Join Indi, Ryan, John and Leigh for the Digi-Tools in Accrual World Year-End Special - sponsored by Advancetrack. In this episode, the team gathers in the studio to wrap up a massive year in accounting tech news. We break down the most controversial and exciting stories of 2025, from Xero and QuickBooks Online introducing strict usage caps to the explosion of fintech news surrounding AI agents and automated ledgers. We also cover major acquisitions, including the TaxCalc and Engager merger, and discuss the latest feature drops from Dext and FreeAgent. Finally, we gaze into the crystal ball to share our predictions for 2026. Will AI replace compliance? Is e-invoicing about to change everything? Tune in to find out. In this episode, we cover: 00:00:00: Welcome to the Christmas Special 00:02:41: Xero and QBO Fair Use Policies & Usage Caps 00:05:48: MTD for Income Tax Product Releases 00:07:22: FreeAgent Files MTD from Space 00:09:28: The Launch of Vinyl & AI Advisory 00:12:13: Digits Releases AI-Powered Ledger 00:14:23: Major Dext Feature Updates 00:17:25: TaxCalc Acquires Engager & Pricing Controversy 00:20:36: Intuit Platform & New AI Agents 00:23:58: CIS Features for QBO and FreeAgent 00:24:56: iplicit and Cin7 Integration 00:25:51: The Impact of API Charges 00:28:43: Digital Disruptor Awards Recap 00:30:50: Predictions for 2026 Subscribe for more insights into the world of accounting technology!

In this episode of Digi-Tools in Accrual World, we break down a massive fortnight of news in the accounting tech ecosystem. From leadership changes at the top of the UK’s biggest platforms to the ”unbundling” of SaaS pricing, we analyse the strategic moves that will define 2026. The Big Xero Shift: The team reacts to the continued fallout from Xero’s new API pricing model and the news that Alex von Schirmeister is stepping down to join Nomentia. We discuss whether Xero is moving away from ”inclusivity” as it pivots toward profitability. The AI Reality Check: Despite the hype, recent data shows a decline in active generative AI usage in the workplace. We explore why Microsoft Copilot is struggling to gain traction and why ”Ask Digits” represents the future of AI as a primary software interface. Acquisitions & Payments: We look at the strategic implications of Mollie acquiring GoCardless for £1.1bn and how Intuit is tightening its grip on the UK market with the official launch of QuickBooks Payments. Strategic Pricing: Finally, we analyse Unleashed Software’s move to ”unbundle” its pricing. Is functionality-driven pricing the new standard for SaaS? Episode Timestamps 00:00 Welcome To Digi-Tools in Accrual World App News 03:08 Ecosystem Friction: Developers React to Xero’s API Pricing Model 10:42 Leadership Change: Alex von Schirmeister Steps Down at Xero 17:56 Xero Update: MTD Support for Multiple Businesses 19:02 M&A Alert: GoCardless Acquired by Payments Giant Mollie 23:33 Why Microsoft is Struggling with AI Agent Traction 32:33 The AI Dip: Workplace Surveys Show Usage Decline 35:58 App Spotlight: Digits Unveils ”Ask Digits” AI Interface 38:06 QuickBooks Payments Officially Launches in the UK 40:06 Intuit’s ”Agentic” Capabilities for QuickBooks & MailChimp 43:52 Briefcase Platform: Absorbing Complex Tax Codes via AI 46:07 SaaS Strategy: Unleashed Unbundles Pricing & Inventory Features 49:53 Like, Subscribe and Join Us! Keywords / Hashtags: #AccountingTech #Xero #Intuit #QuickBooks #GoCardless #Mollie #SaaSStrategy #AI #GenerativeAI #FinTech #Unleashed #SaaSActivation #ChannelStrategy

This week on Digi-Tools in Accrual World, John Toon joins Indi from Las Vegas to unpack a massive week in accounting tech. We cover Thomson Reuters’ major move to integrate their PPC methodology with AI audit partners like Trullion and Fieldguide. We also break down Xero’s two biggest announcements: the ”JAX” powered automated bank reconciliation that learns from your history, and a complete overhaul of the dashboard into a ”financial command centre”. Plus, we discuss the confirmation of a ”soft landing” for MTD for Income Tax penalties and the UK Budget’s surprise announcement mandating B2B e-invoicing by 2029. 0:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World! App News 02:49 Thomson Reuters Integrates PPC Methodology with AI Audit Partners 06:50 Xero Rolling Out JAX-Powered Bank Reconciliation 11:00 New Xero Homepage Dashboard Launched 16:03 Xero Celebrates Ecosystem Innovation with November Updates 17:34 MTD Penalty Soft Landing Confirmed 21:43 Budget 2025 Mandates E-Invoicing by 2029 22:50 Like and Subscribe!

