New Invoicing - Reduce number of steps and clicks
New invoicing has introduced more clicks, taps, steps at almost every level.
Please remove the added friction as it increases processing time.
The "new invoicing" messages are full of comments regarding where these pressure points have been added.
We are paid subscribers, and beta testing/seeking feedback is wonderful, but being forced onto an inferior model is.. suboptimal.
Hi everyone, we assure you that our leadership and those that can make a difference to the new invoicing experience are aware of your comments and all the feedback of how we can improve this space for all our customers.
Product ideas here have been specifically designed so we can ensure we have a channel and are getting our customers feedback to the teams and people to consider, plan and prioritise change to impact and make a positive difference to our users experience in all our products. For example - every week all the feedback (every one of the comments) goes to the new invoicing team and has been read by leadership including our CPTO.
Individual personal details have been removed from commentary in this thread as it goes against part of our Community Guidelines.
There are really important reasons why we must go forward with sunsetting classic invoicing and investing in the newer version if we want a product that will continue to serve your needs in the future as classic has too many technological limitations. The leadership from our board, through our c-suite and regional leadership teams know this is the only path forward to give you the features you’ve been asking for. We shared more on this in this blog.
Since my last post there are other changes that have been made to enhance new invoicing, including;
- the ability to attach a file from the files library,
- being able to view files in a side by side view so you no longer have to click across to another tab,
- automatically opening a new tab to take you to areas to add a new account, tracking category or tax rate, and
- being given the option to mark an invoice as sent when printing.
All of which help reduce the number of clicks that you’d have to make for these actions.
We are continuing to explore more ways to reduce the clicks and steps required for other actions in new invoicing and will keep updating you on these here. You can keep up to date with ongoing updates and changes to new invoicing on this Xero Central hub.
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Gordon Lyon commented
Thanks for the response, but the Xero new invoicing page doesn't mention the title and summary features that you already support for quotes. Are those planned at all? There's currently no good place to put key notes specific to that invoice. Users have been clamoring for this since the existing options are poorly suited:
* We can shoehorn a description-only field to the line-item table, but that kludge solution looks really unprofessional.
* We can add it to the email text, but then it's lost when people pass around just the PDF or visit the URL. And if we resend the invoice, we need to remember to add those details back on.
Please consider adding title and subject support to the new Invoice roadmap. It could work just like quotes! In fact it should flow through from quote when we convert them to invoices. -
Kim Carles commented
When you get past entering the reference field, you have to tab 7 times to get to entering the first line item. You have to tab past "set up online payments, currency, branding theme, show hide fields, amounts are and the disc i button" Maybe these fields can go down the bottom of the screen so there is no need to keep tabbing through them once they are already set up. I'm all about speed and using the keyboard is faster then entering a reference and then using the mouse to click to the first line. I prefer not to use the mouse so much.
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Chris Curlett commented
Frankly the post regarding the reasons for changing away from Classic is a exercise in commercial spin with a total lack of detail. It is a "trust us - we know what we are doing" statement despite the fact we have failed to even do basic testing - if we had we would have found the issues users are complaining about.
Come on XERO postpone the launch and put the effort into the IMPROVEMENTS USERS WANT and make a real difference.
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Chris Curlett commented
Thanks for the update Julie
I have also explained my issues to our Auditors and said how the number of issues in XERO left it open to being used for fraud. I went through the lack of security and options in the permissions and the facet invoices can be changed after being sent out. Also the issues that XERO just ignore and do not fix.
I expressed my view to the Auditors that XERO was very below par compaired with other options and that people were starting to move away to other packages.
Then their is the new invoicing issues and the dogmatic attitude of the "leadership team" and how it looked so third rate compared to other packages. For so many issues to be outstanding demonstrates a total lack of testing by XERO.
Then there are the number of issues supported by users but ignored for YEARS despite 200+ users supporting the change.
The Auditors were interested especially at the potential Fraud exposure and failure of XERO to address improvements.
The 'leadership Team" is a joke as their seems to be no leadership!
Perhaps the Auditors will stop recommending/pushing XERO!
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Julie Sutton commented
I too had a call from Xero yesterday morning "assuring" me it was being worked on.
I vented my frustrations not only with new invoicing but so many other issues with Xero and basic functionality that isn't in the software.And that Xero just do not listen to their customers, they never update these forums (I'm excluding Kelly's responses!) other than to say we can't do it.
Pretty sure he knew where I stood, that I wasn't happy and warned that there may be many clients leaving soon
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Chris Curlett commented
Damon I do agree with you however the issue I believe is far greater than just the Invoicing issue.
XERO ARE NOT LISTENING TO USERS AND WHAT THEY NEED.
Look at the number of improvements that 100's of users have supported but nothing has been done to implement them. The Users suggestions are constructive however because the users suggest them, they are ignored.
