nbn® has delivered one of the most significant internet upgrades in Australia’s history, with millions of homes and businesses now able to access faster broadband speeds under the Accelerate Great program.

The Accelerate Great program is accelerating the wholesale speeds available to eligible customers on the nbn network for selected speed tiers on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) networks.

Designed to meet the growing demand for high-speed broadband, the program enables homes and businesses to do more online – whether it’s learning, working, healthcare, streaming, gaming, home smart devices and appliances or using new digital tools.

Australian households and businesses are using more data than ever before, and this trend is expected to continue as new technologies emerge and become an integral part of our lives. Average monthly data consumption per premises on the nbn network has risen by more than 10 per cent in the past year alone, from 460 gigabytes in June 2024 to 508 gigabytes in June 2025.

This surge reflects the growing demands of today’s connected households, which now support more than 25 internet-connected devices, a number expected to climb to more than 44 by the end of the decade. Likewise, small and medium businesses rely on high-speed internet for cloud applications, digital collaboration, and video conferencing.

The trend is set to continue. Over the next decade, average monthly download usage is expected to surpass 1,100 gigabytes, and the number of devices in both homes and businesses will continue to climb. The rise of new technologies, as well as expanded access to online education, telehealth, and continued growth of cloud services, will further drive this demand for faster broadband.

Australians are embracing higher-speed broadband like never before, with more than 34.8 per cent now connected on wholesale plans offering 100 Mbps or above. Looking ahead, nbn expects that the Accelerate Great program will lead to the new 500 Mbps wholesale speed tier becoming Australia’s most popular nbn plan.

Already more than 9.8 million homes and businesses are eligible for these accelerated speeds, rising to more than 10 million by the end of the year that will be capable of accessing multi-gigabit wholesale speeds.

nbn has empowered phone and internet providers to make the speeds available to their customers.  nbn expects phone and internet providers to begin rolling out the accelerated speeds to eligible customers over the coming weeks.

For most eligible customers on applicable plans, the upgrade will be automatic. To get the full benefit of faster internet, customers are also advised to check their home internet setup.

To find out more or check if your home or business is eligible for faster broadband speeds, visit www.nbn.com.au or contact your phone and internet provider.

The new accelerated speeds:

• nbn Home Fast II: Wholesale speeds will increase from 100/20 Mbps to 500/50 Mbps, offering five times faster download speeds and more than double the upload speed. 
• nbn Home Superfast: Wholesale speeds will increase from 250/25 Mbps to 750/50 Mbps, offering three times faster download speed and double the upload speed. 
• nbn Home Ultrafast¹: Wholesale speeds will increase from 500 to ~1000/50 Mbps to ~1000/100 Mbps, offering double the upload speed.
• nbn Home Hyperfast²: A new wholesale plan that will offer 2000/200 Mbps for those with FTTP connections and 2000/100 Mbps for HFC connections
• nbn Business 2000 Pro²: A new wholesale plan that will offer 2000/500 Mbps for those with FTTP connections.

Anna Perrin, Chief Customer Officer at nbn, said:

“When the nbn network began, we could only imagine what would be possible. 

“The digital revolution is here. A hyper-connected digital world is no longer a distant possibility but our daily reality, with the nbn network at its core. In this digital world, people across Australia are using more data, on more devices, doing more than ever before. This trend will continue as new technology emerges and becomes a part of our lives. 

“That is why we are delivering the most significant uplift to our wholesale speed tiers since the network began. They mean we can support Australian homes and businesses to stay ahead of the curve and handle the data demands of today, and the years to come.  

“The Accelerate Great program is about more than faster speeds. It’s about empowering Australians to thrive in a digital world. Faster broadband means better access to online education, virtual healthcare, cloud-based business tools and emerging technologies. Reliable, high-speed connectivity is essential for the digital experiences that shape our modern lives.

“We’ve worked closely with phone and internet providers to help ensure customers can access these upgrades easily over the coming weeks and months and we will continue to educate homes and businesses get the most out of these accelerated speeds through better in-home set-up and choosing the right plan.”

