XU Biweekly - Issue 102 - 5th April 2025

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Xero and Sumday partner on 12 months free carbon accounting tools for Xero customers

Small businesses can easily track their carbon footprint and help become more sustainable

XERO, THE GLOBAL SMALL BUSINESS PLATFORM, TODAY ANNOUNCED AN EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP WITH SUMDAY, A CARBON ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE PROVIDER, MAKING IT EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ACCOUNTANTS AND BOOKKEEPERS TO TRACK AND MANAGE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

Sumday is providing Xero customers with 12 months

free access to Sumday's powerful carbon accounting tools, empowering them to understand their environmental impact and take steps towards a more sustainable future. Eligibility and terms apply. This offering also provides small businesses and their accounting and bookkeeping partners with valuable training, templates and resources to enhance their carbon accounting skills.

Find out more

Jenesys Announces General Availability with New Features to Build Trust in AI Bookkeeping

ENESYS, THE AI-POWERED BOOKKEEPING PLATFORM THAT RAISED £1.1 MILLION IN PRE-SEED FUNDING, TODAY ANNOUNCED IT WILL MOVE FROM EARLY ADOPTER PHASE TO GENERAL AVAILABILITY ON APRIL 28, 2025.

The company, which re-

cently reached $1 million in annual revenue, is launching with several new features designed to enhance transparency and control in AI-driven accounting processes.

Reshaping the Relationship Between Humans and Technology

Keep reading

VINYL, THE AI-NOTETAKER FOR ACCOUNTANTS AND BOOKKEEPERS, HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED INTO PRIVATE BETA—BACKED BY VERIFICATION FROM BOTH GOOGLE AND ZOOM.

“We didn’t want to show up with just a landing page and hype,” said co-founder Jordan Vickery. “If you want trust from bookkeepers and accountants, you need more than a good pitch—you need proof.”

Verified, integrated, and ready to use

Vinyl is now verified on the Google Workspace Marketplace and Zoom App Marketplace, with Microsoft and Xero approvals currently in

progress. These integrations are core to the product, allowing Vinyl to join meetings automatically, transcribe conversations, and turn them into clear, actionable outputs— from proposals and task lists to standard operating procedures and client content.

“When our first users open Vinyl, it won’t just work—it’ll work where they already work,” Vickery added. “Whether that’s in their Google Calendar, their Zoom calls, or soon in Microsoft.”

Designed for trust, built for scale

Vinyl has been purpose-built for the accounting industry.

Find out more

Expandly Product Updates

WE’RE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING YOU WITH THE LATEST EXPANDLY FEATURE UPDATES INCLUDING NEW INTEGRATIONS AND PLATFORM DEVELOPMENTS; ALL UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE YOU CAN REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE FAST-PACED WORLD OF ECOMMERCE FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUE BEING ABLE TO USE EXPANDLY FOR YOUR COMPLETE ORDER FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS.

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 compli-

XU BIWEEKLY - No. 102

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.

ance 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 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.

Find out more

Fyorin: Introducing Physical Cards and Smart Expense Management

MANAGING BUSINESS EXPENSES, PARTICULARLY FOR GLOBAL MULTI-ENTITY ORGANIZATIONS, HAS LONG BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR FINANCE TEAMS. TRADITIONAL METHODS INVOLVING MANUAL REIMBURSEMENTS, MISSING RECEIPTS, AND APPROVAL BOTTLENECKS CREATE INEFFICIENCIES, CASH FLOW ISSUES, AND COMPLIANCE RISKS.

With innovation of payments at its core, Fyorin is thrilled to announce the launch of Physical Cards and Smart Expense Management solution, transforming expense handling with automation, real-time visibility,

and enhanced control.

A Unified Solution for the Payments Industry

These new products from Fyorin are set to benefit finance teams, employees, and businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. By integrating smart expense management with physical and virtual cards, Fyorin provides a seamless financial ecosystem that eliminates manual inefficiencies, reduces costs, and increases compliance, empowering organisations to operate with agility and confidence in today’s fast-moving payments landscape.

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What’s new in Xero – March 2025 & Quarterly Wrap

IT’S BEEN A MASSIVE START TO 2025! IN FEBRUARY, WE SHARED ENHANCEMENTS WE’VE MADE TO INVOICING. WE ALSO HEARD YOUR FEEDBACK, AND SO NOW YOU CAN AUTOMATICALLY PREPARE PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL ACCOUNTS AND TAX RETURNS USING XERO DATA AND SEAMLESSLY FILE THEM WITH HMRC (READ MORE IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION OF WHAT’S NEW).

