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.

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

00:00 Introduction

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.

Plus, don't miss our roundup of the biggest stories in the accounting tech space:

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the  Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast!

13:49 App News

28:32 The hidden impacts of payroll errors - Employment Hero

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!

App News

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

This week, the Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast brings you front-row access to the biggest news in UK accounting tech! 

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:

54:26 Beyond the Hype: A Pragmatic Approach to AI - Content Snare

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

17:58 App News

36:14 Beyond Email: How Content Snare is Revolutionising Secure Document Exchange

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:

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

This episode's sponsors:

iplicit: https://www.iplicit.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

This episode's sponsors

iplicit: https://www.iplicit.com

This week’s episode (sponsored by FreeAgent ) dives into the latest

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.

04:43 User Experience Matters: Modernising Accounting Platforms - with Paul Sparks from iplicit

14:31 App News

44:40 Data-Driven Decisions: Combining Financial and Operational Reporting:  with Tugger

53:27 Legacy Systems Integration

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

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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

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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

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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!