This week on Digi-Tools in Accrual World, we dive deep into the biggest accounting tech news of the week. Indi is joined by accounting tech veteran Leigh Stallard to break down the ”spicy” new tiered pricing model for the Xero API - a move that could change the landscape for Xero’s ecosystem. We discuss whether this is a strategic defensive play or a barrier to innovation. Plus, we cover MIMO’s new AI Associate for month-end automation, TaxCalc’s unique hybrid cloud announcement, and FreeAgent’s latest MTD controls. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 02:41 - App News 02:46 - Partners celebrated in 2025 Global App Awards 05:21 - Developers face new tiered pricing model for Xero APIs 14:35 - Reporting updates include percentage rows and better Excel formatting retention 16:26 - November update adds purchase order revisions and pause timers for billing 18:37 - New controls from FreeAgent launched for MTD for Income Tax 21:21 - Live two-way integration with Engager removes data re-keying requirements 23:09 - TaxCalc confirms hybrid future with browser-based option for compliance suite 29:04 - Mimo releases AI Associate to automate month-end journals and anomalies 34:04 - Rate and Subscribe

The Taxfiler founders are back with TaxPad, a new compliance suite for smaller firms, but will accountants trust them after the sale to Iris? Ryan and Indi discuss the market’s cautious reaction and whether a commitment to not sell is enough . This week’s accounting tech news: Fintech Exits: Lloyds Banking Group acquires Curve for £120m—less than half of what the fintech raised—marking a sobering reality for valuations. Meanwhile, US spend management platform Ramp hits a massive $32bn valuation. AI Agents: Expensify releases a ”hybrid contextual AI expense agent” that works across the platform . Compliance & Audit: TaxCalc launches biometric ID checks for Companies House verification , and Caseware brings group audit functionality to the cloud . New Tools: TaxNav launches a simple bridging tool for landlords, Solver integrates with Microsoft Fabric, and BrightPay Cloud introduces a new app for employees. Finally, John Toon speaks with Peter Hucker from Xledger about the friction in the audit process . They discuss how giving auditors read-only access and using automation for month-end accruals can solve the annual audit pain for mid-market finance teams. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World! App News 02:47 Taxfiler founders return with TaxPad 08:16 TaxCalc launches biometric ID checks 11:02 Expensify releases hybrid AI expense agent 14:14 Caseware brings group audit functionality to the cloud 15:51 Lloyds Banking Group acquires fintech Curve for £120m 20:01 Solver announces new data integration with Microsoft Fabric 21:47 TaxNav launches simple MTD bridging tool for landlords 22:49 Ramp hits $32bn valuation in latest funding round 27:00 BrightPay Cloud introduces new manager and employee app 28:46 The Problem With Audit... 38:57 Rate and Subscribe!

Is the audit profession dead by 2026? Ryan and Indi discuss a viral discussion sparked by a graduate questioning if they should accept a Big Four internship given PwC’s heavy investment in AI audits. The hosts discuss whether automation will replace juniors or simply change the nature of the work. This week in accounting tech news: Intuit and OpenAI: Intuit announces a strategic partnership with OpenAI to power new AI agents across Credit Karma and TurboTax. Digits’ Bold Claim: The platform says it can automate the monthly close and bank reconciliations to save significant time on manual work. New Entrants: Record OS launches to fix the data collection bottleneck for self-assessments, whilst Vinyl releases a mobile app to capture client meeting data. Integration News: Karbon connects with Active Workpapers and Socket, whilst FreeAgent integrates with Pleo via Shift API. Plus, good news for the industry as Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen is appointed President of the AAT. Finally, Ryan speaks with Anoop Rehal from BKL for the Xledger spotlight. They discuss why mid-market firms are turning to outsourcing to solve talent gaps and how moving away from complex app stacks to modern ERPs helps drive efficiency. ➡️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast! 03:32 PwC bets big on AI audits 10:37 Intuit deploys AI agents across Credit Karma and TurboTax 14:50 Karbon connects with Active and Socket 16:22 FreeAgent connects with Pleo 19:47 Digits claims to fully automate the monthly close using AI bank reconciliation 21:36 New entrant Record OS launches to fix the self-assessment bottleneck 23:52 Vinyl launches a mobile app to help accountants manage meetings on the go 27:30 Dext releases November product updates 28:43 AAT appoints Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen as its new president 32:34 Mid-Market Outsourcing: Solving Talent Gaps and Tech Stacks with BKL - Xledger 44:16 Rate, like and subscribe