For many small business owners, digital payment transformation feels like a catch-22. You know that fewer people carry cash, and you’ve seen firsthand the frustration on a customer’s face when they discover you don’t accept card or mobile payments. 

But upgrading to modern point-of-sale (POS) systems has often required hefty upfront costs – an investment that can feel out of reach when you’re also juggling wages, rent, and stock.

This tension has left many small operators stuck on the sidelines of the cashless economy. Until now.

Access over ownership

Over the past two decades, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in the way both consumers and businesses approach capital investment. Streaming replaced DVD collections, software moved to subscription models, and even cars can now be leased on flexible terms. 

The logic is simple: instead of locking up capital in an asset that may become obsolete, businesses gain access to the latest tools through predictable, manageable fees.

The payments industry is similarly embracing rental models that give businesses access to advanced POS systems without the upfront capital outlay. Instead of paying thousands of dollars for hardware, operators can roll costs into a predictable monthly fee, which can be lower than a dollar per day. 

In Australia, Nayax is currently the only provider offering this rental model, making it a unique option for small operators looking to modernise without financial strain. By turning what was previously a capital expenditure into an operational one, small businesses can gain the benefits of cashless technology while preserving cash flow.

To put it in perspective: a laundromat or arcade owner can access a fully featured, modern POS system for less than the cost of a single load of washing or a single arcade play per day. For businesses where every dollar counts, that’s a game-changer.

Beyond digital payments alone

Today’s POS devices are not just payment processors. The latest systems combine secure payments with operational oversight and customer engagement tools. They can provide inventory visibility, deliver software updates remotely, and even run promotions or loyalty programs through on-screen interactions. 

A modern POS can act as a digital employee who accepts payments, communicates with customers, and provides valuable business insights.

By offering these capabilities through a rental model, technology providers are making it possible for businesses of all sizes to take advantage of tools that were once out of reach. 

Flexibility and agility are everything

Beyond simply lowering costs, rental payment models are the key to flexibility and resilience. Businesses can scale up as demand grows, swap out devices when better technology arrives, and adapt to changing customer preferences without taking on the burden of ownership. In an economy where agility matters more than ever, that flexibility can be the difference between treading water and thriving.

The shift toward rental-based payment systems comes at a crucial time for Australian businesses. With new cash acceptance legislation requiring businesses selling essential goods and services to accept cash payments from January 2026, operators need flexible payment solutions that can handle multiple transaction types without requiring multiple systems.

Rental models provide this flexibility while ensuring compliance with evolving regulations like PCI PTS standards, without the complexity of managing these requirements independently.

For small business owners who have been waiting for the right moment to modernise, that moment has arrived. The tools are available, the costs are manageable, and the barriers are lower than ever. 

Embracing cashless technology through a rental model is not just about keeping up with consumer expectations. It is about positioning your business for sustainable growth in a future where access matters more than ownership.

Contributed by By Dylan Winik, CEO of Oceania at Nayax

The retail landscape has arguably never been more challenging. While larger players throw millions at flashy tech implementations or multi-story experiential stores, Australian SMEs are stuck watching from the sidelines, assuming that meaningful in-store innovation is reserved for the big end of town. 

That assumption is not only wrong, but it can also hold your retail brand back from realising its full potential.

The gap between what customers experience online versus in-store continues to widen, and smaller retailers who fail to bridge this divide are essentially handing market share to competitors on a silver platter. The good news? The technology that was once exclusive to major retailers is now accessible, affordable, and absolutely essential for SMEs wanting to beat the downturn and thrive in today’s market.

A single screen is no longer enough

Many SMEs have taken their first steps into digital with a TV or basic point-of-sale display pushing out marketing messages. While that’s a start, customers today expect more than passive displays; they want to touch, explore, and interact in ways that make their shopping easier and more rewarding.

Retailers who embrace interactive technology can turn screens into tools for engagement, not just advertising. Instead of simply pushing out marketing content, these tools invite customers to actively participate, whether that’s discovering product information, exploring personalised recommendations, or accessing on-the-spot services.

