Celebrating 100 Issues of XU’s Biweekly Newspaper!
WE’VE MADE IT TO OUR 100TH ISSUE, AND WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!
We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has played a part in this journey—from our incredible contributors and dedicated team to the readers and subscribers who have supported us along the way. Over the years, we’ve covered important press releases, company announce-
ments, product updates, and much more, always striving to keep you informed and engaged.
But this milestone isn’t just about looking back—it’s about looking forward. The future is bright (pink), and we’re just getting started! With more stories to tell, more news to share, and more issues to come, we can’t wait to continue this journey with you. Here’s to the next 100!
Expandly Product
Updates: February 2025
Label Review Uploader
If you have paid for a label review or golden ticket, a new page called Product label upload will appear in Promote & Expand, and it will allow you to upload your labels for a compliance check directly in the Portal.
Mintsoft Authentication
Mintsoft recently changed the way we can authenticate a users account. We have made the update on Expandly and are now up to date with their latest requirements.
Expandly Product CSV Fields
Recently we added a lot
XU BIWEEKLY - No. 100
Newsdesk:
If you have any news or updates that you would like us to consider for inclusion in the next edition of the XU Biweekly, please email us at: newsdesk@xumagazine.com
CEO: David Hassall
Managing Editor: Wesley Cornell
Chief Revenue Officer: Alex Newson
Account & Partnership Assistant: Robyn Consterdine
Creative Assistant: Aidan McGrath
Advertising: advertising@xumagazine.com
www.xumagazine.com
© XU Magazine Ltd 2014-2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
XU Biweekly is published by XU Magazine Ltd (08811842), registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Office 1, Brunswick House, Brunswick Way, Liverpool, L3 4BN, United Kingdom. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. XU Magazine Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information.
If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant XU Magazine Ltd a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all/any editions, including in any physical or digital format, throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither XU Magazine Ltd nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of XU Magazine Ltd, its editors or its contributors.
of new Mintsoft fields into Expandly to allow a sync between both systems.
We also have now added these fields to the CSV, so you can add, update and export your products with these fields in bulk using a CSV.
Shopify API
Shopify have recently changed their API and required all apps like Expandly to perform the update by the start of April.
We have updated this and are now using the latest API version.
Find out more
Ocerra Enhancements: What’s New
WE’RE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE SEVERAL ENHANCEMENTS TO OCERRA THAT WILL MAKE YOUR AP PROCESSES EVEN MORE EFFICIENT AND SEAMLESS.
Starting the year with Supplier Statement Reconciliation (in case you missed it)
Earlier this year, we introduced Supplier Statement Reconciliation in Ocerra to simplify and streamline statement processing, reducing manual work and improving accuracy. Instead of manually checking each statement line, Ocerra automatically reconciles statements with invoices by matching dates,
in Q1 2025
amounts, and references— even if the invoice number is hidden within the text. This helps prevent duplicate payments, identify missing invoices, and ensure all supplier transactions are accounted for. Key details such as statement date, amount, currency, supplier, and tax number are extracted instantly, while supporting documents are neatly organised for quick reference.
New Approval UI Enhancements for Better Visibility
We’ve listened to your feedback and made improvements to the approval process to enhance usability.
Keep reading
Translucent: Automate your Prepayments Schedule and journals
FINANCE TEAMS OFTEN SPEND HOURS IDENTIFYING PREPAYMENTS, CALCULATING RELEASE SCHEDULES, AND MANUALLY POSTING MONTH-END JOURNALS.
It’s easy to miss adjustments, leading to discrepancies between the prepayment schedule and the balance sheet.
We’ve built our new Prepayments App to solve this problem. Our Prepayments App comes with two tools to help you automatically add invoices to your Prepay-
ments Schedule, post journals back to your accounting software, and identify any imbalances.
1. Prepayments Suppliers & Invoices
2. Prepayments Schedule Audit
Prepayments Suppliers & Invoices
The first thing we help you to do is automate the creation of your Prepayments Schedule.
We then automatically create Prepayment journals
in your accounting software - including Xero and QuickBooks.
This saves you an enormous amount of time each month when updating your Prepayment Schedules.
How does the Prepayments App work?
Our Prepayments App identifies your Prepayment suppliers and invoices including which are new since you last worked on Prepayments.