John Toon and Indi speed-run a huge week in accounting tech news, and the theme is clear: AI. New research suggests half of UK firms are planning £100k+ AI investments, and the vendors are delivering. This week’s fintech news covers Adfin’s new ”Autopilot” AI credit controller that writes and sends chasers, Bill.com’s ”touchless” AI agents, and Thomson Reuters’ move into agentic AI for tax and audit. Plus, Dwayne Jackson is back. The founder of Kashflow and Staffology has launched Sodium, a new practice management platform - another future IRIS acquisition? Also in this episode: * Ben Carter from Access joins to give tangible examples of Evo’s AI, from solving ”mystery margin” to an ”autopilot world”. * Laura Brophy from Xledger explains their ”Pick and Mix” approach to digital training, based on adult learning theory * Updates from NetSuite, Digits, and Fathom.

 Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre-client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GMT - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0 Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 03:48 Unleashed: Using AI to Solve ”Mystery Margin” & Create an ”Autopilot World” App News 12:23 Firms Plan Major AI Spend as Agentic AI Arrives 16:49 BILL Launches AI Agents for ‘Touchless’ SMB Finance 19:26 Thomson Reuters Unveils Agentic AI for Tax and Audit 22:45 Adfin unveils ‘Autopilot’ AI 25:22 NetSuite launches ‘NetSuite Next,’ 28:04 Sodium practice software expands features 33:08 Digits announces new ‘Connect API’ 36:32 Fathom introduces ‘Forecast Snapshots’ 40:25 Xledger: The ”Pick and Mix” Approach to Digital Training

The Accounting Tech landscape is shifting under our feet. This week, we’re breaking down the major strategic moves from the industry’s biggest players and what it really means for your app, your ecosystem, and your channel strategy. We dive deep into the new AI in Accounting arms race, with Intuit launching its new AI Agents and even HMRC rolling out Copilot. Meanwhile, the giants are making moves. We explore the launch of Sage’s next-gen X3 platform and ask the question: Is Sage50 really cloud-based now? But it’s not all about the platforms. For SaaS leaders focused on SaaS Activation and partnerships, we put two key ecosystem players under the microscope: Unleashed: In our App Spotlight, we analyze Unleashed’s strategic role within the wider Access Group ecosystem and cover its latest production feature enhancements. Xledger: In our ”Channel Focus” segment, we get a partner’s-eye view of the Xledger program—a must-listen for anyone building a partner-led growth motion. Join us for a packed episode of market intelligence to keep your Digital Transformation strategy one step ahead. Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GTM - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0 Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0 Episode Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 06:21 App Spotlight: Unleashed’s Role in the Access Ecosystem 15:17 App News 15:32 Sage50 now cloud based? 19:04 Sage X3 next gen launch 25:37 New Intuit Accountant Suite and its AI Agents 28:57 New Kids on the Block: Xero’s October App Store Additions 32:47 HMRC rolls out Copilot 36:25 Unleashed Software Enhances its Production & Inventory Features 40:40 Channel Focus: Xledger from a Partner’s Perspective 50:52 Outro

