Digi-Tools In Accrual World DigiTools-In-AccrualWorld

Buckle up and join us for a rollercoaster episode straight from the sizzling streets of Las Vegas with the latest in accounting and finance tech! 

Jonathan Toon as navigates Eurovision vibes, European-style sunbathing and sky-high Starbucks prices at Engage conference.

Along with the latest App News and updates from FreeAgent, do not miss Pixie co-founder Celso Pinto’s insights on starting, building and exiting from Pixie in the noisy, noisy marketplace of accounting tech.

00:00 Looney Toon’s Vegas Adventure
03:47 Intro

App News
~~~~~~~~~~~
07:26 Intuit’s Impressive Quarterly Results
10:41 Xero’s Strong Financial Year
15:00 Sage’s Net Zero Targets and ESG Reporting
20:10 Sage Partnering with DonerPerfect
21:27 Sage Intact’s New Features and Updates
25:28 Xero’s Pricing Plan Changes
32:04 HG’s Acquisition of AuditBoard

33:55 FreeAgent - Tony Stevenson: Why Digital Transformation is a Team Sport
39:38 What Happens in Vegas Better Stay in Vegas

Interview: Celso Pinto
~~~~~~~~~~~
42:12 Celso’s Origin Story
49:24 Starting Pixie
53:33 Making Tough Product Decisions

Welcome back to the Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast!


Join us as we throwback to Accountex, where Ryan decided to desert us for the peaceful woods. 

Indy lost her voice, John was knackered - but thankfully we had some stellar help from the Systems Advisory Network. 

As always, this episode covers the latest in app releases, raises and acquisitions

Plus, we see which of us can delay mastication the longest.

Special shoutouts to our Accountex saviours: Dayle, Julie, and Keaton. 


00:00 Intro

App News:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
02:09 Lightyear Acquired
03:19 Access Group’s Acquisition Strategy and Ecosystem
05:00 Canopy + Practice Management AI Innovations
08:22 Layer’s Ambitious Goal to Replace QuickBooks
10:21 FreeAgent’s New Integrations and Updates
11:54 FYI Elite: A New Era in Practice Management?
13:03 Why iplicit are a great employer
14:06 Everyone’s favourite Xero update…
14:51 Quickbooks Ledger
15:18 Valid8me… validated
15:51 Sage’s CoPilot and AI Developments
18:01 AirWallex Bill Pay Solution Integrated with Xero
19:36 Mercia and Inflo’s Partnership
21:15 Ember and HSBC UK’s Embedded Finance Partnership
22:35 TaxCalc Expands with Group Reporting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

24:25 FreeAgent Tortoise or Hare?

29:42 Delayed Marshmallow Mastication

System Advisory Network: Accountex Retrospective
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
32:58 Introduction
33:32 Insights from Dayle and Julie
34:42 Keaton’s Experience and Reflections
35:39 Diverse Queries and Solutions
36:54 The Digital Disruptors Network
37:35 Conversations and Networking at Accountex
43:16 Exploring New Technologies and Vendors
51:27 Outsourcers As Far As The Eye Can See!
55:39 Final Thoughts and Future Plans
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

01:02:56 Rate the pod!!

#S4E10




Wading through the post-conference blues (before the big blue conference) we’re back with another episode!




In App News:

0:04:28 Allica Bank’s New Partnerships Team

0:05:50 Closure of Influential Women’s Tech Network

0:07:40 Highlights from the Xero Awards

0:09:42 New Features and Updates from Xero

0:10:54 Xero Small Business Index

0:12:29 Planday AU

0:14:07 Payhawk + Amex

0:15:04 Soldo + Triver

0:15:45 WorkflowMax Data Transition Issues

0:17:06 Client Engager and Tax on Demand Partnership

0:17:51 NetSuite’s Generative AI Features

0:20:00 Funding News: Tabs and Sumday

0:23:47 Acquisition of Inventoro by Cin7

0:25:10 Active Workpapers’ New Features




This episode’s guest is (now former) Xero MVP Lauren Harvey from Full Stop Accounts. Lauren shares some incredible stories, from her unique career journey and significant industry shifts to promoting better human connections and tackling menopause challenges in a high performance environment - something everyone should know more about.