This month, we’re thrilled to unveil more exciting enhancements with you. We’ve been listening to your feedback and working hard to deliver updates that address some of the most popular Xero product ideas. Wheth-

er you’re looking to streamline payments, improve how you manage fixed assets, or gain deeper insights into your business performance, there’s something for everyone in this month’s summary!

[Product Idea��] Global: Attach file now available in new fixed assets

You can now experience a cleaner, more accessible and responsive interface for managing fixed assets in Xero. This updated design includes all the trusted features and functionality you’re used to plus you gain the ability to attach files to your fixed asset records.

Keep reading

February Product Update: Exciting New Features and Improvements SPOTTED ON SOCIAL

FEBRUARY HAS BEEN A BIG MONTH FOR WORKFLOWMAX, AND WE’VE PACKED IN A LOT OF UPDATES! WE’RE HERE WITH YOUR PRODUCT UPDATE, ROUNDING UP ALL THE LATEST FEATURES AND ENHANCEMENTS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE YOUR EXPERIENCE. CHECK OUT THE PRODUCT UPDATE VIDEO LINKED BELOW AND LET’S DIVE IN!

Reporting and Customisation Enhancements

There are 4 new reports

available in reportingnow, you can access the Job Status Report, Staff Allocation Report, Productivity Report, and the KPI Dashboard under the reporting tab. Plus, there’s a new feature that lets you configure custom reports to dynamically filter by the active staff member who is viewing the report. And coming soon, you’ll be able to save your dynamic filter combinations as filter views to easily switch between these and make your reporting even easier!

Find out more

SPOTTED ON SOCIAL SPOTTED ON SOCIAL

StockTrim Integrates with SellerCloud

HERE AT STOCKTRIM, WE’RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEW NATIVE INTEGRATION WITH SELLERCLOUD, A GAME-CHANGER FOR SMALL & MEDIUM PRODUCT SELLERS LOOKING TO MASTER INVENTORY FORECASTING.

With 75% of our inquiries coming from North America—where SellerCloud’s omnichannel expertise shines— this integration is part of our push to deliver tailored solutions for product businesses ready to scale smarter.

Why SellerCloud + StockTrim?

SellerCloud empowers

Introducing Calendar Sync and Unlimited Document Storage in Time Tracker

AT TIME TRACKER, WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE TIME TRACKING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT EASIER FOR YOU. THAT’S WHY WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TWO NEW FEATURES DESIGNED TO KEEP YOUR TEAM ORGANIZED AND YOUR FILES SECURE CALENDAR SYNC AND UNLIMITED DOCUMENT STORAGE.

Stay on Schedule with Calendar Sync

Managing your team’s time just got even easier with Calendar Sync, now available across all plans. This new feature allows you to seamlessly connect your Time Tracker schedule with your existing calendar, ensuring your meetings, deadlines, and time entries stay perfectly aligned.

No more switching be-

tween apps or manually updating schedules—Calendar Sync keeps everything in sync automatically, helping your team stay on top of their tasks with minimal effort. Whether you use Outlook, Google Calendar, or another platform, integrating your work schedule has never been simpler.

More Than Just a Sync A Fully Integrated Calendar

Beyond simple syncing, we’ve built a full-featured Time Tracker Calendar that allows users to create, edit, and manage events directly within the platform. Need to track time for a scheduled meeting or project task? Easily convert calendar events into time entries with a single click—eliminating the need for manual entry.

Find out more

SPOTTED ON SOCIAL

multi-channel sellers with robust inventory, order, and fulfillment tools. But when it comes to predicting stock needs, StockTrim steps in. Our integration syncs your SellerCloud data directly into StockTrim, turning real-time catalog and order history into actionable forecasts. Say goodbye to overstocked warehouses and stockout headaches—our predictive engine helps you order just the right amount, every time.

How It Works

1. Seamless Data Sync 2. Instant Insights 3. Demand Deep-Dive

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Chaser launches integration with Odoo to help businesses automate accounts receivable and reduce late payments

CHASER, THE GLOBAL LEADER IN ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AUTOMATION, HAS LAUNCHED AN INTEGRATION WITH BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE ODOO, PROVIDING USERS WITH A SEAMLESS SOLUTION TO REDUCE LATE PAYMENTS, AUTOMATE DEBTOR MANAGEMENT, AND IMPROVE CASH FLOW.