Welcome to the Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast, your essential update on UK Accounting Tech News and Fintech News!  This week, Ryan Pearcy and John Toon discuss the strategies shaking up the software world and the latest app updates you need to know about. First, Ryan speaks with Ben Carter, Product Director for the Small Business Division at Access. Ben shares the vision behind integrating products like Unleashed, MintSoft, and Tradify. He explains their mission to deliver "value in seven minutes" and how they're using AI to revolutionise data onboarding for new trial users.   Then, it's a packed App News segment: Sumday (Xero): An AI bot has been added to the carbon tracking platform to help analyse data and build sustainability business cases. AI-Native Payments: Ryan questions if AI-driven automatic payment runs are a genuine innovation or just a buzzword. Adfin Autopilot: The platform has launched an AI agent to intelligently and automatically chase customer debts. Karbon & Spotlight: A new integration allows firms to automate the scheduling and generation of Spotlight reports directly from Karbon tasks. Katana: The inventory tool for manufacturers has introduced a free plan, limited to 30 SKUs and 3 locations. WorkGuru: The project management tool adds project document templates and an OCR integration with Easy Bills. Employment Hero: The system now automates the complex calculation of leave entitlement for offboarding employees. Cyber Attacks: John covers startling research from FreeAgent showing 6 in 10 UK small businesses were hit by a cyber attack last year. Finally, Kevin Fitzgerald, MD of UK for Employment Hero, returns. He explains the strategic decision to pause and relaunch their bureau program , moving away from a "race to the bottom" on price to a new model focused on integrating HR and payroll services for accounting firms.   This episode is sponsored by Unleashed and Employment Hero.    TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 03:44 Unleashing Success: Inside the Small Business Division at Access 14:18 App News 14:22 Xero adds Sumday AI sustainability analysis 17:06 AI-native payments promise faster cashflow for firms 20:58 Adfin launches Autopilot automation 23:40 Karbon integrates with Spotlight for automated reporting 25:52 Katana introduces free plan for small manufacturers 27:52 WorkGuru adds templates and purchase orders 30:36 Employment Hero automates leave entitlement on offboarding 32:10 FreeAgent: Three in five small businesses hit by a cyber attack 38:00 Transforming Bureaus: Employment Hero's Approach to Payroll and HR Subscribe to our newsletter for more news, and reach out if you're interested in attending the Digital Disruption Awards next year!

This week on the Digi-Tools in Accrual World we share the latest updates in accounting and fintech news.  We kick off with insights on the recent Digital Disruptor Awards and plans for next year’s event.  App News segment covers big names like Iris Software, Telleroo, Xero, and Monzo, with notable updates on faster payments, MTD tools, and AI-driven solutions.  We explore evolving payroll systems, the impact of AI on product development, and integrating multi-functional solutions to streamline business processes and data security.  Don’t miss our discussion on recent AWS outages and their impact on firms, plus the ongoing debate between Xero and QuickBooks users over bank reconciliation. Stay ahead in the world of accounting tech with this comprehensive and engaging episode. 00:00 Introduction 04:44 AI’s Role in Rapid Evolution: A Discussion with Ben Carter / Unleashed App News 15:03 AWS outage slows down multiple SaaS platforms 16:48 Debate: Cloud Dependency and Resilience 20:50 Xero vs QBO: accountants debate the best bank rec tool 27:11 Sage powers Monzo’s new Making Tax Digital tool 28:44 IRIS partners with Telleroo for faster payments 30:31 Modulr’s Confirmation of Payee for Batch Payments 32:14 Pleo launches embedded finance solution for SMEs 35:05 Apron’s Accounts Receivable Tool 38:06 Appventory’s New Onboarding Methods 41:25 Joiin’s Live Data Integration with Excel 45:27 From Fragmentation to Integration: The Evolution of Employment Tools - Employment Hero 55:06 Like and Subscribe!