Introducing the Penfold Plan
Find out what’s new, what’s not, how the new Penfold-exclusive plan will benefit you – and what you need to do to get it (spoilers: nothing!).
The Penfold Plan
We’re excited to announce some big improvements to our investment range, designed to give your pension savings an extra boost over the long term.
Introducing the Penfold Plan – our new default investment plan. Exclusive to Penfold, we’ve developed our new plan with your financial future in mind and in collaboration with BlackRock, the world’s largest money manager.
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Penfold Plan, its benefits, and what you need to do to get it (spoilers: nothing!) The plan you know, but with even more investment types
We’re building on the success of our existing Standard and Sustainable Plans, powered by BlackRock’s MyMap investment funds, which have been a core part of our offering since 2019.
To create the Penfold Plan, we’ve taken our existing plans and added in some new investment types. We’ve done this to increase their growth potential while adding an extra layer of protection from market ups and downs.
Our new plan now invests in private markets through listed real assets.
Hold up, what are listed real assets?
Real assets are things like buildings, private companies or big infrastructure projects
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(like roads, dams, or green energy) which are typically only available on private investment markets (i.e can’t be invested in by the public) and so are not included in many pension plans.
Investing in real assets can provide higher growth, while also adding diversification to your pension, which means a bit more protection from the short term ups and downs.
But investing directly in real assets often means tying up your savings in ongoing projects. Waiting for roads and bridges to be built…
Listed real assets means investing in publicly traded companies that buy or hold these real assets.
Keep reading
ILL SHEET RECONCILIATION HAS BEEN A FRUSTRATING BOTTLENECK FOR FARMERS AND THEIR ACCOUNTANTS FOR TOO LONG. THE COMPLEXITY OF PROCESSING LIVESTOCK TRANSACTIONS, CHASING INVOICES, MANUALLY EXTRACTING DATA, AND ENTERING MULTIPLE DETAILS, HAS CONSUMED TIME THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT ADVISING CLIENTS OR MANAGING OTHER PRIORITIES ON THE FARM.
We’re excited to let you know, that changes today! Introducing the Auto Kill Sheet Processor, a faster, smarter way to reconcile kill sheets. This new feature reduces a 20-minute task to just 1 minute, with seamless invoice syncing, AI-driven data extraction, and quick approvals to streamline your workflows while ensuring accuracy.
Here’s a look at how the Auto Kill Sheet Reconciliation feature works and the impact it will bring to your workflow:
Instant Invoice Sync: As soon as the kill sheet is issued to your client, Figured automatically receives it, syncing it to your records without any manual input.
Accurate Data Extraction: With AI-driven extraction, Figured reads each invoice, pulling out the essential details, so you can trust the accuracy of your entries.
Quick Review & Approval: Review, confirm tax rates and accounts, and approve the data in seconds.
Introducing Xero Simple, a plan to support you with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
THE NEXT PHASE OF MAKING TAX DIGITAL IS COMING. IN APRIL 2026, MAKING TAX DIGITAL FOR INCOME TAX (MTD FOR IT) WILL BE INTRODUCED, AND IT’S SET TO SHAKE UP THE RECORD KEEPING, REPORTING AND TAX REQUIREMENTS FOR SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE AND LANDLORDS.
For those earning more than £50,000 from self-employment and property, MTD becomes mandatory from April 2026 and it will eventually be extended to any small business or sole trader earning over £20,000 annually.
Introducing Xero Simple:
Kolleno: Table Views, Organization Dashboard and 12 More Updates
BIG UPDATES! AT KOLLENO, WE ARE ALL ABOUT MAKING YOUR OPERATIONS SMOOTHER, SMARTER, AND MORE AUTOMATED SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS: STRATEGIC GROWTH AND CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS.
To support you and your clients with MTD for IT, we’re evolving our non-VAT Xero Cashbook plan into Xero Simple.*
Xero Simple is a new plan that has been packed with new features to support you, and your sole trader and landlord clients, with the next wave of MTD for IT and digital transformation. It has everything you need to get your practice ready now. Plus it’s easy to set-up and start using Xero Simple collaboratively with your clients so you can get them into good digital habits well ahead of the deadline.
