We have put together a list of handy tips to ensure you are making the most of your Xero software.
Xero has many underutilised features which can help automate and streamline your accounting processes – allowing you to ensure accurate bookkeeping and reporting on a timely basis.
In our latest blog, we take a look at 6 ways to make the most of your software:
1. Make use of bank rules
Bank rules help save time by automating repetitive tasks – you can teach Xero to categorise transactions based on predefined criteria, eliminating the need for manual categorisation and improving reconciliation speed. For example, you can set up a bank rule to automatically categorise all transactions from a specific vendor as ‘office supplies expenses’.
By applying consistent categorisation and allocation rules, you can generate reliable reports and easily track spending patterns, whilst reducing the time spent on manual matching and improving the accuracy of your financial records.
You can apply bank rules on items such as
- Insurance payments
- Wages
- VAT
- Bank loans and HP payments
Click here to find out more about bank rules.
2. Create custom reports
Building custom reports in Xero offers numerous benefits that help enhance month-end reporting, meaning you can focus on the key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that are most relevant to your business.
With the ability to customise and filter data, reports in Xero allow you to consolidate and visualise the information which is important to you, enabling you to gain valuable insights into your company’s financial health, track progress towards specific goals, and make informed strategic decisions.
Click here to find out more about custom reports.
3. Customise your dashboard
Think about tailoring the layout and organisation of your Xero dashboard to suit your needs. Whether this be by prioritising key financial data, such as cash flow, accounts payable/receivable, or profitability, a custom dashboard can provide a snapshot of the information you require when you need it; improving efficiencies, reducing time spent searching through unnecessary data and allowing management to make informed decisions more quickly.
Click here to find out more about customising your dashboard.
4. Use the Xero network key
The Xero network key is an essential feature to leverage the power of Xero’s accounting software. By utilising the network key, businesses can seamlessly integrate their systems and applications with Xero, enabling streamlined financial management and ahttps://central.xero.com/s/article/Send-your-Xero-network-key-to-another-Xero-organisatioutomation. The network key acts as a secure access code that allows authorised third-party applications and services to interact with Xero’s API, facilitating data exchange and synchronisation.
Do you have more than one company on Xero and recharge between the two? – the Xero network key will save you time by automatically pushing through the invoices to the relevant business.
Click here to find out more about Xero network keys.
5. Create invoice branding
Create different invoice branding themes to establish a consistent and professional image.
You can create more than one branding theme for your business – offering flexibility in tailoring invoices for specific purposes or target audiences. For example, different themes can be created for recurring invoices, one-time projects, different payment terms and so on.
Find out more about custom invoices by clicking here.
6. Turn email chasers on
Utilising invoice reminders in Xero is a game-changer for your business – it’s like having your own personal debt-collector, without the scary phone calls!
These helpful reminders can be personalised to suit your tone of voice and branding, and are sent out automatically to gently nudge your customers to pay on time, saving you countless hours. According to ‘The State of Late Payment 2022’ report, conducted by Xero and PayPal, 56.4 million hours per year are wasted chasing payments, and 40% of businesses saw late payments worsening in 2022. In light of the worsening economic climate, with inflation showing no signs of slowing, it’s more important than ever for businesses to target late payments, and take practical steps to reduce them.
Find out more about Xero email chasers by clicking here.
Get in touch
With technology constantly advancing and more digital tools available than ever before, now really is a great time to take a deeper look at your software to optimise your usage.
We would be delighted to speak to you in regard to cloud accounting advice, offer tips on ways to use your software better or provide you with a Xero health check, in which a member of our team will review your current software and advise on the best features, tools and integrations to support you in making the most of Xero. Speak to a member of our cloud team today at cloudaccounting@pmm.co.uk.