Get your weekly fix of accounting tech news and fintech news with Digi-Tools in Accrual World. This week, we uncover a shocking new trend: over half of taxpayers are now using AI to prepare their tax returns, but are they ignoring the risks? We debate whether this is an opportunity or a threat for accounting professionals. Next, we explore a critical topic for accountants: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Stu from FreeAgent joins us to explain their unique approach of segregating landlord and sole trader income, and how creating separate ledgers can simplify bookkeeping and boost automation for your clients. Finally, we reveal the hidden impacts of payroll errors. With a staggering 84% of SMEs having experienced a payroll mistake, we discuss how these errors can erode employee trust and create significant compliance headaches. Plus, don’t miss our roundup of the biggest stories in the accounting tech space: ICAEW has launched the biggest overhaul of the ACA qualification in 30 years. TRIVER secures £114m to expand its SME invoice finance platform. Caseware unveils ’Validate’, an AI tool for last-mile audit review tasks. Thomson Reuters acquires AI startup Additive to boost tax automation. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the  Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast! 04:06 Segregating Landlord and Sole Trader Income for MTD - FreeAgent 13:49 App News 13:55 ICAEW launches future proofed qualification 17:20 Majority of taxpayers now using AI for tax returns 20:24 TRIVER secures £114m to expand SME lending platform 23:30 Caseware unveils AI audit tool for ‘last-mile’ review tasks 24:41 Light raises $30m to grow AI-powered finance platform 27:01 Thomson Reuters acquires Additive, boosting AI tax automation 28:32 The hidden impacts of payroll errors - Employment Hero 36:57 Come and join us on the pod!

Welcome back to Digi-Tools in Accrual World, your weekly source for the latest accounting tech news and fintech news! This week, Indi and Ryan dive into a massive wave of AI innovation sweeping the industry. The AI revolution is here! We break down Microsoft’s game-changing ”Agent Mode” for Excel, which promises to automate complex data analysis and reporting tasks. In other huge app news, Karbon has acquired the AI platform Aider to supercharge its practice management capabilities, and Sage is getting ahead of the curve by launching a new AI agent designed to tackle the administrative burden of MTD for ITSA. Join us as we cover all the essential updates you need to know, including: Karbon’s AI Future: An in-depth look at the Aider acquisition and what it means for practice management. Microsoft’s ”Agent Mode”: How AI is about to turbocharge Excel and Word for accountants. Sage’s MTD Agent: A new tool to automate client onboarding and quarterly submissions. App News Round-up: Dext introduces a WhatsApp integration for easy receipt capture, QuickBooks unveils a major UI overhaul, Acting Office integrates with FreeAgent, and Brieff connects with Karbon for smarter meeting workflows. MTD Client Transition: We catch up with Dave from FreeAgent to discuss strategies for moving clients to MTD. Payroll Pitfalls: Kevin Fitzgerald from Employment Hero joins us to explain why running payroll on spreadsheets is a recipe for disaster. This episode is packed with critical insights into the tools and trends shaping the future of accounting. Don’t miss out on the latest fintech news! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World App News 16:02 Karbon Acquires Aider to Boost AI Capabilities 18:18 Brieff Announces Integration with Karbon 21:16 Dext Introduces WhatsApp Integration 22:26 QuickBooks Unveils New User Interface 24:20 Acting Office Integrates with FreeAgent 28:50 Microsoft Introduces ”Agent Mode” for Excel 32:01 Xero Launches New Partner Hub 34:22 Sage Announces AI Agent for MTD 37:58 Why Running Payroll on Spreadsheets is a recipe for disaster - Employment Hero 44:24 Accountants and Bookkeepers - Come and join us on the pod!

This episode is sponsored by Advancetrack, the go-to outsourcing and podsourcing specialists to help build capacity for your practice.   This week's accounting tech news is dominated by the rapid rise of Accounting AI agents! We take a first look at the US-based “Digits” platform and its AI-powered general ledger, which claims to auto-categorise up to 97% of transactions. We also explore Adsum's new 'Agent Mode' for data interrogation and automated reminders , and discuss how the profession is moving towards a future defined by these specialised AI agents.   Dave Norwell from FreeAgent joins us to tackle the very real challenge of client resistance to MTD for ITSA, sharing common patterns of denial and stressing the need for practices to create a proactive plan. We also round up the latest fintech news, including FYI's new team productivity and interim invoicing tools , a major integration between Active Workpapers and Alphatax for corporation tax , and Xero's new beneficial ownership compliance tool. Finally, James Rose of Content Snare offers his perspective on the accounting tech scenes in Australia and the UK, comparing tech adoption rates and concluding that the UK is much further ahead than many believe.   00:00 Introduction and Event Highlights 04:17 Client Resistance to MTD - FreeAgent App News09:38 FYI Releases Team Productivity and Invoicing Tools12:29 Gather Nexus Announces Integration with QuickBooks Online17:09 Adsum Releases OpenTax Agent Mode in Beta19:25 Active and Alphatax Announce Integration for Corporation Tax22:45 Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Development23:01 Roveel Partners with Tradebox for Enhanced E-commerce Reporting24:40 Xero Releases New Beneficial Ownership Compliance Tool29:33 A First Look at the New “Digits” Accounting Platform35:37 How Agentic AI is Redefining the Future of Accounting 44:29 AU vs UK - Tech and Compliance Readiness - Content Snare54:33 Outro

