With the new financial year just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to stop and reflect. For some, this means figuring out where your business could use a bit of extra support to make FY22 your best year yet. Our Xero Small Business Insights report shows that embracing digital tools can be a key factor in helping  small businesses kick growth goals. And that’s where the Xero App Marketplace comes in. With an ecosystem of over 1,000 apps, you can create a virtual team at your fingertips, supporting you with everything from cash flow management to moving sales online.

Following one of the most challenging years yet for small businesses, you might’ve missed out on some exciting ecosystem updates and new releases. Of course, with so many apps to choose from, we can never play favourites. So we’ve gone and compiled a list of highlights from the past twelve months to help you set yourself up for success in FY22.  

Go paperless with Expensify

Any small business owner knows that paper receipts can be a pain to manage. The solution? Go paperless with receipt and expense management platform Expensify. In FY21, the Expensify app released two new features that enable small businesses to electronically receive, categorise, approve and pay bills – all automatically. The app continuously syncs with Xero, meaning it’s clever enough to automatically link invoices to corresponding customer accounts, and track the real-time status of invoices, bills and expense reports.

Schedule smarter with Deputy’s new touchless time clock feature

Last year, employers took extra precautions to protect their employees’ health and safety at work. And for many businesses, those changes have become permanent. That’s why Deputy introduced a touchless time clock feature, giving employees a faster and more hygenic way to start their shifts with facial and voice recognition. It also introduced smart scheduling to help small businesses better understand wage to sales percentages, making it easier to optimise rostering. Finally, Deputy underwent a total brand refresh in FY21, making employee management even more accessible and easy to use for small business owners.

Reach more customers online with A2X’s new integrations

A2X accounting software helps ecommerce businesses automate their books for maximum accuracy. In FY21, the app introduced new integrations with eBay and Etsy, helping local small businesses that sell on these platforms to reach more customers. It also launched a new notifications feature with timely alerts for smoother invoice management.

Manage jobs and projects like a pro with WorkflowMax

Did you know that WorkflowMax and Xero Practice Manager (XPM) used to be the same product? It was one project and practice management solution for both small businesses as well as accountants and bookkeepers. Last year, they were separated into individual products so new developments can focus more specifically on each audience’s needs.

For WorkflowMax, this move means there’s a new, dedicated product team that’s improving quoting, invoicing, reporting and API features over the next twelve months. These changes will be particularly important for small businesses who have transitioned to more flexible and remote working and need an end-to-end system to manage their people, profit and performance.

Make data-driven decisions with Vonto

Vonto is a clever app that combines insights from tools like Instagram, Shopify, and MailChimp into a holistic and streamlined view of your business’ numbers. In the past twelve months, it’s updated its mobile offering with improved categorisation features to help small business owners keep track of emerging trends and anomalies, including those in your Xero account. You can also connect and collaborate with your advisor in real-time using Vonto, to help you make better-informed decisions in FY22.

Start strong in FY22

Whether you’re new to apps or are looking to get the most out of your existing integrations, the Xero App Marketplace offers plenty of options to help you start the new financial year strong. But don’t just take our word for it.

Raph Freedman, co-owner of the Mind Muscle Project, says, “From managing our cash flow correctly to seamlessly invoicing customers from all over the world, Xero’s app ecosystem has made our business more effective than ever.”

And he’s not the only one reaping the benefits of increased efficiency. When it comes to managing small business admin, Ryan Kagan of BlueRock Digital says WorkflowMax has saved his team nearly 30 hours a week. “Our support person now spends just 15 to 20 minutes producing invoices. This means they can focus on higher value activities, like developing our business,” he adds.

So head on over to the Xero App Marketplace to explore what’s on offer. To make things even easier, you can also filter by function, industry and collections, making it simple to find the solutions that are right for you and your business.

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