A fashion retailer, for example, could install interactive styling stations in fitting rooms, allowing customers to browse outfit suggestions, request different sizes, or see how an item pairs with accessories – all without leaving the mirror. This not only creates a more engaging shopping experience but also increases basket size by inspiring add-on purchases in the moment. This kind of interactivity and responsiveness has long been the domain of major retailers, but it’s now within reach of smaller operators ready to deepen customer connections and streamline operations.

AI that actually works

Virtual shopping assistants and personalisation tools are no longer the stuff of sci-fi retail fantasies. These systems can guide customers to products based on their purchase history, current needs, or even their shopping behaviour patterns, creating the kind of tailored experience that builds genuine loyalty.

The most successful SMEs are implementing solutions that seamlessly connect online and offline customer journeys. When a customer who regularly shops online walks into your store, why shouldn’t your system recognise them and offer personalised recommendations or exclusive in-store experiences? It’s smart business that transforms occasional buyers into devoted brand advocates.

Creating moments that matter

Augmented reality try-on experiences and interactive magic mirrors might sound like expensive luxuries (or something out of the film Clueless), but they’re increasingly accessible solutions that deliver measurable results. For fashion and beauty retailers especially, AR reduces returns, increases purchase confidence, and creates those shareable moments that drive social media engagement.

Product matching tools serve a dual purpose: they help customers find alternatives when preferred items are out of stock while generating valuable data about shopping preferences and behaviour patterns. This intelligence becomes the foundation for smarter inventory decisions and more effective merchandising strategies.

The key insight here is that customers want to feel confident about their choices. Interactive technologies remove friction from the decision-making process while creating positive emotional connections with your brand.

Building a cohesive strategy

The biggest mistake SMEs make is treating technology adoption as a series of isolated decisions rather than a cohesive strategy. Different solutions serve different purposes. Some improve operational efficiency, others enhance customer experience, and the best ones do both simultaneously.

The most effective approach involves identifying specific pain points in your current operations or customer journey, then selecting technologies that directly address these challenges while supporting your broader business objectives.

The uncomfortable truth is that consumer expectations continue to evolve, largely driven by experiences with tech-forward retailers and online platforms. Customers don’t care about your size or budget constraints; they simply expect seamless, intelligent, personalised experiences regardless of where they shop.

The most successful implementations happen when spatial design, customer experience, and technology integration are considered holistically rather than as separate projects. The tools are available, the case studies are proven, and the competitive advantages are real. The question isn’t whether Australian SMEs should embrace in-store technology; it’s how quickly they can implement it effectively. Because in today’s retail environment, standing still is moving backwards.

Contributed by Paris Buckland, Chief Executive Officer, Storepro

As living costs rise and Australian workers continue to prioritise work-life balance, a fundamental shift is reshaping the workforce. To better understand how the tension between financial security and workplace flexibility is influencing career decisions in 2025, SEEK has released its inaugural Money Matters Report.
Surveying more than 3,000 workers across a broad range of generations, locations and industries*, SEEK reveals that, when asked to choose, 65% of Australian workers would prioritise a good work-life balance over a higher salary.
However, with only a third of Australian workers (36%) currently feeling financially secure, the research shows that financial pressures are forcing workers to weigh up the cost of work-life balance. In fact, 65% of workers wouldn’t take a pay cut for more work-life balance, but would be willing to give up some flexibility for a pay rise, including taking on a greater workload (29%).
Kylie Pascoe, APAC Senior Marketing Manager of SEEK’s Customer Insights & Research team, comments: “The relationship between work and money is complex and the traditional trade-offs between salary and work-life balance are more nuanced in 2025. This Report reveals workers aren’t simply choosing between salary and flexibility – they’re seeking arrangements that can meet both their financial and lifestyle needs.”
“We know Australian workers are feeling the squeeze of rising living costs while still striving for balance in their work and lives. By sharing these insights, we hope to empower workers to make confident career decisions — and help businesses better understand the forces shaping today’s workforce”

What Australians are most willing to compromise on

With 4 in 10 Aussies believing they need to earn over $100,000 to live comfortably, SEEK’s Money Matters Report reveals how workers are increasingly needing to be pragmatic in the face of financial pressures.
Despite the clear preference for work-life balance, when considering a hypothetical pay rise of up to 20%, Australian workers would be most open to, in order of priority:

• Taking on more responsibilities/workload – 29%
• Working extra hours – 27%
• Working on-site full-time – 24%
• Receiving less additional perks/benefits – 15%

Digging deeper into how the different demographics consider these compromises, Gen Z outpace any other generation in their willingness to accept longer commutes (23% vs 14% national response), in exchange for more money. They also rank higher than their Gen Y and Gen X counterparts in their openness to work extra hours (31% vs 23% and 26% respectively) and take on more responsibilities (30% vs 29% and 28%) for a pay rise.

