Xero launches new mobile app - Xero Touch
Xero accounting software has released its new mobile application that’s now available worldwide from Apple’s App Store.
Xero Touch is a mobile version of Xero for small businesses to manage their finances ‘on the go’ and is available for both iPhone and as a tablet version for iPad.
“With the world’s best online accounting platform we're now changing the accounting category, breaking accounting out of the back office with employees being able to do their expense claims on the fly and invoice on the road," says Xero MD Gary Turner.
Customer benefits
Invoices can be created, approved and sent from a mobile phone. This is a huge time-saver for trades people and contractors who can bill for a job just completed, on the spot. And it greatly improves cash flow.
A highly sought after feature is the ability to take photographs of receipts, such as when buying a cup of coffee or taking a taxi ride. The receipts can then be attached electronically to expense claims - eliminating the hassle of trying to find and sort paper receipts stuffed in a wallet at a later date.
Up-to-date account balances are easy to check. Debtors can also be managed on the move with the ability to review who owes money, before chasing up with another invoice.
On the way to a meeting, Xero Touch can be used to view client details before checking the exact location with integrated Google Maps. Following the meeting notes can be added to the contacts.
For the accountant one of the advantages of clients using Xero Touch is that the amount of preparation for final accounts is reduced because expenses are dealt with immediately and invoicing is up-to-date.
Mobile is core to Xero development
Designed exclusively by Xero’s development and design teams, the Xero Touch workflow is simple, with minimal effort needed to get data into Xero while on the move.
“We’ve had a mobile version of Xero for a while, which was a nice feature to have when we started out, but now it’s just expected,” says Gary Turner. "Mobile is a core part of our development strategy.”
“We believe the rich feature set that Xero Touch offers will make a big difference to small business owners who can run their business on the move and avoid late nights doing the accounts.”
What people are saying
Chris Hawes the proprietor of Bristol-based web solutions company auxillio.com believes using Xero Touch works to his advantage.
“Using Xero Touch to issue invoices in the moment means I am managing my cash flow more efficiently, because invoices are issued as soon as a job is finished, rather than being left to the end of the month. I’m not having to spend my down-time dealing with my accounts, so it adds to my quality of life. The ability to issue invoices promptly also adds to my ‘brand’ because it makes auxillio.com look like a more professional company.”
Dona Skaife of WBS Accountants based in Newcastle Upon Tyne says Xero Touch allows clients to take better control of their finances on the move.
“With Xero Touch, the client is able to take photos of expense receipts and record them straight away before they are lost, raise invoices immediately after completing a project and check their bank balances in between appointments, which means doing their accounts becomes less of a chore back in the office and more part of their day to day management of their business,” she says.
“In our role as their accountants we want to provide support after the initial conversion to Xero in a number of ways, and being able to answer queries or check their activity whilst we are out and about means we can do that effectively. The quickest way is straight away with Xero Touch!”
Nicola Wilson who owns Manchester-based bookkeeping firm Totally 4 Business, definitely thinks small businesses will use Xero Touch. She says managing expenses is one of the benefits. “Many small business owners store their receipts in their wallets, the receipts get mixed up or lost and it all becomes very hard to manage. Being able to log receipts into the system the moment they are received will help prevent that happening.”
A version of Xero Touch for Google Android devices is nearing completion.
For more information, visit xero.com.
