Accounting has modified dramatically over the previous couple of years. Automation, digital transformation and the acceleration of the cloud have all performed an necessary position in shaping it. However amongst all of this variation, one factor stays fixed: companies must receives a commission, explains Hayden Watson, Director of UK-based accountancy agency, MHH Apply. 

Utilizing know-how to handle invoicing is a technique to assist companies receives a commission on time, which might clarify why invoicing stays certainly one of our most liked options. For some time now, Xero has had two invoicing experiences: the older model (generally known as ‘traditional’ invoicing) and ‘new’ invoicing.

New invoicing has come a great distance since we launched it in 2017 — with many much-loved options from traditional constructed into the expertise, plus new and unique performance. We spoke with Hayden about his expertise of switching from traditional to new invoicing.

Making the swap to new invoicing

Hayden’s observe affords a proactive service that makes purchasers’ lives simpler. “Battling invoices and chasing funds whereas juggling tax and VAT obligations isn’t at all times a great use of a small enterprise proprietor’s time, so we’ll do this for them utilizing Xero,” he explains.

As with all change, a brand new expertise can take some getting used to and new invoicing was no exception. “When Xero’s new invoicing was first promoted, I did swap however discovered I couldn’t get used to the structure. Initially it didn’t have a variety of the performance from traditional, so I modified again after not too lengthy.”

“I’m used to doing issues fairly shortly, so I felt I didn’t actually have the time to be taught one thing new, or discover and perceive it — so I simply switched again to what I used to be used to. However ever since I gave it one other go and bought used to its structure and performance, it’s form of turn out to be second nature — and truly, traditional invoicing appears nearly alien to me now. A variety of new performance has additionally been launched that wasn’t there to start with.”

One of many issues Hayden and people at his observe recognize about new invoicing is the skilled look it provides the expertise. “I just like the structure of it. It does look cleaner — extra trendy. Traditional invoicing, after I take a look at it now, does look older — I believe simply the best way it’s laid out appears a bit dated now in comparison with how the remainder of Xero goes.”

Auto-save: for the busy multitasker

Auto-save performance in new invoicing has been a much-welcomed characteristic at MHH observe — guaranteeing no invoicing work will get misplaced when juggling duties.

“In my line of enterprise, when the phone rings and I’m mid-way via an bill, I’m typically having to duck away from my display screen for a couple of minutes. When this occurs and I’m in new invoicing, this work routinely saves as a draft and is consistently updating the draft model of that bill. Whereas within the outdated system, if I used to be away for too lengthy, Xero would routinely log me out as a result of I’d been inactive for some time, after which I’d lose work,” he explains.

Dashing up workflows

As a busy accountant operating a thriving observe, Hayden appreciates the chance to hurry up workflows. Even decreasing the variety of clicks wanted to finish a job inside Xero could make an actual distinction.

“With the approve button on the high, you’ve really bought a number of choices now. You’ll be able to approve and print, you possibly can approve and ship — multi function click on, and this offers you rather more performance in comparison with the 2 or three ‘Approve &’ choices in traditional invoicing.” 

One other game-changing characteristic for Hayden is with the ability to add a shopper on to an bill. He says, “They’ve constructed within the potential to create a contact and put in touch particulars resembling e mail deal with, all on the identical display screen. That speeds issues up once you’re doing an bill and wish to e mail it out immediately, versus the outdated system, the place it’s a bit clunky to get all that data in after which ship an bill out to a shopper.”

Setting Xero up for a fair higher future

“I like how Xero is consistently making an attempt to enhance. There are nonetheless some gaps to be stuffed and a few workflows that may very well be higher in new invoicing, however total, I can see there have been some good options launched that assist us be extra environment friendly when invoicing. And finally, which means we will get invoicing executed extra shortly in order that purchasers can hopefully receives a commission quicker, and we will get again to providing a extra personalised service for our purchasers. I’m wanting ahead to seeing what’s subsequent for brand spanking new invoicing,” Hayden says.

The journey forward for brand spanking new invoicing

Xero is continuous so as to add extra of the performance and the options you need into new invoicing. Within the months forward, you’ll begin to see much more worth, together with the power to log and look at the audit path of an bill, change a monetary line, connect recordsdata from the file library to an bill, and seek for invoices utilizing a worldwide search perform.

We’ll preserve you up to date as these new options roll out. Within the meantime, in case you haven’t tried new invoicing for some time, leap in in the present day and provides it a go. You’ll be able to tell us what you assume by sharing your characteristic requests in Xero Product Concepts. We’re at all times listening and right here to assist in case you want a hand.