Australians will return to the office…for a price

The aspiration of long-term work-from-home arrangements has been spotlighted in recent years. Many Australian workers significantly value their ability to work from home, where they now want to be financially compensated to return to the office. In fact, 76% would be looking to be financially compensated to return to the workplace full-time.
Half (56%) of those who can work from home are willing to give it up for a pay rise of up to 20%, while 19% would want a pay rise of more than 20%.
This willingness to sacrifice remote work for money is more evident among younger workers, with an overwhelming 86% of Gen Z willing to return to the office full-time for a salary increase – well above the national response (76%). By contrast, older workers show more resistance, with only 45% of Baby Boomers willing to make this trade-off.
For those who can work from home, 1 in 4 (24%) say no sum of money would get them back in the office full-time. Of them, 6 in 10 are women (62%) and more than half are parents (56%).

Top perks beyond pay rise

When asked to consider alternatives to a pay rise, Australian workers show a clear preference for time-based benefits.
The top five perks for Australian workers, beyond a pay rise, are:

• Increased annual leave – 41%
• Reduced working hours – 30%
• Monthly rostered days off – 27%
• More flexible working arrangements – 26%
• A promotion – 24%

What may be seen as more traditional workplace benefits like company cars (22%), birthday leave (19%), and transportation subsidies (18%), rank lower in worker preferences.
Breaking this down further, Queensland, in comparison to any other state, are the most receptive to reduced working hours as an alternative to a pay rise (36% vs 30% nationally). The youngest generation of workers are most open to a promotion (in the absence of pay rise) to advance their careers – with 32% of Gen Z workers showing willingness in comparison to 24% nationally.

Navigating work-life balance tension

SEEK’s Career Coach, Leah Lambart, acknowledges the complex balancing act that workers currently find themselves in:
“We’re seeing workers caught between two competing forces – the desire for genuine work-life balance, and the financial pressures that are intensifying in the current economic climate”, Lambart says. “We can expect Australian workers to be increasingly considering the whole package of their work experience, not just simply their pay packet. This could look like negotiating a pay increase in exchange for more time working onsite, or getting a regular RDO in return for longer working hours across the month”
Pascoe agrees: “Thinking more holistically about workers’ needs and what you’re offering them not only means that individuals’ satisfaction and wellbeing at work is enhanced, it can also help ensure your workforce is motivated, engaged and productive.”

For the full SEEK Money Matters Report, please see here.

Square has released new research showing a major shift in how Australians dine, spend and socialise. The findings point to the rise of a “Neighbourhood Nation” where Australians are increasingly choosing their local communities over city centres.

Drawing on millions of transactions across Square’s platform and a nationally representative consumer survey, the report shows the CBD is no longer the main economic drawcard. Transactional insights focus on Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest metropolitan centres, providing a clear lens into broader national trends.

Square data shows that the pandemic may have been a crucial turning point; in the face of restricted mobility, traffic in CBDs fell, while traffic in non CBDs grew. In Sydney, non-CBD transaction volume grew 75.3 percent between 2019 and 2020 while the CBD fell 3.9 percent. In Melbourne, non-CBD areas rose 34.2 percent while the CBD dropped 38.9 percent. Consumer sentiment mirrors this: only 9 percent feel more connected to the CBD than five years ago, while 54 percent feel more connected to neighbourhoods. Two in five visit the CBD less than once a month, and almost one in five avoid it altogether.

The trend has continued into 2025, with suburbs now showing stronger weekend dining traffic, higher loyalty and greater spend than CBD counterparts. In the first half of 2025, suburban venues peaked on weekends, recorded higher average transaction values, and attracted more repeat customers than city businesses.