According to the World Bank, late payments cost the global economy over $40 billion annually. Despite this, many businesses still chase invoices manually, creating inefficiencies and cash flow uncertainty (The Late Payment Report). Poor accounts receivable management leads to an average of 8% of annual revenue being written off as bad debt worldwide (Hilton Baird), further increasing financial pressure on businesses.

Chaser’s integration with Odoo addresses these challenges by automating debtor follow-ups, improving credit control, and ensuring faster payments. By integrating with Odoo, Chaser provides businesses with automated accounts receivable tools that reduce manual work, help prevent bad debt, and ensure invoices are paid on time. The integration enables businesses to:

• Prevent late payments – Automate debtor follow-ups with personalized reminders via email, SMS, letters, and automated calls to ensure invoices are paid on time.

• Eliminate manual work –Free finance teams from repetitive credit management tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic financial decisions.

Find out more

Moula strengthens its presence in Victoria and Tasmania with a new business development manager

Moula has reinforced its commitment to supporting brokers in Victoria and Tasmania by appointing a new Business Development Manager to its Partner Sales Team.

NICHOLAS LIM HAS STEPPED INTO THE ROLE, BRINGING A STRONG BACKGROUND IN SME CASH FLOW LENDING.

Originally from Singapore and Malaysia, Nicholas moved to Australia a decade ago and has spent the last five years in sales, with a focus on helping small businesses access the funding they need to grow. He joined Moula two years ago as a Sales Associate, supporting brokers over the phone, and

is now excited to take the next step in building relationships in person.

“The expansion of our sales team reflects our ongoing commitment to our partners in Victoria and Tasmania,” said Sam Sfeir, Head of Sales at Moula.

“We’re thrilled to see Nicholas step into this role. His experience, deep understanding of SME lending, and his passion for working with brokers make him a great fit for our team. We

look forward to his positive impact on our partners in the region.”

Nicholas added, “I’m looking forward to meeting our broker partners in person and learning how I can best support their businesses. Moula has always been committed to helping brokers provide fast, responsible funding solutions to SMEs, and I’m excited to be part of the journey.”

Keep reading

Tax Terrapin has now answered

Atoa is certified by Xero

LONDON-BASED OPEN BANKING PAYMENTS PROVIDER ATOA ANNOUNCES A NEW INTEGRATION WITH GLOBAL SMALL BUSINESS PLATFORM XERO, WHICH OFFERS FAST, FAIR AND SECURE INVOICE PAYMENTS FOR UK SMALL BUSINESSES.

This new integration will enable customers to attach Atoa as the payments provider and add a “Pay with Bank App” button on Xero invoices for their customers to pay directly from their bank app or online banking. Payments are automatically

synced in Xero, saving businesses time on admin whilst also helping them save up to 50% on processing fees versus other providers.

Key benefits of connecting Atoa with Xero include:

• Faster payments: Invoices are paid from the recipient’s bank app without entering payment details, leading to quicker and more convenient invoice payments.

• Much lower fees: Rates start from 0.7% per transaction plus 10p on each Xero invoice payment, saving businesses up to

50% on processing fees. Note that custom pricing is available for larger clients.

• Better cash flow: Get invoice payments in seconds, not days. Faster payouts give businesses easier access to valuable cash flow.

• Reduced admin time: Payments sync with Xero, saving time spent on manual reconciliation.

• Quicker for clients: Paying invoices by bank app offers a convenient, oneclick payment option for clients.

Keep reading

Roveel and Thinc Announce Global Partnership to Transform Financial Reporting for SMEs

INTECH ANNA MONEY’S AI POWERED TAX BOT, TAX TERRAPIN, HAS NOW HIT THE IMPRESSIVE MILESTONE OF ANSWERING 30,000 OF THE PUBLIC’S MOST VEXING TAX QUESTIONS. AFTER ALL, WHO WANTS TO NAVIGATE THE HMRC WEBSITE OR BE SAT ON HOLD FOR HOURS WAITING TO TALK TO AN HMRC EMPLOYEE WHEN YOU CAN GET AN INSTANT ANSWER FROM TERRAPIN - FOR FREE?

ANNA is a smart AI-powered business account that does your taxes. The team behind ANNA realised that its customers had lots of questions about their financial ad-

min, so ANNA’s AI team set about feeding an LLM (Large Language Model) the expert knowledge it would need.