Find out more
Translucent - Deferred Revenue: Automate your Deferred Revenue Schedule and journals
FINANCE TEAMS OFTEN SPEND HOURS IDENTIFYING DEFERRED REVENUE, CALCULATING RELEASE SCHEDULES, AND MANUALLY POSTING MONTHEND JOURNALS. IT’S EASY TO MISS ADJUSTMENTS, LEADING TO DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE REVENUE SCHEDULE AND THE BALANCE SHEET. WE’VE BUILT OUR NEW DEFERRED REVENUE APP TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
Our Deferred Revenue App comes with two tools to help you automatically add invoices to your Deferred Revenue Schedule, post journals back to your accounting software, and identify any imbalances.
2. Deferred Revenue Schedule Audit
Deferred Revenue Customers & Invoices
The first thing we help
you to do is automate the creation of your Deferred Revenue Schedule. We then automatically create Deferred Revenue journals in your accounting software - including Xero and QuickBooks.
This saves you an enormous amount of time each month when updating your Deferred Revenue Schedules.
How does the Deferred Revenue App work?
Our Deferred Revenue App identifies your Deferred Revenue customers and invoices including which are new since you last worked on Deferred Revenue.
Automatically suggest Policies for each invoice
Our Deferred Revenue App automatically suggests Policies to distribute each invoice, including your Release Account.
Keep reading
This month, we’re introducing a wave of enhancements that give you more control, visibility, and flexibility in managing your accounts receivable, workflows, and financial data.
List of all updates this month:
1. Table Views – Change Columns and Save Views
2. Organization Dashboard (Multi-Companies)
3. Set the Customer Group Parent
4. Count of Records in a Workflow Trigger Filter
5. Pause a Specific Workflow Run
6. Download or Open an Invoice/Credit Note PDF in a new Tab
7. Deactivate one-time Payments
Keep reading
February release notes: enhanced SWIFT and ACH payments, improved dispute management, and expanded local transfer capabilities
THIS MONTH, WE’RE INTRODUCING KEY UPDATES TO IMPROVE YOUR PAYMENT PROCESSES, ENHANCE CONTROL, AND STREAMLINE OPERATIONS. FROM REAL-TIME CARD TRACKING AND EXPANDED LOCAL TRANSFER CAPABILITIES TO MORE COST-EFFECTIVE ACH AND SWIFT OPTIONS, THESE FEATURES EMPOWER YOU TO OPTIMIZE WORKFLOWS, REDUCE COSTS, AND BOOST PAYMENT SUCCESS.
Business Accounts
Improve flexibility and efficiency with expanded local transfer capabilities
Several key improvements have been made to our local transfer capabilities in Hong
Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, enhancing both the flexibility and efficiency of cross-border payments.
Hong Kong: You can now make instant FPS bank transfers in HKD/CNY to Proxy IDs like phone numbers, emails, FPS identifiers, and even Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) numbers, making local transfers easier and more accessible than ever before.
Singapore: Instant FAST bank transfers in SGD can now be sent to PayNow IDs, including phone numbers, virtual payment addresses, and personal or business IDs, reducing friction and increasing transfer flexibility.
Keep reading
FreeAgent and Mimo team up to help small businesses manage global payments and finances
INNOVATIVE ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE FIRM FREEAGENT AND GLOBAL PAYMENT SOLUTIONS
COMPANY MIMO HAVE ANNOUNCED A NEW PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL ENABLE SMALL BUSINESSES TO MANAGE THEIR PAYMENTS, CASH FLOW & FINANCING MORE EFFECTIVELY.
Under the partnership, FreeAgent’s award-winning software will be directly integrated with the Mimo platform, saving small business customers valuable time and
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Adfin: We’ve raised more money! But now back to work.
RAISING MORE MONEY IS A FUNNY MOMENT FOR A BUSINESS LIKE OURS: ON THE ONE HAND, IT’S GREAT THAT INVESTORS BELIEVE IN WHAT WE’RE DOING AND WANT TO GIVE US MORE FUNDS TO HELP US DO IT FASTER. AND THAT’S SOMETHING WORTH TALKING ABOUT.
On the other hand, talking about raising money isn’t that relevant for the people we literally exist to serve: you, our customers. It just feels a bit self-reverential, so we decided that we wouldn’t make any fuss about it and get on with improving the product.
We honestly feel at Adfin like we’re only just getting started. It might sound like a bit of a cliche, but we really are hugely grateful for the trust placed in us by our early customers - hundreds of you now - and humbled by the volume that is now moving on our platform.