As more Australians work from home, the suburbs have become the centres of daily life. ABS data shows over a third (36 percent) of Australians worked from home regularly in 2024, reinforcing the role of local cafés, pubs and restaurants as the new hubs of connection.

Australians are also becoming more loyal to their neighbourhood favourites. In Sydney, 4.5 percent of neighbourhood customers made three or more repeat purchases in the first half of 2025, compared to 4 percent in the CBD. In Melbourne, the gap was 4.6 percent in non-CBDs versus 3.8 percent in the CBD. While these differences may look small, they are a clear signal of a growing trend: loyalty is shifting away from city centres and towards local businesses.

“The sellers building the strongest businesses today are those investing in long-term, local relationships. You become part of people’s weekly rhythm when you are their go-to barista, baker or neighbourhood favourite,” said Colin Birney, Head of Business Development at Square in Australia. “Data can play a big role in that too, helping businesses better understand their customers and deliver experiences that keep people coming back. That is how repeat custom and loyalty are built.”

Survey data reinforces the trend. Australians say they now spend 73 percent of their monthly dining budget in local venues, compared to 27 percent in the CBD. Neighbourhood spots are described as more homely (76 percent) and more community-minded (70 percent). Square transaction data shows suburban food and beverage sales peak on weekends, while CBD venues peak at weekday lunchtimes, highlighting the difference between leisure in the suburbs and transactional visits in the city.

The preference for local life extends well beyond dining. Consumers overwhelmingly frequent their neighbourhoods for everyday activities: time with friends and family (87 percent), meeting at cafés (75 percent), shopping with friends or a partner (66 percent), and going to the cinema (64 percent).

Some suburbs are emerging as clear leaders. In Melbourne, The Basin, Parkville, Keilor Downs ranked among the areas with the highest concentration of repeat customers. In Sydney, Avalon, Dee Why, and Willoughby stood out. By contrast, Potts Point and Surry Hills, which sit close to the CBD but outside its core, recorded some of the lowest proportions of repeat customers, while Melbourne’s CBD itself also fell behind surrounding suburbs.

To help reinvigorate inner-city life, local organisers established the Hollywood Quarter in Surry Hills, a cultural and entertainment precinct designed to give people fresh reasons to return to the city while supporting local businesses hit hard by the pandemic.

“Over the past year we have worked closely with local businesses and venues in what is now called Hollywood Quarter to launch events and activations designed to bring people back in and re-energise the precinct,” said Lorraine Lock, District Coordinator at Hollywood Quarter. “It is not just about foot traffic. It is about creating those moments that make people say, ‘I want to be part of this place again.’”

Neighbourhood spend is also consistently higher on average. In Melbourne, the average food and beverage spend was $15.15 in non-CBDs compared to $13.53 in the CBD. In Sydney, the gap was $14.52 in non-CBDs compared to $12.87 in the CBD. These figures could suggest that local outings are longer, more intentional and higher value than city-centre visits, offering neighbourhood businesses the opportunity to build deeper and more sustainable businesses.

Jabra expands its professional-grade audio expertise into the growing frontline workforce category with the launch of Jabra Perform 10. As part of the Jabra Perform family, this new corded headset is purpose-built for customer facing associates in retail and warehouse environments who rely on real-time communication to stay productive and responsive throughout their shifts.

Jabra Perform 10 is a value-adding audio endpoint designed to work with leading Push-to-Talk (PTT) platforms from vendors such as Zello and Zebra. The device enables associates to communicate quickly and clearly at the touch of a button without having to interact with a handheld device, so they can stay focused on the customer instead of the technology. With shift-long comfort, simple plug-and-play setup and Jabra’s trusted audio quality, the Perform 10 helps teams stay connected and on task from the stockroom to the shop floor.

The lightweight mono earpiece connects to an adjustable in-line lapel mic featuring a PTT button, volume controls and a 360-degree rotational clip for secure placement on any uniform. With its USB-C plug-and-play connection, Perform 10 easily integrates into existing workflows.