The result is Tax Terrapin, which has swallowed more than 100,000 official HMRC tax guides; it has a comprehensive understanding of UK tax issues, and has actually passed seven professional accountancy and tax exams.

What’s more, it’s free to use and instantly answers in a simple, jargon-free way with a link to the specific HMRC page that is relevant to the query.

In April 2024 and at the end of January this year -

when self assessments are due - Tax Terrapin saw a 130% surge in questions (37% up on Jan 2024) and ANNA expects to see the same ahead of the end of the tax year on 5 April.

The 7 quirkiest queries

• Can I claim driving lessons for a cleaner as an expense?

• How to do Sex?

• Can I expense my takeaway coffees if I am self-employed?

• How many Diet Cokes can an accountant drink per day?

• If I sell a cow, do I need to charge VAT?

Keep reading

OVEEL, THE NORWICH-BASED FINANCIAL REPORTING SOFTWARE COMPANY, IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE ITS FIRST GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THINC, A LEADING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION COMPANY.

This collaboration aims to unlock reporting by providing a software solution to allow for rapid data-driven decision-making for SMEs across the globe.

Empowering Businesses with Data-Driven Insights

Roveel’s advanced re-

porting and analytics tools, known for their intuitive drilldown functionality, will now be complemented by Thinc’s expertise in digital transformation, ERP solutions, system integration, managed IT support, cyber security and cloud management.

This powerful partnership will enable SMEs to harness real-time financial insights, improve operational efficiencies, and drive sustainable growth to unlock their full potential.

Key Benefits for Thinc Customers

1. Do more with your data:

drill down into your Sage 50, Sage 200 or Xero data in Roveel’s advanced and cost-effective reporting platform

2. Improve collaboration across your business: share reports and dashboards with unlimited users in your business, and use Roveel on any device

3. Make fast and reliable decisions: in-depth reports on your business’ targets, cash flow and operations based on your real-time data

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UK Small Businesses Get Paid Faster and Save on Fees with Instant Bank Pay

ClientWindow and Karbon Announce Exciting Partnership to Transform Client Communication

CLIENTWINDOW IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW INTEGRATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH KARBON, MAKING IT EASIER THAN EVER FOR ACCOUNTING FIRMS TO MANAGE CLIENT CONVERSATIONS ON WHATSAPP. WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP, CLIENT WHATSAPP MESSAGES CAN NOW BE AUTOMATICALLY DIRECTED INTO KARBON, ALLOWING FIRMS TO CAPTURE, TRACK, AND RESPOND TO CLIENT QUERIES WITHIN THE PLATFORM.

As WhatsApp becomes a preferred communication tool for clients, firms have struggled to manage these messages efficiently. Traditionally, WhatsApp conversations have been siloed on

personal phones or standalone devices, making it difficult to maintain visibility, compliance, and consistency. Now, with ClientWindow and Karbon working together, firms can keep all client communications in one place, ensuring that no messages are overlooked and everything is allocated against the correct client record.

“We know clients want to communicate with their accountants on WhatsApp but this can be difficult to manage,” said Dan Cattermole, Chief Product Officer at ClientWindow. “This integration ensures that WhatsApp conversations are instantly captured and accessible within Karbon, just like emails, so firms can stay on top of client interactions,

manage all their processes easily and offer an excellent service overall.”

The integration is also designed to improve efficiency and client responsiveness. Incoming WhatsApp messages are automatically delivered to the Karbon triage area, where they can be allocated to the relevant client record in Karbon and actioned, providing full oversight across the team. Firms can assign tasks, track conversations, and ensure compliance without needing to juggle multiple devices or manually log messages. Automated reminders and notifications can also be sent via WhatsApp, helping firms keep clients engaged without extra admin.

Keep reading

Feature Spotlight: How to Create Consolidated Financial Reports in Xero with Joiin

Xero is ideal for individual entities but for those those managing multiple Xero organisations, how do you approach consolidated reporting?

How to Create Consolidated Financial Reports in Xero with Joiin

Xero is a popular cloud accounting platform, known for its ease of use, flexible reporting, and strong ecosystem. While ideal for individual entities, those managing multiple Xero organisations can build on this foundation – especially when group-level visibility and consolidated insights are needed. Joiin is one of several apps available in the Xero ecosystem designed to support consolidated reporting.

So how do you approach consolidated reporting in Xero and streamline the process using Joiin?

What is consolidated reporting?

Consolidated reporting brings together together key financial data from multiple business entities. Whether you’re reporting on profit and loss, balance sheet, or cash flow, consolidation ensures a unified view of group performance, while also factoring in things like currency conversion and intercompany eliminations.