This week, the Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast brings you front-row access to the biggest news in UK accounting tech! We’re fresh from an ”insane week” hosting the Digital Disruptor Awards and we’re recapping all the winners and highlights from the must-attend event. Then, in a special takeover episode, we hand the mic to FreeAgent for an exclusive review into their product roadmap and award-winning strategy. Staff Product Manager Stu McEwan joins us to pull back the curtain on: Strategic Integrations: Why FreeAgent is moving away from a vast ecosystem to focus on selective, ”best-in-class” partners in key verticals like practice management and accounts payable. Award-Winning CIS Module: How listening to accountants shaped a flexible and easy-to-correct CIS solution for both contractors and subcontractors. Practice Efficiency: A look at new tools like ”Find and Fix” for bulk reclassifying transactions and enhanced dashboard controls for managing client tax information and permissions. Serving Larger Clients: How features like enhanced Management Reports, budgeting, and upcoming Tracking Groups are expanding FreeAgent’s capabilities beyond the micro-entity market. A Pragmatic Approach to AI: Why FreeAgent is deliberately focusing on embedded machine learning rather than jumping on the generative AI hype, prioritising solutions that solve real customer problems. Finally, James Rose from Content Snare joins us to discuss his realist take on AI in document collection, arguing why protecting the client experience must come before full automation. Whether you’re looking for the latest accounting tech news, insights from the Digital Disruptor Awards, or a strategic look into FreeAgent’s future, this episode is unmissable. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome to the Digitals and the Cruel World Podcast 09:46 Digital Disruptor Award Win - FreeAgent Reaction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 14:43 App News - FreeAgent Takeover 15:30 Introducing Stu McEwan 16:36 Approach to Integrations 21:04 FreeAgent Card?! 22:09 Practice Management 24:03 Why CIS? 26:35 Voice of the customer 30:00 Find and Fix 35:09 Management Reports 39:16 FreeAgent’s Customer Focus 42:18 Tracking Groups 44:30 Release of the Year 46:30 Hot Topics: Payments and AI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 54:26 Beyond the Hype: A Pragmatic Approach to AI - Content Snare 01:05:49 Enjoyed the pod? Leave a rating!

Ryan and Indi are back with your weekly dose of accounting tech news and fintech news, headlined by the launch of a new AI-native accounting platform set to challenge the established players - this episode sponsored by Content Snare. The big story this week is the emergence of Artifact AI, an ”agentic AI accountant” backed by a $4 million seed round from Andreessen Horowitz. Is this the beginning of the end for traditional ledgers? Ryan, who has been advising the company, shares his inside take on how these AI-native platforms are built from the ground up to automate workflows and disrupt the market. The news roundup also covers AccountsIQ’s move into non-financial metrics, major compliance updates from Bright and Inform Direct, and Zoho Books’ competitive free plan for MTD ITSA. We’re also joined by Paul Sparkes from iplicit to discuss the power of integration, and why moving from a closed legacy system to a connected ecosystem is critical for the mid-market. Then, James Rose from Content Snare dives deep into security, exploring how to balance robust protection with a simple client experience that finally moves accountants away from insecure email exchanges. 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 07:00 From Closed Systems to Connected Solutions - iplicit 17:58 App News 18:03 Artifact AI Launches New Accounting Platform with $4M Seed Funding 22:21 AccountsIQ Unveils New Non-Financial Metrics Tracking Tool 25:31 Unleashed Enhances Platform with AI and Workflow Updates 27:44 Bright Continues Expansion with Acquisition of The Payroll Centre 30:18 Inform Direct Adds Identity Verification for ECCTA Compliance 31:58 Zoho Books Offers Free Software for MTD ITSA 33:52 Paradigm Launches Innovative Spreadsheet with AI in Every Cell 36:14 Beyond Email: How Content Snare is Revolutionising Secure Document Exchange 46:58 Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a rating!