Key Features of the Jabra Perform 10:

Designed to integrate with Push-to-Talk technology: Perform 10 works as an essential companion to modern Push-to-Talk platforms, making it easier for associates to relay information quickly, coordinate with teammates and respond efficiently in fast-paced retail environments while remaining attentive, hands-free and on-task.

Shift-long comfort that adapts to your associates: An adjustable earpiece, soft and flexible ear hook and pressure-relieving design provide a stable fit for all-day wear. It stays comfortable even for associates who wear glasses.

Jabra signature audio: Designed for clarity in noisy settings, the high-performance in-line mic ensures associates are heard the first time without raising their voice or repeating themselves.

Built to last: Despite its lightweight and discreet design, Perform 10 is engineered for long-term durability. With an IP67 (making it dust-tight and waterproof) rating and rigorous testing across thousands of drops and bend cycles, it helps minimise device replacements and reduces the support burden for IT teams.

The Jabra Perform 10 helps transform daily retail routines by giving teams the freedom to move, respond and collaborate without missing a beat. It keeps communication flowing, reduces interruptions and supports better service during face-to-face moments with customers. By taking the complexity out of team communication, associates stay present, work more efficiently and feel confident in getting their tasks done.  

Jabra Perform 10 is available now on Amazon and Jabra.com, For more information, please visit the Jabra Perform 10 page.

Xero, the global small business platform, today announced the next evolution of its AI financial superagent JAX (Just Ask Xero)—built on Xero’s agentic platform. JAX delivers a reimagined experience by learning how your business runs, automating routine tasks and workflows, and delivering actionable insights—orchestrating multiple AI agents behind the scenes to cut busywork and help you make smarter decisions. All of this is delivered by a trusted partner built for you, with you.

“This evolution of Xero’s platform is a foundation for the next era of small business accounting,” said Diya Jolly, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Xero. “JAX doesn’t just support today’s workflows; it continuously learns, adapts and acts to meet the evolving needs of business owners. By handling repetitive tasks and empowering our customers to focus on growth, relationships, and high value decisions, we’re seeing what’s possible for the future of work in the accounting industry, and we’re excited to keep expanding our AI offering.”

Orchestrating multiple agents on Xero’s platform, Xero’s AI Superagent JAX is designed to deliver:

1. A reimagined experience to replace scattered tools: Through one intelligent interface, JAX will unify the Xero experience and learn a business’ rhythms, automatically adapting to how that business operates.

2. Automated actions and workflows – ‘Just Done with your control’: JAX will automate routine tasks and workflows, like bank reconciliations, data entry, and getting paid–which saves customers valuable time and helps them stay compliant.

3. Access to actionable insights: Combining deep insights from across Xero customers’ businesses and connected apps, as well as collaborating with OpenAI on web research, JAX will move information beyond static reports. JAX will provide timely, proactive suggestions and a unified view of a business’ data, helping customers explore their financial data and dig deeper with Xero’s advanced financial insights. All of this will empower customers to make smarter, more informed decisions.

4. A trusted partner built for you, with you: JAX offers a trusted partnership built on security, privacy and Xero’s decades of accounting expertise, which is essential to delivering reliable and contextual insights. Xero’s proprietary JAX Assure control system further supports increased accuracy and fewer “hallucinations” compared to conventional AI tools that rely

solely on large language models. By proactively spotting potential issues and helping to keep financial data more clean and accurate, JAX acts as an always-on dedicated team.

As part of Xero’s new product offering, the company is excited to collaborate with OpenAI on its deep web research feature to bring financial information from across the web, like tax laws and market trends, right into Xero. “With AI tools like JAX, small businesses can save time, work more efficiently, and grow,” said Giancarlo “GC” Lionetti, Chief Commercial Officer at OpenAI. “Collaborating with Xero is a great example of how we’re bringing the practical benefits of intelligence directly into the platforms businesses already rely on.”

The new features will also enable Xero to meet growing demand for AI innovation among its user base, with 73% of customers having used AI across the platform since March. This trend is set to continue, as a 2025 Xero survey of 300 AU small businesses found that 58% of respondents who plan to increase their AI investment in the next year, believe that adopting AI is absolutely essential or very important for remaining competitive.