Understanding what’s possible in Xero

Xero offers robust reporting features for individual entities, including real-time data, tracking categories, budgeting, and powerful fi-

BGL CORPORATE SOLUTIONS (BGL), THE WORLD LEADER IN COMPANY COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, IS PROUD TO DELIVER AN AUTOMATED UK COMPANIES HOUSE COMPARISON REPORT IN ITS COMPANY SECRETARIAL SOFTWARE, CAS 360.

Designed to streamline compliance, this feature automatically identifies discrepancies between company data in CAS 360 and live data at Companies House, ensuring accuracy while reducing manual workload and potential errors.

"Many UK firms have been manually comparing their data to Companies House

records—a process that is both time-consuming and prone to errors," said Warren Renden, General Manager – CAS 360 at BGL. "CAS 360 eliminates this burden by automating the entire process, giving firms greater efficiency and confidence in their compliance management."

The comparison report will also identify any changes made to the company records by other parties, including the company directors and lawyers, ensuring that the accounting firm is comparing against real-time Companies House data.

The UK Companies House Comparison Report in CAS

360 is divided into four key sections: General Details, Addresses, Officers and People with Significant Control. Shareholder comparisons are also made where the CAS 360 client has the company’s Authentication Code.

Any discrepancies are clearly highlighted making it easy for users to take immediate corrective action. If CAS 360 data needs updating, changes can be made simply within the software. If the discrepancy lies at Companies House, users can amend details via the Companies House online portal.

Keep reading

Xero introduces new Model Context Protocol server for smarter accounting

nancial statements. These tools provide everything needed to manage and understand a single business’s performance. When it comes to consolidated reporting across multiple Xero organisations, however, Xero takes a flexible approach. Rather than building this into the core platform, it provides integration points through its ecosystem – allowing finance teams to connect apps that specialise in this area. This approach means that finance teams can tailor their reporting setup to suit their structure and scale, choosing tools that complement Xero and extend its reach. And this is where Joiin comes in.

Keep reading

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server specifically designed for accounting data, available as open-source on GitHub.

THE WORLD OF AI IS RAPIDLY EVOLVING, AND AT XERO, WE’RE COMMITTED TO STAYING AT THE FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION. WE’RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF A MODEL CONTEXT PROTOCOL (MCP) SERVER SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR ACCOUNTING DATA, AVAILABLE AS OPEN-SOURCE ON GITHUB.

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Why It Matters

You’ve likely heard about large language models

(LLMs) and their incredible capabilities. But to truly unlock their potential, LLMs need access to relevant, real-time data. That’s where the Model Context Protocol comes in.

MCP is a standardised way for LLMs to request and receive contextual information from external data sources. Think of it as a universal translator that allows AI to understand and interact with complex data, like the information available in a customer’s Xero.

Why is this important?

Because without context, LLMs can generate inaccurate or irrelevant responses. MCP ensures that AI interactions are grounded in reality, leading to more reliable and practical applications.

Xero’s MCP Server Bridging the Gap Between AI and Accounting

We’ve developed an MCP server that seamlessly integrates with Xero’s public API, allowing LLMs to interact with business data in a secure and efficient way.

Keep reading

UPCOMING UK WEBINARS UPCOMING EVENTS

How Lucas & Co. saves $100K per year and streamlines payroll with QuickBooks

OLD COAST-BASED

GLUCAS & CO. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS WAS FOUNDED IN 2010 BY EX-FINANCIAL CONTROLLER AND KPMG

EMPLOYEE JEAN-MARC

LI. TODAY, THE FIRM HAS GROWN TO A TEAM OF TEN BASED IN THREE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE GOLD COAST.

Lucas & Co. provides tax compliance advice in the SME market, specialising in the medical and property industries, while also handling a small quantity of financial reporting for ASX entities.

However, despite the team's specialist knowledge, there was a problem. Lucas & Co. was using HandiSoft for tax form preparation and lodgement-but in Jean-Marc's words, found it "expensive, restrictive, and resulted in too much data duplication".

After looking at alternatives, Jean-Marc was impressed by QuickBooks' efficiencies and knowledgeable client-facing team. The firm decided to make the switch over to QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT.

The results speak for themselves.

With its new, streamlined workflow, Lucas & Co. is now saving up to 30 hours each week and $100k per year.

Impressed by QuickBooks Tax, the firm also moved its payroll operations from MYOB over to QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero. Now, payroll is more seamless than ever.

