Xero has just rolled out some major updates, and they’re designed to make everyday business tasks a whole lot easier. If you’ve ever felt like bookkeeping eats into too much of your week, or you’ve worried that your reports aren’t giving you the full picture, these changes could be game‑changers. Some of these features are still being developed, but the end result is going to be amazing for small business owners! 

JAX (Just Ask Xero) Gets Smarter

Think of JAX as your digital assistant inside Xero. Instead of digging through menus to find a cashflow report, you can now ask JAX in plain English, “How much profit did I make last month?” or “Show me my cashflow forecast.” The answers pop up without you having to run the reports yourself. Even better, JAX can now reconcile some of your bank transactions automatically when it’s very confident they match. That means less time clicking and matching, and more time focusing on your actual business.

Picture this: you’re preparing to call a customer who always pays late, and you know you need to negotiate better payment terms. Normally, you’d have to figure out what to say, maybe even put it off because it feels awkward. With JAX, you can ask something like, “Can you help coach me through a conversation about payment terms with my customer?” and get guidance straight away. That’s the kind of practical support these updates are built for—even if JAX is still in beta, it shows where things are heading.

A New Look and Easier Navigation

Xero’s layout is getting a refresh. The menu bar across the top has now been renamed and is more user friendly. Most people who use Xero are not accountants, and the new layout is intuitive, separating Purchases from Sales and Accounting. Your Dashboard is now called Home, and you can change the widgets on the dashboard so you can monitor different aspects of your business.

Syft Analytics Included in Plans

This is an incredible bonus if you're interested in seeing your business from a CEO angle. Syft Analytics is now included in eligible Xero plans. It lets you see not just what happened, but what’s likely to happen next. For example, if your sales always dip in January, Syft can forecast that dip so you’re ready for it. Or if your expenses are creeping up, it can flag that trend before it becomes a bigger problem.

Once you have allowed Syft access to your data, you can then see a Dashboard of graphs and charts showing you your data compared with other relevant time periods and more. You can see your gross and net profit margin, your total income, and operating expenses quickly and easily using real time data. 

Each section also has a button "Explain this to me" so if you're unsure about what the graphs and charts mean, help is just a click away. It’s a bit like having a financial coach built into your software, pointing out patterns and helping you plan ahead.

With Syft powering analytics in Xero, you can dig deeper into profitability than ever before. The new tools highlight key metrics such as revenue growth, margins, and expense ratios in a clear, visual way. You can instantly compare how your business is performing over different periods, identify which areas are dragging down profits, and spot opportunities to improve. Instead of just seeing the totals, you now get insights into why the numbers look the way they do, helping you make informed choices to strengthen your bottom line. 

Syft and Jax Together = a Powerhouse for Your Future

Leveraging both JAX and Syft together is where the real power lies for small business owners. JAX makes it easy to ask quick questions and get practical answers, whether you want a cashflow forecast or advice on a tricky customer conversation, without needing to run complex reports. Syft then takes the bigger picture view, helping you dive deeper into trends and profitability with clear charts and explanations. When you combine the two, you get real-time coaching for everyday decisions and strategic insights for long-term planning. It means less time second-guessing the numbers and more confidence that you’re steering your business in the right direction.

Summary

Xero’s latest updates are about saving you time, cutting down on stress, and giving you clarity when you need it most. With JAX answering questions in plain English and Syft helping you see the bigger picture, small business owners now have tools that make confident decision‑making easier than ever. If you’ve ever wished your software could act more like a coach and less like a filing cabinet, these updates are a big step in the right direction. JAX is still under development, and so while the vision is incredible, always remember to check the output of any AI for accuracy.

If you're looking for ways to super charge your business, we're Profit First Professionals and Xero Trusted Partners! We'd love to help you get your business goals, so book in a chat today to see how we can help.