We have seen the demand out there for a new, modern payments platform that brings all the different systems into one, automates all the manual work you have to do today around that platform, and does it for a transparent and fair price.
Find out more
money by providing them with a single tool to manage global payments, cash flow & financing.
By integrating FreeAgent and Mimo, small businesses will be able to batch pay suppliers with a single click, saving up to one day a week through fast invoice payments. Customers will also be able to effortlessly pay suppliers up to 60 days later, and in any currency, saving them even more time and admin.
Find out more
ILEAI, THE WORLD’S ONLY HORIZONTAL FILE PROCESSING AGENT AND AI WORKFLOW AUTOMATION COMPANY, TODAY ANNOUNCED IT HAS RAISED USD 14M SERIES A FUNDING. THIS ROUND, LED BY RETURNING ENTERPRISE SOLUTION INVESTORS ILLUMINATE FINANCIAL, ANTLER ELEVATE, INSIGNIA, HEINEMANN GROUP AND OTHERS, BRINGS THE COMPANY'S TOTAL FUNDS RAISED TO JUST OVER USD 20M.
The funding will accelerate fileAI’s mission to enhance its proprietary AI capabilities as it emerges as the solution for enterprises to shave millions of dollars off their back-office costs, while unlocking new efficiency through the power of AI. With hundreds of clients globally, including MS&AD, Toshiba, KFC, DirectAsia, and Nippon, the funds will support product development to deepen their expertise in AI file management. Over 8090% of global content is unstructured, making it difficult for businesses to manage diverse data formats like PDFs, spreadsheets, and emails, often in multiple languages and structures.
Keep reading
Expensify Launches Travel to All Customers
Expensify Travel, the all-in-one corporate travel management tool, is now available to every Expensify member following a successful early release to select customers.
EXPENSIFY, INC. (NASDAQ: EXFY), THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPER APP FOR EXPENSES AND CORPORATE CARDS, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF EXPENSIFY TRAVEL, AN INNOVATIVE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT TOOL THAT COMBINES TRAVEL BOOKING, POLICY ENFORCEMENT, AND REAL-TIME COLLABORATION INTO A SINGLE, SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE. EXPENSIFY TRAVEL IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS VIA THE WEB, MOBILE, AND DESKTOP APPS.
The tool enables members to book and manage flights, hotels, rail, and car rentals all
within Expensify’s platform while ensuring compliance with corporate travel policies, reducing costs, and simplifying workflows.
Expensify Travel delivers a variety of powerful features atop a revolutionary, chatbased platform, including:
• Seamless bookings: Easily book flights, hotels, rail, and car rentals all within the app, with options tailored to fit your company’s travel policy.
• Smart approvals: Real-time, policy-driven approvals ensure trips are authorized quickly, reducing the risk of unnecessary change or cancellation fees.
Find out more
BGL empowers accountants to meet new AML/CTF obligations with BGLiD
BGL CORPORATE SOLUTIONS (BGL), AUSTRALIA'S LEADING PROVIDER OF COMPANY COMPLIANCE, SELF-MANAGED SUPERANNUATION FUND (SMSF), INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, IDENTITY VERIFICATION AND AI-POWERED PAPER-TO-DATA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, IS PROUD TO INTRODUCE BGLID - A SEAMLESS CLIENT IDENTITY VERIFICATION SOLUTION DESIGNED TO HELP ACCOUNTANTS COMPLY WITH UPCOMING AML/CTF LEGISLATIVE REFORMS.
In December 2024, Australia approved the Anti-Money Laundering and
Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024, extending AML/CTF regulations to include accountants. Under these new proposed rules, accountants must:
• Appoint a compliance officer: An individual responsible for developing and implementing policies to meet AML/CTF requirements.
• Provide comprehensive customer verification: Client identities must be verified based on services provided, client nature and transaction locations.
• Report any suspicious transactions or behaviour indicative of illegal activities to the authorities.
Keep reading
Karbon opens Practice Marketplace to all accounting firms seeking acquisition
KARBON HAS ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF PRACTICE MARKETPLACE BY KARBON TO ALL ACCOUNTING FIRMS SEEKING ACQUISITION.
