Please change what you have done to the branding theme.
We would like to provide some feedback on the latest branding/theme update for invoices. Unfortunately, we are very unhappy with the changes and would strongly appreciate the option to revert to the previous theme.
One of our main concerns is that we may now have a quote created in one theme and then be forced to use the new theme when converting it into an invoice. This creates an inconsistent and less professional experience for our customers.
In particular, we have the following concerns with the new theme:
Quotes with many line items: Our quotes are often 30+ lines long. The new theme appears to have significantly larger gaps between each row, making longer quotes unnecessarily lengthy and difficult to navigate.
Different text sizes: We do not like the different font sizes used for Amount Due, Due Date, Issue Date, Invoice Number and Reference. We would prefer these to have a more consistent and balanced appearance.
Horizontal layout: We do not like the new horizontal layout of Amount Due, Due Date, Issue Date, Invoice Number and Reference. We preferred the previous arrangement, which was clearer and more compact.
"Tax Invoice" wording: We would like the option to change the wording in the top right from "Tax Invoice" to simply "Invoice".
Amount Due: We would like the option to remove the "Amount Due" field.
Issue Date: We would like the option to remove the "Issue Date" field.
Font options: We would like the previous font options to be reinstated, as these gave us much greater flexibility over the appearance of our documents.
Footer: We would like the previous footer functionality/design to be reinstated.
We are also disappointed with the way such a major update has been introduced. It feels as though significant changes have simply been rolled out to customers without a proper transition period or an opportunity to test the new options alongside the existing theme.
For changes that directly affect customer-facing documents, we feel there should be a period where businesses can review, test and provide feedback on the new functionality before the previous options are removed. This would give Xero the opportunity to identify issues and make improvements before customers are forced to adopt the new design.
Overall, we feel the new theme has reduced the flexibility and customisation available to us and, in several areas, has made our quotes and invoices less clear and less professional.
Most importantly, we would like Xero to provide an option to continue using the original/previous theme. If the new theme is going to remain the default, we believe customers should at least have the choice of reverting to the previous design while the new options are refined.
We hope you will take this feedback seriously, particularly from businesses that have established their own professional document layouts and branding around the previous Xero templates.
We would appreciate confirmation as to whether the original theme can be reinstated or whether an option to switch back will be made available.
Shane Fraser
shared this idea
Thank you everyone, for sharing your feedback on the new invoice template editor.
While we hear your concerns, we don’t accept ideas asking us to remove a new feature or restore an old experience. That said we want to hear your feedback on how we can improve the new experience.
In relation to feedback on the invoice title - We've recently released an update in the Advanced section of the editor where you have multiple options for the Invoice title, a couple of preselections or the ability to set your own custom title.
I've linked some ideas started around changes users would like to see below, and encourage you to add your vote where of interest to you. This'll be highly valuable to the team and we'll be able to keep you updated on related changes
- Invoice template - Ability to remove "View Online"
- Invoice template - Allow font size and weight adjustments for due date and invoice date
- Invoice: Invoice Templates - Custom Fonts for Standard Invoice Themes
- Invoice template - Ability to control size of text
- Invoice templates - Ability to reduce line spacing and padding
For other improvements, please create a new idea describing the specific change you’d like developed in the new editor.
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Tina SPECK
commented
Do not like the new layout. Looks unprofessional. Plus we still have to post some invoices out so too much information on the address (phone number etc) that shows in the envelope window and does not fold very nicely in the envelope. Really dislike it.
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Helen Mallett
commented
The new layout is not pleasing on the eye. And it annoys me that half of the first page is taken up by business info and due dates. My invoices can be 2-3 pages long at the best of time so space is a premium. If you can make the "advanced templates" look like a normal invoice and not something from 20 years ago I'd be inclined to do that, but you don't make it easy to create a pretty invoice.
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Peter Lloyd
commented
The new layout looks crass and something for the USA not the UK. It also doesn't make any sense for a paid invoice to show in massive bold letters Amount Due £0.00 and Due Date. The design looks like it has been made by a school kid. It should have been rolled out as an option instead of steam-rollered with no consultation. Thoughtless.
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David Wright
commented
We are a professional printing and mailing company and would never design an invoice to look like this. I really urge the team at Xero to give us the option of using the legacy branding theme our branding and the way we presented invoices to customers was professional looking and a sudden change alarms customers to think these may be coming from an untrustworthy source.
There was no consultation regarding the change and no trial period, i have had to spend my time fixing something that i didn't break in the first place using a DOCX design.
This change was totally unnecessary and to me it seems like developers trying to justify their existence within Xero.
Please re-think this Xero as it will result in a loss of confidence from your clients. -
Vanessa Masters
commented
My god - ugly, unpolished....and why?
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Adrian Crawley
commented
Completely agree, and why this view online slogan everywhere and the "back in fashion" QR code. Large companies processing monthly bacs runs don't need or look at this, it actually down grades the look of your business and makes you look desperate for payment.
Who designed the new layout! - You have changed the branding of our invoices to the point customers are questioning us about them being authentic.
Another change implemented by XERO that wasn't asked for. -
Nicola Wall
commented
The new invoice template that has just been released, why does the amount have to appear in three places & why is the font so big & bold, it uses up too much space, that along with the issue date/invoice number/reference now having moved from the top right means that there is so little workable space for the invoice. How about going back to the old design or at least giving the option to be able to remove, move and or change font sizes so that it doesn't take up so much space. The writing is so big & bold that it looks like you are shouting at your customers, a bit like typing a text all in capitals is seen as shouting. Customers don't like it, they say it doesn't need to be so big and why does the total/amount due appear three times, overkill is what one customer said. What is the point of the thick line at the bottom of the page, how about the ability to remove that, it is pointless, just uses up space & ink. If you are going to make pointless changes at least give us the option to remove them or alter them, we don't all fit into one small box, all businesses are different, we shouldn't be stuck with a generic template that can't be altered in any way. Another backward step.