Xero unveils AI-powered tools to boost efficiency for accountants
Xero has revealed several new features aimed at increasing efficiency and insights for accountants and bookkeepers.
The latest product developments include advancements in Xero's AI financial superagent JAX (Just Ask Xero), the introduction of the Xero Partner Hub, a new workpapers solution, and enhancements to analytics capabilities powered by Syft. With these tools, the company seeks to help accounting and bookkeeping practices streamline their workflows and improve their advisory services for small business clients.
AI support and workflow automation
The newly announced evolution of JAX, built on Xero's agentic platform, is designed to automate routine tasks and workflows. The AI tool learns how a business functions, delivers actionable insights, and aims to orchestrate multiple AI agents behind the scenes to reduce administrative work while enabling smarter decision-making.
According to Xero, "JAX delivers a reimagined experience by learning how your business runs, automating routine tasks and workflows, and delivering actionable insights - orchestrating multiple AI agents behind the scenes to cut busywork help you make smarter decisions." The firm positions JAX as a trusted partner, integrating it directly into accountant and bookkeeper processes.
"We know the daily realities accountants and bookkeepers face – talent shortages, economic uncertainty, increasing regulatory complexity and compliance pressure – alongside day-to-day manual tasks, can keep them from high-value strategic work," said Diya Jolly, Xero's Chief Product and Technology Officer. "Xero's new features are designed to automate the heavy lifting, freeing up our partners to focus on more meaningful and impactful work like strengthening client relationships and providing personalised advice."
Partner Hub and integrated workflows
The Xero Partner Hub was unveiled as a consolidated platform for accountants and bookkeepers, gathering Xero's existing practice tools and data in a unified space. The hub features a customisable homepage, single navigation system, and AI-powered insights. It is intended to provide an integrated experience for both client and staff management by using a single source of data for all records. Accountants using Xero Practise Manager will gain beta access in the coming months, with a wider launch of the full platform planned for early 2026.
Improvements to workpapers and analytics
Xero detailed a new workpapers solution developed in partnership with BGL. This aims to save manual effort by downloading ledger data directly from Xero systems and tax data from the Australian Taxation Office, reducing time spent on data entry by practices.
On the analytics front, enhancements to Syft-powered analytics will introduce advanced forecasting, improved reporting, and multi-entity consolidation capabilities. As part of the update, eligible customers will access Syft Analytics at no additional cost. These analytical features incorporate a business health score, AI-driven insights, and external data, such as website visits, alongside financial metrics. The updates are aimed at supporting small businesses and their advisors with clearer, actionable information.
Payment and navigation updates
New features were also introduced for payment processing. Businesses will soon be able to manage progress payments, enabling them to accept deposits or staged payments, increasing payment flexibility and control. An online statement tool will provide the ability for clients to pay multiple invoices in one transaction, aiming to reduce payment delays and simplify the reconciliation process.
Xero is also rolling out a redesigned homepage and navigation across its platform. The new homepage transitions from a static dashboard to one rich in customisable insights, with enhanced widgets showing business performance, key action areas, and quick links to common tasks. The navigation structure is revamped to make it easier to locate features and move between tasks, using clearer labels and logical groupings based on customer feedback.
Industry outlook
The company stated that these updates are part of its broader commitment to strengthen the impact of accountants and bookkeepers and to support the ongoing development of the profession through collaboration and enhanced tools.