To learn more about JAX, visit xero.com/jax

If you run a small business or are involved in accounting it is unlikely you have not heard of Xero. Every year, Xero invites its accounting customers to visit Xerocon to learn more about its cloud-based accounting software. This year, 3,500 people are attending in Brisbane, with an extra 8000 people connected online.

In this AI age, it’s not surprising that one of the key themes is automating routine tasks.

Xero powers 2.6 million small businesses worldwide, with Australia being the largest market.

Last year, Xero introduced 300 new product features, with a significant emphasis on the Xero smartphone app. It is refreshing to hear that the features came from user feedback.

Technology levels the playing field between big businesses and small businesses; AI further accelerates this trend. Xero aims to reimagine accounting through the power of AI.

In line with customer feedback it was pleasing to see a “Laundromat” a place to sit with designers to explore new ideas at Xerocon for future product enhancements.

An example of a new feature from last year is Invoice by SMS, which helps small businesses get paid up to 4 times faster.

NEW Xero features for 2025 announced at Xerocon

Xero says its ‘Just ask’ tool becomes ‘Just done’ tool. JAX (Just ask Xero) is evolving with AI. AI for zero is not rolling out more software to address numerous individual tasks, but rather reimagining the base software to deliver insights, advice, and eliminate menial tasks.

Automated actions are being designed to eliminate manual tasks, such as following up on overdue invoices and making suggestions based on financial activity.

JAX will now be able to automate invoices and the invoice email to your client.

Bank reconciliation will now be automated with oversight and editing abilities. JAX will learn from your corrections and improve the process moving forward. High-confidence reconciliation is performed automatically, with low-confidence issues highlighted to the user.

The Homepage is now customisable as every business has different needs and wants different information highlighted..

Accounts use more apps than just Xero.  Xero partner hub delivers better third-party integration. 

Tax manager proactively informs what is required for compliance throughout the year. New dashboard widgets even inform you of your on-time tax lodgement with the ATO.

AI Insights will deliver management reports, saving you time on analysis. Want more insights? JAX will suggest questions you might like to ask. This extends to Financial insights, where you can ask questions like Why are my expenses increasing this month? Should I lease or buy a vehicle?

In other AI news, Xero has partnered with ChatGPT, allowing users to answer questions directly from the internet within Xero JAX. JAX can combine internal data with external information to more effectively suggest solutions based on the customer’s actual information.

On the payment side, you can now do progress payments, do multiple payments at once, and have access to new invoice templates.

If you run an accounting practice with numerous clients, staff can now be granted client account access in a few simple steps, selecting the specific data they require access to. The accounting practice can also keep track of ATO lodgement progress across all its clients in one view.

An accounting firm can utilise JAX to pose questions to its entire client base. E.g. which of my clients is experiencing unexpected increases in expenses?

New features will start rolling out from next month to the end of the year.

Angus attended Xerocon as a guest of Xero.

Amazon Web Services (AWS),has released new research revealing that while artificial intelligence (AI) adoption continues to accelerate in Australia,there is a growing gap between startups and large, more mature businesses in the depth of their AI adoption. This AI gap risks creating a two-tier economy in which tech-driven startups innovate more rapidly and outpace their established and less agile competitors.  

In Australia, nearly one business every three minutes adopted AI solutions between 2024 and 2025. In total, 1.3 million or 50% of Australian businesses are now regularly using AI, showing a year-on-year growth rate of 16%. These businesses demonstrate the productivity and economic potential of AI adoption, with 95% reporting an average increase in revenue of 34%. 86% of adopters have already experienced productivity gains, while 94% expect an average of 38% in cost savings. 

To better understand the scope of AI and how different companies are using it, AWS collaborated with Strand Partners to conduct an AI adoption survey in Australia. The “Unlocking Australia’s AI Potential” study surveyed 1,000 business leaders and 1,000 individuals in Australia.  

Widespread But Basic Adoption of AI across Australian Businesses 

While AI adoption is increasing, most Australian businesses are not yet harnessing its most advanced uses, with 58% focused primarily on basic use cases, like driving efficiencies and streamlining processes through chatbots. Just 17% of Australian businesses are at the intermediate stage of integrating AI across various business functions, and only 24% have reached the most transformative stage of AI integration, where AI is no longer just a tool but a core part of product development, decision-making, and business models, that lead to innovation. 