Indi and Ryan are back with the latest accounting tech news and fintech news, leading with their in-depth Xerocon reaction.  Tickets to the Digital Disruptor Awards are now available: https://digitaldisruptorawards2025.eventbrite.co.uk In this episdoe, sponsored by Tugger, Xero has unveiled its new AI ”Financial Superagent,” an evolution of JAX. But is it a game-changer or a disappointment? The hosts dive deep into the announcement, discussing the agent’s capabilities for providing insights rather than processing transactions, the staggered global rollout which initially excludes the UK, and other key updates from Xerocon, including a new homepage, payment features, and payroll enhancements. The app news doesn’t stop there. The duo also covers Dext’s impressive new AI-powered line item extraction and the latest innovations from QuickBooks, including a ’Pay by Bank’ feature, enhanced CIS functionality, and a direct PayPal integration.  We round off the news with Socket’s new Zapier integration, unlocking more automation for your practice 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 03:05 Solving the Month-End Bottleneck - iplicit ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ App News 13:25 Xero Reveals ”Financial Superagent” 15:38 Other Xerocon Announcements and more on JAX 2.0 23:56 Xero Payroll Updates 25:58 Dext Adds AI Line Item Extraction via Unleashed 29:59 QuickBooks Launches New AI-Powered Innovations 34:52 Socket Announces New Zapier Integration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 36:28 Making it ’Stupid Easy’ for clients to provide MTD info - Content Snare 47:18 Enjoyed the pod? Leave us a rating! This episode’s sponsors: iplicit: https://www.iplicit.com Content Snare: https://contentsnare.com/ Tugger: https://tuggerapp.com

Stay ahead with the latest accounting tech news and fintech news on Digi-Tools in Accrual World. This episode (sponsored by Scoro), we dive deep into two critical areas: AI-driven forecasting and cost-effective client reporting. First, discover how to make budgeting smarter by removing human emotion and bias from your forecasts. We talk with Paul Sparkes about how iplicit's new AI tools are enhancing ERP systems to provide more accurate, data-driven financial projections. Later in the show learn how to unlock better client reporting and simplify your Power BI sharing process with Craig Morrall from Tugger. Plus, get caught up on the biggest headlines in the accounting tech space, including: M&A Alert: Dutch payments giant Mollie in talks to acquire GoCardless. Compliance Tech: How Firmcheck is preparing firms for new Companies House ID verification rules. Feature Updates: Dext introduces live VAT number validation to fight fraud. Industry Trends: Surprising research shows senior accountants are adopting AI faster than juniors. ERP Evolution: Oracle launches a new AI connector for NetSuite to enhance data integration. (00:00) Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World(03:47) Make Budgeting Smarter with AI Forecasting(14:59) App News Roundup(15:04) Mollie in Talks to Acquire GoCardless(17:15) Roveel Rolls Out Summer Platform Upgrades(19:01) Firmcheck Ready to Help Firms Meet New Companies House ID Rules(21:25) Dext Introduces Live VAT Checks(23:56) Accounting Seniors LEAD Juniors in AI Adoption(26:01) Clockwork.ai Partners with Thomson Reuters(29:45) Oracle Launches NetSuite AI Connector(33:22) Xero Urges Government for SME Digital Roadmap(36:59) Unlock Better Client Dashboards for Less(47:27) Leave a rating to help us grow the podcast! This episode's sponsors iplicit: https://www.iplicit.comTugger: https://tuggerapp.comScoro: https://www.scoro.com/