Karbon, the global leader in accounting practice management software, today announced the expansion of Practice Marketplace by Karbon to all accounting firms seeking acquisition—beyond Karbon customers—offering a seamless, digital-first solution for buying and selling firms. In addition, Karbon
BGL announces the commercial launch of CAS 360 in the UK
FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL BETA RELEASE IN MAY 2024, CAS 360 IS NOW AVAILABLE TO HELP UK ACCOUNTING FIRMS, CORPORATE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMPANY GROUPS STREAMLINE COMPANY SECRETARIAL AND AML COMPLIANCE PROCESSES LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
“I am proud to announce the release of CAS 360 in the UK,” said BGL’s Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Tramontana. “Our team has worked tirelessly to build a solution that automates tedious compliance tasks, allowing firms to spend less time on admin and more time on their clients.”
With 35+ years of experience in company compliance software, BGL has been at the forefront of innovation since launching its
first company compliance solution in Australia in 1989 and expanding to the UK market in 2002.
“We understand the compliance challenges UK firms face,” Tramontana continued.
“CAS 360 has been designed to remove inefficiencies, reduce risk and make company compliance management effortless.”
CAS 360 is the complete company secretarial and AML management software solution that automates and simplifies key compliance processes, including:
• Company management, including form and document preparation.
• Confirmation Statement preparation and electronic filing.
Keep reading
Xerocon returns to Australia with supercharged Brisbane event
XERO, THE GLOBAL SMALL BUSINESS PLATFORM, TODAY ANNOUNCED TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR ITS FLAGSHIP TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CONFERENCE, XEROCON.
Taking place 3-4 September 2025 in Brisbane, the event promises more tailored content than ever before to connect and inspire accountants and bookkeepers, as well as a chance to hear from the brains behind one of Australia’s greatest success stories.
Returning to Australia for the first time since 2023, Xerocon will feature a range of speakers and content addressing some of the ac-
counting and bookkeeping industry’s most talked about challenges and opportunities - from building and retaining high-performing teams, to practical strategies to harness tech in the age of AI.
It will also preview the latest Xero product updates, and provide an opportunity to connect with Xero’s thriving ecosystem of third-party apps under the one roof.
Attendees will hear from a stellar lineup, including the much-cherished Queensland icon Joe Brumm, the creator of Bluey – the most watched television series in the US in 2024.
Find out more
SimpleAI joins the Xero App Store to simplify accounting for small businesses
Dext reports record growth whilst announcing enhanced platform
As revenue growth increases at 20% year-onyear, the Dext platform evolves to deliver further value for its customers
DEXT, THE LEADING PROVIDER OF BOOKKEEPING AUTOMATION AND PART OF THE IRIS SOFTWARE GROUP, IS TODAY ANNOUNCING ITS STRONGEST YEAR OF GROWTH DRIVEN BY STRONG CUSTOMER ADOPTION, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS.
Having joined IRIS Software Group at the end of 2024 to unite its bookkeeping platform with IRIS’s cloud-based solutions, IRIS and Dext are now able to offer an end to end solution for accountants, bookkeepers and businesses,
to a joint customer base of 27k accountants and bookkeepers, making it the largest software provider in the accounting space in the UK, and well-positioned for accelerated growth.
Underpinning this growth has been the combining of Dext’s product suite, bringing Prepare, Precision and Commerce, into one integrated experience, in order to remove friction between businesses, bookkeepers and accountants. Already 19% of Dext users are on the enhanced experience with the next stage of the transition launching today.
Find out more
The Business Show Miami 2025
AFTER THE RESOUNDING SUCCESS OF THE BUSINESS SHOW MIAMI AND THE BUSINESS SHOW LOS ANGELES 2024, WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF THE BUSINESS SHOW US TO MIAMI! MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAY 7TH AND 8TH, 2025, AS WE BRING THE REGION’S LARGEST BUSINESS EVENT TO THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER.
Following a remarkable launch in Miami last year, where over 9,000 attendees gathered to connect, learn, and grow, we are excited to bring back this dynamic event to the heart of Miami.
The Business Show Miami will provide a premier
platform for entrepreneurs, startups, and seasoned professionals to access the tools, resources, and inspiration needed to launch, scale, and succeed.
What to Expect at The Business Show Miami 2025:
1. World-Class Keynote Speakers
The 2025 edition of The Business Show Miami will feature a powerful lineup of keynote speakers and industry leaders.