Here's Lucas & Co.'s story.

Grappling With a Restrictive and Expensive Software

Jean-Marc is proud of his hotshot team of chartered accountants, so he's always focused on keeping his people happy.

But alarm bells started to ring when the team repeatedly complained about their admin burden while using HandiSoft.

"Accountants hate admin. They don't like engagement letters, invoices, and duplicating work", Jean Marc explained. Few firms want to see billable hours chewed up with admin work. Lucas & Co were no different, so they hired a team member to take care of the team's admin. While this kept the team focused on serving their clients and increasing revenue, it was also an additional cost for the business to carry.

The Lucas & Co team found HandiSoft was restrictive, with limited functionality-especially considering how expensive it was. Worst of all, they felt there was too much duplication when importing client data from other tax software programs.

Jean-Marc knew there must be a better alternative. So, he decided to look for alternatives to replace HandiSoft.

“We wanted a tax solution that was affordable, customisable, and that would actually help us, rather than just being a cost-burden."

— Jean-Marc Li

QuickBooks The Complete Suite

Lucas & Co. was tired of switching between different tools-the team just wanted to streamline everything in one place.

They researched several different options. QuickBooks, which Lucas & Co. was already using for its practice management, soon stood out.

“We were looking for a default software. One that would be a complete suite, from administration to payroll."

"The first thing that really appealed to us was the people at QuickBooks. We could easily speak to a member of the support team whenever we had a question."

— Jean-Marc Li

"That hasn't changed now that we're paying customers. We can always count on

Why Tugger’s Reporting Portal is a Game Changer for Accountants

IQuickBooks to be there if we need help."

Plus, QuickBooks was also felt to offer better value for money than the other options the team considered. It was a no-brainer. So, Lucas & Co decided to make the switch.

Unlocking 20 - 30 Hours per Week, and $100K Annually

"The migration was quick and easy", according to Jean-Marc-and with the new platform up and running, the team started noting efficiencies right away.

They no longer needed to waste hours each week exporting and converting files between different software, or reconciling mixed-format data. They could also use the automated email templates to send important communications to clients in one click, rather than drafting them from scratch each time.

As tax advisors, calculating and limiting risk is hugely important for Lucas & Co. It's what their clients pay them for. And since implementing QuickBooks Tax, the firm has significantly improved its risk reduction.

“Data automatically populates from QuickBooks to QuickBooks Tax, meaning there are no transposition errors. The platforms seamlessly talk to one another."

— Jean-Marc Li

A huge chunk of the team's admin suddenly disappeared into thin air.

"These time-savings, plus the fact we don't have to hire a dedicated admin employee, means it's added around $100k annually to our bottom line".

Powering High-Value Advisory Services

QuickBooks Tax's dashboard reporting allows the Lucas & Co. team to see all data in one place, helping them untangle intricate returns for high-level clients.

Keep reading

F YOU'RE AN ACCOUNTANT, YOU KNOW THAT PRESENTING FINANCIAL DATA TO CLIENTS CAN FEEL LIKE JUGGLING FLAMING SWORDS—CHALLENGING, A TAD DANGEROUS, AND REQUIRING A LOT OF CONCENTRATION. BETWEEN RECONCILING ACCOUNTS, GENERATING REPORTS, AND ENSURING COMPLIANCE, IT’S EASY TO FEEL OVERWHELMED.

But what if there was a way to make your work not only easier but also more impactful for your clients?

That’s where Tugger comes in.

What is Tugger and how does it help accountants?

Tugger is a business intelligence tool that integrates seamlessly with accounting platforms like Xero and QuickBooks—but it doesn’t stop there. Tugger connects a wide range of data, from financial figures to CRM insights, into our very own Reporting Portal. By acting as a translator between your systems and data visualisation tools, it means your data—whatever its source—speaks the same language and delivers actionable insights.

Tugger’s Reporting Portal is a total game-changer for accountants who want to deliver more than just numbers. Built on Microsoft Power BI, it takes the hassle out of reporting by combining the platform’s robust capabilities with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that anyone can use. The Reporting Portal trans-

forms the way accountants deliver insights. Instead of PDFs or cumbersome spreadsheets, clients get interactive, easy-to-use reports that provide real-time visibility into their finances. This not only improves client satisfaction but also enhances efficiency—allowing accountants to focus on adding value rather than managing report distribution.