This needs to change or people will vote by going elsewhere - some have said they are already looking around already.
XXERO needs to up its performance and recognize that the program is failing in many places.
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Claire Parker commented
Good work Lloyd. Thank you for pushing this issue and representing our concerns. It's a pity Xero have not communicated effectively with all their paying customers, but we will take this as a small win.
Xero - I'd love to see a message from you stating that New Invoicing will have ALL the functionality of Classic before retiring Classic. Ideally we would like to have a trial period of New Invoicing once it's fit for purpose and before Classic is switched off so we can re-train our staff and iron out any remaining issues. September is looming and is cutting it fine, to do proper testing and training. Thank you.
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Lloyd Preston commented
Good morning,
Just to let you know that I had a call from Xero yesterday evening, had a good discussion and was able to express my concerns (and hopefully other users also). I was assured that we are being listened too and that in the words of the caller, that 'New Invoicing will be on par with the classic invoicing before it gets switched off.' Let's hope so, but I did express my concerns that it should have been on par before being submitted as an option.
Let's hope that this is the case. But I can recommend that we keep pushing and monitoring this matter until they do get the new (interface) on par or preferable even better than the classic version which for most of use works fine. -
Gabby Berry commented
The message that STILL comes up when I using classic invoicing,
“You're using an old version of invoicing. Our new version of invoicing is packed with time-saving tools that make it easier for you to customise invoices the way you want, while simplifying the way you get paid. ‘”. STOP TELLING PORKIE PIES XERO.
New message needs to read something along the lines of:
“you’re using a function on system that needs updating. We’re working behind the scenes to create an identical version of invoicing in the new system that will be more customizable as we listen to your requirements. We’ll only release the new version when all the capabilities and testing are in line with your efficient workplaces’
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Chris Curlett commented
OK A LOSS TO XERO DUE TO THEIR ATTATUDE!
GOOD LUCK
Others may follow you
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Jenny Draper commented
Chris, https://www.infusionsoftware.co.nz/ looks good, But I really like the look of Odoo - https://www.odoo.com/, so I''m looking at transferring to that (it also looks like the good old Xero)
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Chris Curlett commented
XERO - What are these ..."There are really important reasons why we must go forward with sunsetting classic invoicing and investing in the newer version"
Facts would be nce
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Chris Curlett commented
VERY WELL PUT KELLY. Given the mess it is in I do believe the Product Development Team were a figment of XERO's imagination. They have consistently stalled on other changes.and really failed on this one.
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Kate McArthur commented
Hi Kelly,
I think you and Xero are underestimating the negative impact the new invoicing is and will have on Xero and its market share.
Right now the people communicating their dissatisfaction is a smaller number, because the majority of Xero users have ignored the info and are still using Classic invoicing. Once you force the change you will be inundated with thousands of unhappy users. Only by then it’ll be too late for Xero to make the upgrades to get all the same classic functionality and you’ll start losing those thousands of customers who don’t have months to wait for Xero to fix a product they use daily to earn income.
New invoicing has been around for over 4 years. Xero has had years to make this product perfect! What have you all been doing???
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Chris Curlett commented
Lloyd - another one is Infusion at https://www.infusionsoftware.co.nz/
They are really good and have been around for many years. Very smaller to XERO and FAR more responsive with Telelphone real time support. Also will help with applications etc.
Worth a look
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Lloyd Preston commented
Out of interest has anyone tried or got any comments about another online accounting system: https://www.odoo.com/
Interest to hear if anyone has tried this system.
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Chris Curlett commented
If this was true XERO, then you would have been actively improving the site following the many, many constructive user suggestions. You have not been doing this but have simply embarked on something driven by your software people NOT the users - look at all the constructive user suggestions you just ignore or make condescending comments on.
Please also start to Listen to users and what they need improved rather than making condescending excuses.
A COMPANY THAT WILL NOT LISTEN TO THERE CUTOMERS WILL PAY THE PRICE
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Laine Ratsep commented
I understand that Xero had to take their software onto a new coding platform at some point to effect some of the items we have been asking for for years (f.ex the ability to choose from multiple addresses) and to keep up with a new security environment. Cool.
I don't understand why the functionalities offered on the older platform were not the easy first thing to put into the new platform, and then added onto from there.
It looks like perhaps somebody sold Xero a lemon of a platform to build upon, and now they have to suck said lemon. -
Chris Curlett commented
You are so right Damon - but the XERO rule is if users want something lets double talk them and do something that is not wanted - like the new invoice!
It is crazy for a supplier not to listen to its customers - I do not understand why XERO treat us with such contempt.
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Mark Larrington commented
Hey Kelly
If they are listening rather than giving us the runaround just duplicate the functionality and make your salary payers happy. Feels like Xero is on a mission just to wind us up.