Learn from top experts as they share insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, leadership, and more.
Keep reading
has launched the Partners Marketplace by Karbon, connecting firms with M&A advisors, Karbon-certified implementers, business coaches, and other experts to support growth transitions.
The accounting industry is undergoing a major transition. Nearly 75% of AICPA members have reached retirement age, prompting many firm leaders to seek exit strategies, while growing firms struggle with a talent shortage.
Find out more
SIMPLEAI, AN AI-POWERED ACCOUNTING AUTOMATION PLATFORM, IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE ITS INTEGRATION AND LISTING WITH XERO, THE GLOBAL SMALL BUSINESS PLATFORM.
With this integration, Xero customers can now experience seamless automated data entry, invoice categorization and reconciliation, freeing them up to focus on growing their businesses.
Manual bookkeeping
tasks, such as data entry and invoice management, are time-consuming and repetitive, draining productivity for accountants, bookkeepers, and SMEs.
By automating repetitive processes, SimpleAI not only improves efficiency but also ensures Xero customers benefit from cleaner, well-organized data, enabling the platform to deliver its full potential in managing accounts and reporting.
Keep reading
Take part in our new survey for 2025
Finance teams are facing a rapidly evolving landscape. From automation and compliance to cash flow management and AI-driven solutions, the role of in-house finance professionals, CFOs, and controllers is shifting faster than ever.
To get a clearer picture of the challenges and priorities shaping the future of finance teams, we’ve launched a new survey in collaboration with MayDay and ApprovalMax. We’re inviting finance
professionals to share their insights and help build a comprehensive report on the state of finance in 2025.
As a thank you, all participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 gift card.
What We’re Exploring
We want to understand:
• The biggest priorities for finance teams this year 0 fro cash flow and animation to compliance and beyond.
Find out more
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING WEBINARS
UK WEBINARS
AU WEBINARS
Introducing PayPal Open: The Unified Payments and Growth Platform for Businesses of All Sizes
PAYPAL HOLDINGS, INC. (NASDAQ: PYPL) TODAY ANNOUNCED ITS NEW MERCHANT PLATFORM, PAYPAL OPEN, ONE PLATFORM FOR ALL BUSINESSES. COMPANIES OF ALL SIZES, FROM SMALL BUSINESSES TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST, MOST INFLUENTIAL BRANDS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS PAYPAL OPEN TO FUEL COMMERCE AND HELP GROW THEIR BUSINESS.
By unifying all of PayPal's merchant offerings under a single platform, businesses of all sizes will be able to discover and implement solutions based on their unique needs, as well as access PayPal’s global network of up to 400M active accounts, including more than 92M active Venmo customers.
“Our goal in developing PayPal Open is to create one unified commerce platform that supports the evolving needs of today’s merchants,” said Frank Keller, EVP, General Manager, Large Enterprise & Merchant Platforms Group, PayPal. “By partnering with PayPal, small businesses can seamlessly manage their cash flow with financial and payments solutions, while enterprise businesses can build custom solutions based on their unique business needs, PayPal Open will allow them to do so in one streamlined platform.”
With PayPal Open, businesses, including developers and partners, will be able to easily discover and integrate commerce enablement tools, ranging from payments to financial services to risk solutions, from the PayPal ecosystem. Additionally, this platform integrates with external commerce partners, so merchants can plug-andplay with existing third-party tools to fit their unique business needs. Whether it’s online or in-store, PayPal Open will give businesses the ability to continue to:
• Power Payments – Businesses can power payments virtually anywhere, through PayPal’s checkout solutions including PayPal, Venmo, Fastlane, and Pay Later offerings, as well as seamlessly process payment transactions through a single integration. By offering consumers choice and flexibility in how they pay, merchants have an opportunity to increase sales and capture customers regardless of their payment method. Additionally, merchants can transact in more than 140 currencies across more than 200 global markets on nearly every major e-commerce platform.
• Power Growth – Businesses can tap into hundreds of millions of PayPal and Venmo accounts, fueled by our global two-sided network. Beyond pay-
Same Allica, new look
YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT RECENTLY. WE’VE GOT A NEW LOOK.
But, while a few things may have changed visually, we’re still the same Allica.
