Xero previews chatbot for Messenger

Xero previews chatbot for Messenger to connect millions of small businesses to global accounting ecosystem

Powerful new gateway for millions of small businesses to discover Xero ecosystem of accountants and bookkeepers

BRISBANE, 9 September, 2016 — Xero (@Xero) today unveiled an innovative chatbot codenamed Hey Xero that will provide small businesses and their advisors with a completely new way to access the Xero ecosystem and their accounting data quickly, from their platform of choice.

Available later this year, Hey Xero will have the capability to connect the more than 50 million small businesses who use Facebook Messenger every month into the wider Xero ecosystem, opening a new way for businesses to discover the cloud accounting platform and find the right advisor for them.

Using Hey Xero, businesses will be able access the Xero Advisor Directory and be recommended a suitable accountant or bookkeeper in their area. Xero subscribers will also be able to discover new apps in the Xero ecosystem and query their latest financial data, such as who owes them money or when their next bill is due.

According to Facebook, more than one billion people around the world communicate on Messenger every month, and more than two-thirds of people expect to use messaging apps to talk to business.

Developed on Amazon Web Services (AWS), Hey Xero will enable small businesses to talk to their accounting system without leaving Facebook to better understand their business. For accountants and bookkeepers, it means more and better business leads, and less time answering basic questions and more time providing real, high-value business advice.

Xero is also working to make the tools available to other messaging platforms such as Slack and Apple iOS in the future, enabling Xero subscribers and new customers to access their accounting dashboard from their platform or device of choice.

By developing this capability, Xero will be able to share the tools, technologies and best practice methods with banks and financial services connected to the small business community to further enhance the global financial web Xero is building.

Hey Xero was announced on day two of Xerocon South, Australasia’s largest accounting technology conference, bringing together more than 2,000 accountants, bookkeepers, financial professionals and exhibitors from Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Commonwealth Bank is Platinum sponsor of Xerocon South, with Paypal and AWS as Gold sponsors.

Comments on the news
• Rod Drury, CEO of Xero, said: “Connecting the more than 50 million small businesses on Facebook Messenger with accountants is a huge opportunity for our industry. We’re opening up access to accounting software, solutions and advisors to help millions of small businesses be more productive and get the advice they need to grow and create jobs.”
• Paul Migliorini, Managing Director of AWS Australia and New Zealand, said; “Xero continues to innovate in compelling ways to create value for its customers. We are excited Xero has used AWS to build this great new service, which takes advantage of some of our most advanced capabilities.”

Screenshots of Hey Xero for Messenger are available here.

About Xero
Xero is beautiful, easy-to-use online accounting software for small businesses and their advisors. The company has 700,000 subscribers in more than 180 countries. Xero seamlessly integrates with over 500 apps. It was ranked No. 1 by Forbes as the World's Most Innovative Growth Company in both 2014 and 2015, while Canstar Blue rated Xero Australia’s best accounting software in 2015 and 2016.

About Xerocon South
Xerocon South is the largest accounting technology conference in Australasia, bringing together more than 2000 accountants, bookkeepers, financial professionals and exhibitors. Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 8-9, keynote speakers include Xero CEO Rod Drury, global thought leader and author Rachel Botsman, and Guardian Australia journalist Paul Farrell. Commonwealth Bank, PayPal and Amazon Web Services are sponsoring Xerocon South 2016.

You can follow news from the conference on Twitter at @Xero and with #Xerocon.

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