Xero launches AI superagent JAX to automate routine tasks and deliver insights, says Chief Product Officer Diya Jolly.
What’s happening: Xero has unveiled the next evolution of its AI financial superagent JAX alongside a unified Partner Hub and analytics enhancements, designed to automate routine accounting tasks and free professionals for strategic work.
Why this matters: With accounting firms facing talent shortages and increasing compliance pressures, these AI-powered tools could transform how practitioners operate, shifting focus from manual busywork to high-value client advisory services.
The accounting profession stands at a pivotal moment. Talent shortages, economic uncertainty, and mounting regulatory complexity are pushing practitioners to breaking point, while clients demand more strategic guidance than ever before.
Xero’s response, unveiled at Xerocon Brisbane, signals a fundamental shift in how accounting software approaches these challenges – not just digitising existing processes, but reimagining them entirely through artificial intelligence.
AI takes the wheel
At the heart of Xero’s announcement is JAX (Just Ask Xero), an AI financial superagent built on the company’s agentic platform. Unlike traditional software that requires users to navigate through menus and forms, JAX learns how individual businesses operate and proactively handles routine tasks.
“We know the daily realities accountants and bookkeepers face – talent shortages, economic uncertainty, increasing regulatory complexity and compliance pressure – alongside day-to-day manual tasks, can keep them from high-value strategic work,” explained Diya Jolly, Xero’s Chief Product and Technology Officer.
The AI agent works by “orchestrating multiple AI agents behind the scenes to cut busywork and help you make smarter decisions,” according to Xero’s announcement. Rather than simply automating individual tasks, JAX aims to understand workflow patterns and deliver actionable insights that guide business decisions.
This approach reflects broader trends in AI adoption among Australian businesses. Recent government data shows 40% of SMEs are currently adopting AI, representing a 5% increase from the previous quarter, suggesting businesses are increasingly ready for sophisticated automation tools.
Partners get unified platform
The new Xero Partner Hub represents a significant shift from fragmented tools to a unified platform approach. For accounting firms currently juggling multiple applications and interfaces, the Hub consolidates practice tools and data into a single source of truth.
Current users of Xero Practice Manager will gain beta access in coming months, with full launch expected in early 2026. The platform features customisable homepages enriched with AI-powered insights, providing what Xero describes as “a fully integrated client and staff experience.”
Supporting this unified approach is a new workpapers solution developed with BGL, which automatically downloads ledger data from Xero and tax information from the Australian Taxation Office. This eliminates manual data entry – a time-consuming task that often keeps qualified professionals from more strategic work.
The timing aligns with growing recognition of AI’s potential in Australian accounting, though adoption remains in early stages. Many firms remain uncertain about implementation due to unclear policies and risk concerns, creating opportunities for early adopters to gain competitive advantages.
Real insights arrive
Syft Analytics enhancements promise to deliver more sophisticated business intelligence capabilities. The improvements include enhanced forecasting, advanced reporting, and multi-entity consolidations – features that transform raw financial data into strategic guidance.
Perhaps more significantly, Analytics powered by Syft will incorporate external data sources alongside financial information. Website visits, customer engagement metrics, and other operational indicators will combine with traditional accounting data to provide comprehensive business health scores.
“Xero’s new features are designed to automate the heavy lifting, freeing up our partners to focus on more meaningful and impactful work like strengthening client relationships and providing personalised advice,” Jolly noted.
This data integration approach addresses a longstanding challenge in small business advisory services: the difficulty of providing strategic guidance based solely on historical financial data. By incorporating real-time operational metrics, advisors can offer more timely and relevant recommendations.
Payments get smarter
The platform updates extend beyond back-office automation to customer-facing improvements. Progress payments will allow businesses to accept deposits or staged payments, providing better cash flow management – a critical concern given previous Xero research showing late payments cost Australian small businesses billions annually.
A new online statement feature enables customers to pay multiple outstanding invoices in single transactions, potentially reducing payment delays and simplifying reconciliation processes.
The platform’s redesigned homepage moves beyond static dashboards to provide customisable, insight-rich interfaces. New widgets deliver at-a-glance business performance views while highlighting areas requiring attention, allowing users to take action directly without navigating through multiple screens.
These changes reflect Xero’s broader commitment to what the company describes as “strengthening the impact of accountants and bookkeepers and working with them to shape the future of the industry.”
For accounting professionals, the question isn’t whether AI will transform their industry – it’s how quickly they can adapt to leverage these new capabilities while maintaining the trusted advisor relationships that remain fundamentally human.
Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