Startups, in particular, are enthusiastic and innovative in their use of AI in Australia, adopting AI’s most advanced uses far more rapidly than more established companies. 81% of startups in Australia are using AI in some way, of which 42% are building entirely new AI-driven products with AI, leveraging the technology to its full potential. In contrast, 61% of large enterprises are using AI, but only 18% are delivering new AI products or services, and only 22% have a comprehensive AI strategy. 

This gap in innovation risks the emergence of a two-tier economy, where startups are surging ahead of large enterprises in AI integration and adoption. Without deeper integration, these businesses risk missing out on the full potential of AI, falling behind more agile competitors, and driving a two-tier economy that will shape Australia’s prosperity for decades. 

“While it’s encouraging to see a growing number of businesses in Australia innovate with AI and realise revenue, productivity, and cost benefits, our research has uncovered that barriers such as lack of skills and regulatory uncertainty remain, impacting the ability for larger enterprises to deepen their use of AI,” said Michelle Hardie, Head of Professional Services, ANZ, AWS. “To accelerate Australia’s competitive edge on the global AI stage, it is essential that governments and industry take steps to address these barriers to unlock Australia’s full AI potential. At AWS, we are supporting the broad adoption of AI through our new AI Spring Australia program that is focused on building AI capability and skills across different sectors and industries, including large enterprises, as well as through infrastructure investments and skills training initiatives, including our recent investment of AU$20 billion in Australia.”  

Lack of AI Skills and Knowledge on AI Regulation Are Main Barriers to Deeper Adoption 

A lack of skilled personnel is the leading reason (39%) Australian businesses say is preventing them from adopting or expanding their use of AI. Many reported having the technology and the vision, but are unable to find the people to bring it to life. This could impact Australia’s global competitiveness and limit economic growth, as 51% of businesses identified AI literacy as being important for future hiring, and only 37% of businesses feel prepared with their workforce’s current skillset. Funding is also a particularly important factor for startups in Australia, with 65% saying access to venture capital is crucial in creating an environment for growth. AWS has trained 400,000+ people in Australia since 2017 in digital skills, and will continue to support Australia’s current and future workforce through generative AI programs like AWS AI Spring Australia, AWS Generative AI Accelerator, and AWS AI Launchpad. 

A clear, streamlined regulatory landscape is also necessary to give businesses the confidence they need to adopt and invest in emerging technologies The research found that only 24% of businesses are familiar with the consultation by the Australian government to implement AI regulation and could explain how the legislation would operate. Those surveyed also estimated they spent 30% of their IT budget on compliance-related costs, such as data privacy and protection compliance, legal consultations, and cybersecurity measures. 73% expect this figure to increase in the next three years.   

The Path Forward for AI Innovation 

The report uncovered three priority actions to overcome these barriers and unlock the full potential of AI across startups and large enterprises to avoid the emergence of a ‘two-tier’ economy: Firstly, invest in and build industry-specific skills programs to develop a digitally-skilled workforce that can drive AI-led innovation and growth. Secondly, establish a clear picture of Australia’s pro-growth regulation that is predictable and innovation-friendly, to help drive deeper AI adoption across all businesses. Lastly, with 86% of businesses saying they are more likely to adopt AI if the government leads, it will be critical to accelerate digital transformation in the public sector, especially in healthcare and education, and use public procurement to drive innovation.  

In Australia, AWS is committed to realising the ambitions of local customers, partners, and communities, and creating economic opportunities in the country. We reinforced this in June by announcing AWS’s plans to invest AU$20 billion from 2025-2029 to expand Australian data centre infrastructure and strengthen the nation’s AI future. With growing concerns about the development of a ‘two-tier’ AI economy, more needs to be done to equip the workforce with the right skills at scale so organisations can innovate and grow in an AI-powered future. AWS’s various programs are designed to help both individuals—whether students, career changers, or those new to the cloud— as well as businesses, build job-ready skills and pursue opportunities in the digital economy.