Here’s how the Tugger Reporting Portal can really help accountants:

Enhanced client insights

Gone are the days of sending static PDFs filled with rows of numbers. With Tugger, you can provide your clients with interactive, branded reports that make financial data easier to understand. This not only helps your clients grasp their financial health but also strengthens your value as an advisor.

Customisable, branded reports

Tugger enables you to create fully customisable reports that reflect your brand, so it looks like you— the accountant—built them. These polished, professional visuals reinforce your role as an integral part of your clients' business success.

Effortless Report Sharing

Clients need easy access to their reports without jumping through hoops. Tugger’s Reporting Portal provides a simple, secure space where accountants

can share reports with clients instantly. No complex setups, no extra software— just seamless access to the insights they need.

Data consolidation across client groups

Managing data for clients within a group can often be a nightmare. Tugger enables you to consolidate information from various entities into a single, unified view, making it simpler to analyse trends, compare performance, and provide tailored recommendations.

Automated reporting

Manual report generation is time-consuming and prone to errors. Tugger automates this process, providing ready-to-use templates that save you time while reducing the risk of mistakes. This means you can focus more on delivering strategic advice.

Effortless insights with AI-Powered Insights

Generate AI-powered smart narratives alongside your visualisations to provide clear, data-driven context for your clients. These automated insights help explain key trends and findings, saving you time by eliminating the need for manual typing.

Near real-time updates and accuracy

Stay informed with real-time data updates, ensuring your reports reflect the most current information available.

Keep reading

Itaú Unibanco partners with Wise Platform to strengthen its cross-border payments experience for customers

WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ITAÚ UNIBANCO HAS PARTNERED WITH WISE PLATFORM TO STRENGTHEN ITS FX OFFERING, NOW ENABLING INSTANT CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS AND REMITTANCES DIRECTLY FROM THE ITAÚ APP.

This new solution, aimed at delivering an even more complete solution for Itaú customers in Brazil, allows customers to make international payments or send money with the same ease and simplicity as with Pix, any time, every day of the week.

Itaú customers can also track each step of these international transactions in real time, giving them full visibility and transparency over how much the payments will cost and when it will arrive.

Gabriel Rombenso, Superintendent of Corporate Products and Sales at Itaú Unibanco said: “Over the past few years, we have evolved our foreign exchange solutions for tourists, offering currency exchange reservations directly through the app and withdrawal at our branches or 24-hour ATMs. We launched the international account and expanded the benefits of points on our credit cards, and now we have evolved in international remittances."

"People need to send money abroad, whether to make a payment or to send money to a child who is on an exchange program, for example. To meet this need, we believe that sending money abroad should be as easy and fluid as Pix and directly in the Itaú app.”

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PayPal Announces Ads Solution in the UK, Revolutionising Commerce Media for Brands and Merchants

Brands will benefit from the insights derived from PayPal’s everyday business. The launch marks the beginning of the international expansion of PayPal Ads, which first launched in the US last year.

PAYPAL, A GLOBAL LEADER IN DIGITAL PAYMENTS, TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT PAYPAL ADS IS LAUNCHING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The innovative ad solution, built with privacy in mind, leverages PayPal's scale and insights to deliver more value for consumers, brands and merchants at every step of the shopping journey.

Commerce is undergoing

a seismic shift.

Consumers are looking for simplified and personalized shopping experiences that can be provided instantly, everywhere.

With PayPal Ads, personalized ads can be shown to interested customers based on their past purchasesenhancing the likelihood of sales and helping to improve the shopping experience.

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PayPal Surpasses

$30B

in Global Small Business Lending

PAYPAL HOLDINGS, INC. (NASDAQ: PYPL) TODAY ANNOUNCED IT HAS PASSED $30 BILLION IN GLOBAL LOAN ORIGINATIONS* AND HAS EXTENDED MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION LOANS AND CASH ADVANCES TO MORE THAN 420,000 BUSINESS ACCOUNTS GLOBALLY SINCE 2013, FILLING A CRITICAL GAP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR CAPITAL TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY CASHFLOW AND GROW.

Small businesses play a critical role in the global economy and within local

communities. They are job creators, community builders, drivers of innovation and opportunity. Small businesses account for more than 43% of the U.S. GDP and nearly 40% of private sector payroll. Despite these contributions, access to capital continues to be a critical challenge for SMBs.

Currently, more than three quarters of small businesses are concerned about access to capital as they try to maintain or grow their businesses.