The only bank dedicated specifically to giving established businesses the banking they deserve.
ments, PayPal offers merchants the ability to reach and retain new customers with personalized commerce experiences fueled by AI and powerful financial tools. PayPal provides merchants with access to capital through flexible lending solutions and provides them with spending power through business debit and credit solutions.
• Operate Smarter – Businesses can streamline operations with AI-powered insights. In addition, merchants can access data on sales and performance, helping them identify areas for optimization and informing critical business decisions. With nearly 25% of global e-commerce running through PayPal, we can unlock tangible insights that businesses can use to create more personalized customer experiences and grow their operations.
“PayPal Open will enable us to deliver innovation to our customers in the nearterm, while also preparing them for success in the future,” Keller shared, adding, “The platform will act as a framework where not only we, but others will be able to contribute solutions, ultimately providing these offerings to millions of merchants that are a part of the PayPal ecosystem.”
Keep reading
With products that offer real value. Whether that means cashback on card payments within our business current account, great savings rates, or flexible finance options.
We do it by delivering the human touch and expertise of a dedicated business relationship manager. Underpinned with award-winning technology and tools, designed especially to make our established business customers’ lives easier, not harder.
It’s how business banking used to be, just better.
So, what’s changing?
At Allica, we’re committed to bringing back relationship banking for es-
tablished businesses and making it more powerful and rewarding than ever before.
It’s a new take on an old idea – a bit like our orange bowler hats.
You may have already seen these on TV or our website. In fact, we’ve become quite fond of them.
As such, we’ve decided to put our best hat forward and make our orange bowler Allica’s new logo.
It means you’ll now see our orange bowler everywhere you see Allica Bank –whether that’s online, on the Allica mobile app, our emails to you, on billboards, or our TV ads.
And what’s not?
While the way we look may have changed, our purpose of giving established businesses the banking they deserve has not.
Established businesses are the engine of the UK’s economy, contributing a third of turnover generated in the UK.
But they’re also so much more than that.
Established businesses employ a third of our workforce, and are integral parts of our communities.
They manufacture our products, grow our food, look after our children and our elderly, deliver our goods, pour our pints, recycle our waste, file our accounts, build our infrastructure and keep our economy turning.
They’re a diverse bunch. That’s for sure. But they all have one thing in common.
They are being let down by big banks, with little-tono interest on their savings, an impersonal service, legacy technology, and slow decisions.
At Allica, we think established businesses deserve better. And our new logo reflects what we think that should be.
So, keep an eye out for our orange bowler hat over the coming weeks as we roll out our new logo, alongside a shiny new website and refreshed visual identity.
Hats off to that! Find out more
PayPal Open helps small-medium businesses and large enterprises power commerce and fuel growth
PayPal and J.P. Morgan Payments Broaden their Strategic Relationship to Launch Fastlane and Expand Merchant Acquiring in the UK and European Markets
PAYPAL HOLDINGS, INC. (NASDAQ: PYPL) AND J.P. MORGAN PAYMENTS TODAY AN-
NOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF THEIR STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP. J.P. MORGAN PAYMENTS PLANS TO OFFER FASTLANE BY PAYPAL FOR ITS MERCHANT CLIENTS IN THE UK AND EUROPE.
In addition, PayPal is planning to expand merchant acquiring to businesses across the UK and European markets by leveraging J.P. Morgan Payments’ industry leading
Commerce Platform. This expansion will demonstrate how both companies are united in their mission to scale innovation and redefine the global digital commerce experience.
Fastlane accelerates checkout for consumers and boosts conversion for merchants
In the industry today, 70%1 of consumers say guest checkout is important, but still abandon their purchases due to friction in the checkout process. Fastlane addresses this challenge by offering a
streamlined guest checkout experience that accelerates checkout speeds by over 36%2 compared to a traditional guest checkout. With Fastlane, customers can complete their purchases in just a few clicks, significantly reducing friction and enhancing the overall shopping experience. As a result, merchants utilizing Fastlane are witnessing a 51%2 increase in conversion rates among accelerated shoppers compared to those using conventional guest checkout options.
"We are thrilled to mark an
Connecting New Zealand
Businesses Globally; Airwallex
Expands Cross-Border Payment Capabilities for Kiwi Businesses
GLOBAL FINTECH
LEADER AIRWALLEX HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN AOTEAROA, MARKING A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE BUSINESSES WITH FASTER, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND MORE INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS.