Less inspirational is Ryan’s funky spunky garden problem and bringing the ‘tone’ back up again is our friendliest sponsor - FreeAgent!




Be sure to rate, like and subscribe to the podcast and get in touch with us at www.digital-disruptors.com/

The legendary Tony Stevenson from FreeAgent joins us on the podcast this week. Voted the friendliest accounting tech software, we’re putting the spotlight on the host of new features they’re releasing over the last few months. Watch this space to hear and see more!

Also Jordan Vickery reveals the growth playbook for accounting techs looking to shore up adoption success post the host of accounting events. 

And in app news this week is a skinny:

HMRC to replace government gateway - https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/hmrc-to-roll-out-government-gateway-replacement
Government fund for AI skills - https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/government-fund-offers-accountants-ai-skills-upgrade
Employment Hero acquires - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/employment-hero-wants-give-employers-time-back-so-we-company-ben-tlxkc/
Mimo launched - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexander-gernandt-segerby-31818a6b_extremely-proud-to[…]041588203521-Om8u?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Iplicit for housing associations - https://www.iplicit.com/blog/iplicit-helps-housing-associations-as-they-face-digital-transformation
Iplicit updates partical vat calculations - https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/community/industry-insights/iplicit-unveils-more-time-saving-features-to-help-charities-tackle

Have you caught the news on the latest apps in the market?
There are some new kids on the block in payment automation apps, and we’re keen to hear from some of the OGs to find out their perspectives and lessons learned on market trends/adoption over the last two years. We spend some time with Joe Lines, CEO of Nook, to talk about tech innovations, future features and the appetite from SMEs for more. 

Tune in if you’re looking to compare the market on AP or AR automation.

We also spend some time with Vipul Sheth, whose upcoming pre Accountex event is imminent. If you’re not on his list and want to see whether you’d benefit then here’s 8 minutes from the man himself.

Finally app news this week:
Phil Hobden joins Silverfin - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/philhobden_accountex-accountants-fintech-activity-7181574519524839424-FrEF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Diya Jolly promoted to CPTO - https://www.xero.com/uk/media-releases/diya-jolly-promoted-chief-product-and-technology-officer/

Five vendors for MTD ITSA release - https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/five-vendors-available-as-hmrc-readies-mtd-itsa-testing-relaunch

Spendesk acquires Okko - https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2024/spendesk-adds-procurement-to-spend-management-platform-with-okko-acquisition/

Xero new invoicing - https://blog.xero.com/product-updates/xero-invoicing-smarter-flexible-future/

Syft updates
Scrutton Bland acquired by Sumer - https://www.accountancyage.com/2024/04/10/sumer-expands-scottish-and-northern-english-footprint-with-merger-of-eq-and-douglas-home-co/

Apron, the AP accounting tech focusing on all things payable, has been on a mission for some big software releases since it burst onto the scene late last year post their Series raise. We catch up with Bogdan Uzbekov about his plans to service the accounting market and plans to go into banking, carding or lending. Hear more here.

And this week in app news:

Iplicit – 18th fastest growing UK business - https://www.ft.com/ft1000-2024?utm_content=284715055&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-10141131
Iplicit is best MAT tool – MAT awards - https://www.iplicit.com/blog/iplicit-secures-tech-company-of-the-year-accolade-at-na[…]tm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-10141131
Allica bank integrates with Sage and Xero - https://www.assetfinanceinternational.com/index.php/technology/technology-archive/technology-articles/23570-allica-bank-announces-integrations-with-sage-and-xero-accounting-platforms
Coconut acquires MyPAYE https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/coconut-owners-acquire-cloud-payroll-tool-mypaye
Xero announces exciting payroll changes - migration made easy - https://blog.xero.com/product-updates/new-changes-in-xero-payroll-uk/
Capium releases new time and fees - https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/practice-software/capium-releases-new-time-and-fees-tracking-module
Zahara custom fields and payments 
Dext due dates extraction - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stephenedginton_we-now-extract-due-dates-via-ai-dext-used-ugcPost-7170766424586588160-5sX3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Nook app updates - payment run resolutions & ability to change scheduling dates on payments and rules & pre-warning of shortage of funds. Payments for payroll via the app!
BBC AI taking grind out of accountancy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68553123