Bank feeds - Retain the payment link for Kiwibank & ASB
Xero have announced that they are removing the ability to automatically send batch files across to Kiwibank & ASB on 16th November, in order to "focus our efforts to support areas of Xero that provide the most value for customers."
Speaking on behalf of my clients who actively use this feature, it's of huge value to them. It automates a process that otherwise involves manually downloading a file, logging into internet banking and uploading that file. It's even better for users who don't have internet banking access, but need to set up payment batches on behalf of those that do have authority to approve payments (eg. schools and charities).
I don't quite understand why Xero would actively regress and remove a feature that would create unnecessary additional steps for Xero users?
So I'm just raising this "idea" to see if there's support from other advisers for the retention of this feature.
Anthony Rohan
shared this idea
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Carol Estava
commented
Seems the new way forward for Xero!!!
They keep removing access and features that we have relied on!
I am researching other platforms for my 30+ clients. -
Anthony Rohan
commented
@wayne - Although voted by many others, Xero confirm that they have made the "difficult decision" to retire it...
>> https://productideas.xero.com/forums/939198-for-small-businesses/suggestions/47266976-bills-direct-payment-link-asb-or-kiwibank -
Wayne Shilcock
commented
...in order to "focus our efforts to support areas of Xero that provide the most value for customers"
Any idea that these areas may be?
Automatically sending batches provided value to me as a customer.
Customers complaining that I've not paid them (because I missed uploading the batches to Kiwibank) has not been much of a value add.
Does anyone know of an alternative either using Xero, some plugin maybe. Or moving to another accounting package that does support sending batch files?
Anyone from Xero follow/update/acknowledge these comments?
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Chris Shaw
commented
This sucks - we now missed both a payroll for one of our employees expenses, plus paying a number of our suppliers, one of which was a builder who owed a number of other subcontractors and was unable to pay them all.
I only found out when investigating this evening why our office admin had failed to send payments. This was very poorly managed and should have been better communicated.
Very very poor form Xero. -
Julie King
commented
All I can say is WHY???! Also why does Xero still allow you to process a batch payment without any warning that it is not working. I spent far too much time trying to troubleshoot this issue only to be told by my bank (ASB) that Xero is not providing the service. Why are they allowing direct upload to ANZ, BNZ, and all the other banks in between. This move by Xero is plain STUPID! At least stop the ability to direct upload if you are not providing this option.
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Craig McKenzie
commented
Amazingly stupid move by Xero - I along with I suspect 1000's of other users will now look at other options that provide this functionality, MYOB I hope your call centre is ready for this. DUMB Xero, just plain DUMB!
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Paul O'Connell
commented
This is why we upgraded our Xero subscription and was an amazing feature that made weekly bills almost a pleasure! Furious this has been removed without an alternative. I guess Xero considered it was fine to upset customers of only 2 major banks in NZ. Before this they almost had a perfect product for our needs.
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Wayne Shilcock
commented
Why?
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Linda Pattison
commented
Don't remove this feature - it allows us to have a two step process
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Christine McLeod
commented
Please don't remove the direct link!! We use it weekly to upload our creditor batches. The payment is then ready for the dual authorisation directly in ASB.
Chris McLeod (Gisborne Girls High School)