With a firm commitment to supporting New Zealand’s thriving business ecosystem, Airwallex has appointed Lowry Gladwell as its Associate Director of New Zealand, the company’s first local employee, to lead its ambitious expansion plans.
Gladwell will be joined by Matt Sek, a key regional leader, as Airwallex aims to grow its New Zealand team
to 10 employees by the end of 2025.
“With New Zealand businesses increasingly looking for agile, cost-effective financial solutions, Airwallex is here to challenge the status quo,” said Gladwell. “Our entry into this market represents more than just expansion — it’s about providing Kiwi businesses with the tools they need to grow globally without the friction and high costs of traditional banking.”
A New Era of Financial Solutions for New Zealand Businesses
As part of its expansion, Airwallex is rolling out several new product offerings tailored to the needs of New Zealand businesses. The
company’s corporate cards offering will be bolstered with a physical card version to complement the existing virtual option. These solutions will empower Kiwi companies to manage expenses more efficiently, reducing high transaction fees and improving financial control. In addition, online payments will sit alongside existing FX, global accounts and company and employee cards.
“Managing business spending shouldn’t be a hassle,” said Matt Sek, VP SME & Growth, ANZ. “Our new corporate card solution makes it easier for teams to handle expenses while ensuring greater transparency and efficiency"
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important moment in Fastlane's journey as we expand outside the U.S. for the very first time. The success we've seen in the U.S. is showing how Fastlane can have a substantial impact on commerce," said Suzan Kereere, President, Global Markets, PayPal. “As we join forces with J.P. Morgan Payments to scale this innovation across multiple markets, we are setting the stage for a smarter, faster, and more secure commerce experience that empowers people and businesses worldwide while delivering exceptional value for our customers."
“In a rapidly evolving payments landscape, clients and their customers seek seamless payment experiences that meet them where they are and accommodate their preferred payment methods,” said Max Neukirchen, Global Co-Head of J.P. Morgan Payments. “The growing collaboration between J.P. Morgan Payments and PayPal combines our complementary strengths to deliver unmatched speed, security, and efficiency to consumers and businesses from two reputable organizations. By planning to bring Fastlane to merchants across
new markets, we are leading the industry by unlocking new capabilities on our commerce platform.”
J.P. Morgan Payments combines treasury services, trade and working capital, card and merchant services capabilities to help clients pay customers or employees, in different currencies, around the world. It processes nearly $10 trillion payments daily, operating in over 160 countries and over 120 currencies.
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PayPal and Verifone Unveil a Comprehensive Omnichannel Solution for Enterprise Merchants Around the Globe
PAYPAL HOLDINGS INC. (NASDAQ: PYPL) AND VERIFONE TODAY ANNOUNCED AN EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER SEAMLESS OMNICHANNEL PAYMENT ACCEPTANCE SOLUTIONS TO ENTERPRISE MERCHANTS.
This strategic partnership will bring together Verifone’s in-person payment assets with PayPal’s enterprise payment processing and e-commerce capabilities, known as Braintree, to offer merchants a flexible and scalable omnichannel payments acceptance solution. With Verifone’s focus on payments hardware, and PayPal’s experience in payments processing, the two companies will plan to rapidly scale and support merchants across the globe.
“This partnership marks a major shift in how PayPal is approaching the omnichannel enterprise opportunity,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO, PayPal. “In collaboration with Verifone, we are unlocking a new path to mass adoption of in-person payments, which will allow us to scale quickly and bring the full power of PayPal to the global merchant community.”
Through this expanded partnership, PayPal and Verifone will be well positioned to help merchants across verticals including large retail, grocery, quick-service restaurants, ticketing, entertainment, consumer electronics, apparel and more, to capitalize on the global retail market opportunity and
grow their business.
“By combining Verifone’s secure, robust in-person payment assets with PayPal’s industry leading e-commerce and processing capabilities, we can offer a unique solution that will meet the complex payment needs of enterprise merchants globally and offer a boundless commerce experience from the most trusted names in payments.” said Himanshu Patel, CEO, Verifone.
Through this new partnership, enterprise merchants will have access to a variety of tools to help them achieve a unified payments acceptance experience across instore and online.
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