navigate their way around the platform with ease. Xero was really a game-changer allowing everyday people to access their accounts in a more meaningful way they could actually understand.

Pros and Cons

Bank Feeds
Reconciliation
Invoicing
User Access

Inventory

Return on Investment

Reduces Time
Improved Collaboration

Alternatives Considered

MYOB

MYOB certainly has its place in the industry and don't personally feel you could have one without the other. They both hold strong in the accounting software field and depending on client needs, varies my response to which one 'stacks up' better for that individual business. Having multiple options helps keep the providers on the feet to improve and release updates to provide better services to the user.

Usability

Xero has spent a lot of effort on making its software extremely user-friendly. The ability to have staff, accountants, and bookkeepers all accessing a live cloud file simultaneously is really handy. Providing everyone with up-to-date information to make informed decisions without needing to wait for a file to be updated or sent back across from someone else. They also have an extensive help guide with training courses to help you understand the functions better.

Cloud Costs

Xero being 100% cloud-based reduces the costs of having on-site servers to run the software. This reduces the need for the potentiality of on-site servers to run the software. The ability for all interested parties to access the platform from anywhere in the world makes business life that bit easier with the freedom to travel and still get the job done.

Ease of Integration

Xero has an extensive range of add-on partners making it really easy and accessible to add additional functionality. Particularly in areas that Xero might not be so strong in as a standalone product. Deputy, for example, allows us to manage timesheets and approval processes that seamlessly integrate to Xero through an API allowing us to work between both systems with ease.

Key Insights

Do you think Xero delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Xero's feature set?

Yes

Did Xero live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Xero go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Xero again?

Yes

Other Software Used

MYOB, Deputy

Likelihood to Recommend

I personally find most businesses that come to us are well suited for Xero's software. Clients who would like to run the day-to-day bookkeeping functions and have us do a monthly or quarterly review also benefit from the user-friendly interface. Payroll can become a bit slow above the 100 employee mark, so for larger-scale businesses, we might recommend alternative software packages or using a third-party provider that integrates to Xero.

Xero

Overall Satisfaction with Xero