This week’s episode (sponsored by FreeAgent ) dives into the latestaccounting tech news and fintech news, with sharp takes on major acquisitions and the future of user experience. We cover: The big fintech news as Starling acquire Ember — and what it means when a challenger bank strategically pulls the rug out from its high street competitors. Xero's controversial decision to email your clients directly — and the debate on who should own the client relationship. Xero's long-awaited navigation redesign and Syft-powered analytics — and whether this finally brings the user experience up to modern standards. The launch of QuickBooks agentic AI experiences — and how they're leveraging the entire Intuit ecosystem to go beyond simple bookkeeping. Plus: A deep dive into UI/UX with iplicit's CPO Paul Sparks, exploring why modern design and a mobile-first approach are just as critical as the AI hype. We also hear from Tugger's Craig Morrall on why your P&L is only half the story, and how to get true business insight by combining financial and operational data. 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World! 04:43 User Experience Matters: Modernising Accounting Platforms - with Paul Sparks from iplicit05:07 Mobile App Development and User Experience07:08 Platform Usage Analysis by Role08:32 UI/UX Modernisation Plans09:54 AI Assistant Integration 14:31 App News15:18 Starling Bank Acquires Tax Software Ember20:10 Xero will contact your clients on updates23:57 Xero Analytics Gets an Upgrade with Syft27:17 Xero is introducing a redesigned navigation30:34 QuickBooks is launching new agentic AI experiences35:00 Sage has announced the launch of Workforce Intelligence39:05 Sage expands capabilities for Intacct44:10 FreeAgent Adds Excel Export for Management Reports 44:40 Data-Driven Decisions: Combining Financial and Operational Reporting:  with Tugger45:28 Combining Financial and Operational Data48:04 Data Ownership and Reporting Structure50:03 Business Drivers for Integrated Reporting.. 53:27 Legacy Systems Integration55:53 Closing Remarks

This week’s episode (sponsored by Employment Hero) dives into the latest accounting tech news, with sharp takes and practical insights from the team. We cover: Chaser’s new automated late fees and early payment discounts — and why it’s about more than just chasing debt Vinyl’s $2m raise to tackle meeting admin with AI — and whether its specialisation is enough to break through into the overcrowded AI notetaker market FreeAgent’s CIS update for contractors — and why it’s a smart move for a MTD-era market Xero’s long-overdue inventory upgrades and what it means for product-based businesses Dext’s long-awaited prepayments Plus: Tugger’s Power BI integration powered by LLMs, helping firms unlock data insights without a data analyst We also touch on emerging trends in outsourcing, AI-powered forecasting, and much more! 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast 02:49 What is pod sourcing? || Advancetrack ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 04:56 Market traction and adoption of pod sourcing 06:08 How pod sourcing aligns with AI adoption 08:23 Should firms focus on specialisation over breadth? 10:41 App News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10:56 Xero upgrades inventory tools 13:54 FreeAgent adds CIS contractor support 15:07 Vinyl raises $2m for meeting automation 19:30 Dext adds prepayments 23:44 Jenesys email cost centre coding 24:40 Briefcase one-click line items 28:22 Chaser launches automated late fees 32:39 Float adds VAT cashflow predictions 35:11 Next-Level Data Insights || Tugger ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 35:48 How AI and LLMs are enhancing data analysis capabilities 40:20 How AI will improve Power BI accessibility and reporting 42:25 Join us at the Digital Disruptor Awards!

In this episode of Digi‑Tools in Accrual World, we dive into the latest accounting tech news, covering everything from MTD developments to Sage’s newest moves, plus updates on tooling that matters to modern practices. We speak with Ian Gregory, CTO of Advancetrack, about the future of outsourcing in accounting, how AI reshapes compliance, and the critical role Advancetrack plays in supporting firms through systemic change. Advancetrack  Later, Craig Morrall joins us to introduce Tugger, a cheekily named, no‑code solution for businesses that securely aggregates data from systems like Xero, HubSpot, Harvest—and delivers it straight into Power BI or Tableau. Tugger  This episode is perfect for: Accounting firms navigating Making Tax Digital (MTD) and digital transformation Practice managers and technology leads monitoring Sage, BrightPay, Xero, and Webexpenses updates Firms seeking smarter outsourced workflows and reporting solutions SaaS partners, vendor teams, and tech consultants who support accountants on their advisory journey 0:00 Intro | 5.33 1:43 AI, Outsourcing & the Future of Accounting – Advancetrack App News 11:23 Xero Small Business Index – June Decline 13:53 Avalara introduces AI tax-query bot 17:12 Sage acquires Fyle for expense automation 20:06 Sage explores automating the financial close 26:45 BrightPay adds new payroll tools 30:50 Xero App Store – July releases 34:05 Xero UK now supports SMS invoicing 35:48 Webexpenses launches digital payment cards 38:11 Introducing Tugger – smarter reporting 48:50 Subscribe to our newsletter