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OakNorth deepens support for US lower mid-market businesses with acquisition of Michiganbased, Community Unity Bank

OAKNORTH, THE LEADING COMMERCIAL DIGITAL BANK FOR ENTREPRENEURS BY ENTREPRENEURS, TODAY ANNOUNCES THAT IT HAS AGREED TO PURCHASE COMMUNITY UNITY BANK (CUB), THE HOME-GROWN, FDIC-INSURED COMMUNITY BANK BASED IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, IN A STOCK FOR STOCK TRANSACTION.

The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, follows authorization which OakNorth received in August 2024 from the Fed-

eral Reserve and the New York State Department of Financial Services for a Representative Office in New York. It will enable OakNorth, through CUB, to expand its business lending throughout the United States, as well as in Michigan. Launched in September 2015, OakNorth is the market leader when it comes to supporting the lower mid-market (businesses with $1M-100M revenue), providing fast, flexible debt finance and personalized banking services.

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RTGS.global and TransferMate announce strategic partnership to streamline cross-border B2B payments

RTGS.GLOBAL, THE NEXT GENERATION SETTLEMENT COMPANY REVOLUTIONISING CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS, AND TRANSFERMATE, THE WORLD’S LEADING PROVIDER OF B2B PAYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE-AS-A-SERVICE (IAAS), HAVE TODAY ANNOUNCED A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WHICH SEES TRANSFERMATE JOIN RTGS.GLOBAL’S RE-

AL-TIME SETTLEMENT NETWORK TO STREAMLINE CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS FOR GLOBAL BUSINESSES.

By integrating with RTGS. global’s instant settlement infrastructure, TransferMate will deliver seamless, real-time international payments for RTGS.global’s business customers.

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Spendesk and Wise Platform: bringing international payments capabilities to 5,000+ businesses

WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT SPENDESK, THE LEADING SPEND MANAGEMENT AND PROCUREMENT

PLATFORM FOR MID-MARKET COMPANIES, HAS PARTNERED WITH WISE PLATFORM TO OFFER FAST, TRANSPARENT AND LOW-COST INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT SERVICES TO OVER 5,000 BUSINESSES.

STARTING TODAY, CUSTOMERS CAN SIGN UP TO THE WAITING LIST, WITH THE FEATURE EXPECTED TO GO LIVE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

With the new feature, we will enable Spendesk’s customers in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom to process invoice payments and expense reimbursements in 30 currencies seamlessly, quickly, and cost-effectively - all from a single, unified dashboard.

With Wise Platform integrated into Spendesk, companies can:

• Send invoices and expenses in 30 currencies using the mid-market exchange rate*.

• Move money faster - over 60% of Wise’s transfers are settled instantly* (in 20 seconds or less) and 95% are completed in under 24 hours.

• Track international payments in real time directly from the Spendesk dashboard, providing finance teams with full control and transparency.

• Manage multi-entity operations seamlessly from one dashboard.

Stéphane Dehaies, CEO of Spendesk Financial Services, said: "This partnership with Wise Platform allows us to offer a comprehensive end-toend payment solution for businesses operating worldwide."

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PayPal Ventures Invests in Mendel

MENDEL, LATIN AMERICA’S LEADING ENTERPRISE SPEND MANAGEMENT PLATFORM, ANNOUNCED TODAY THE CLOSING OF A $35 MILLION SERIES B ROUND LED BY BASE10 PARTNERS WITH PARTICIPATION FROM PAYPAL VENTURES, AND SUPPORT FROM EXISTING INVESTORS INFINITY VENTURES, INDUSTRY VENTURES, HI.VC. ENDEAVOR CATALYST IS ALSO INVESTING.

Mendel is gaining traction as one of the most comprehensive spend management platforms for large enterprises in Latin America, seamlessly integrating expense management, payments, and corporate travel. The company differentiates itself from traditional players with a software-first, enterprise-focused approach and is one

of the only companies in the category able to charge recurring SaaS fees—a fundamental departure from competitors relying on interchange revenue or lending-based models. With the rapid consolidation of Travel and Expense Management (T&E) solutions globally, enterprises are demanding fully integrated platforms that eliminate inefficiencies and enhance financial visibility. Mendel is at the forefront of this shift in Latin America.

Alan Karpovsky, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Mendel, said, “This round allows us to scale our AI capabilities and continue transforming how companies manage payments, expenses, and travel—helping them operate more efficiently while reducing costs and complexity."

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XU Biweekly - Issue 102 - 5th April 2025 by XU Magazine - Issuu