AI Assistants, Acquisitions & Christmas Chaos: 2024 in Review!

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Welcome to the Christmas Day special of the Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast!

In this festive retrospective episode, our tech-focused trio dives into the biggest highlights of 2024, from AI advancements and major acquisitions to payroll innovations and practice management updates.

We also discuss the rise of AI (mostly meeting tools), touch on outsourcing trends with special guest Vipul from AdvanceTrack, and even launch the most coveted Digital Disruptor Awards. Plus, there's banter, branded Christmas hats, and John being a Scrooge.

Drop us a note if you're tuning in on Christmas Day, and let's dive into the tech world wrapped up in festive fun! 🎅🎄

00:00 Coming Up

01:24 Intro

2024 App News Retrospective

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05:45 Oompa, Loompa, doompa-dee-do, I've got an AI Assistant for You

08:41 Hyper-Growth Players

10:31 Acquisition News

13:24 Xero's Ups and Downs

15:54 Intuit's 2024

18:09 Dext to IRIS

21:01 Payables, Payables, Payables

24:56 FreeAgent Making a Big Steps

26:21 Quiet Year for Practice Management?

28:36 The Big One

30:39 Podsourcing - AdvanceTrack

39:28 Give us your feedback so we can be even better in 2025!

In this week’s episode of Digi-Tools in Accrual World, we jump headfirst into the latest accounting technology and app news, covering everything from rumours of Visma's potential IPO to Odoo’s skyrocketing valuation.

Grace Hardy joins us to share her bold journey as a 21-year-old accounting entrepreneur making waves on TikTok and beyond, tackling sexism, and disrupting industry norms.

We also discuss FreeAgent’s latest report - with concerning stats around discrimination - and talk with Vipul Sheth from AdvanceTrack about burnout in senior practitioners.

This episode really is a tour of the dark side of of accounting…

00:00 Coming Up... 01:54 Intro

App News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 07:15 HG Eyeing Visma IPO? 08:57 Odoo Raise 10:48 ReceiptBot Adds Line Item Extraction 12:28 Billhop enables card payments for pay non-card suppliers 14:54 Translucent Releases 17:36 Metro Bank 21:27 FreeAgent Accounting Talent Research

33:05 AdvanceTrack - Challenges Attracting Grads into the Profession & Pressure on Practice Leaders 39:09 Grace Hardy - Accounting for TikTok

58:17 Rate and Subscribe!

Welcome back to another exciting episode of Digi-Tools in Accrual World! This week, we share into the hottest news in the fintech world, from the big Dext-Iris acquisition bombshell to fresh releases from Sage, Datamolino, and Fathom. And guess what?

We've got Joe Lines from Nook spilling the beans on Nook’s acquisition of Modulr.

Plus, we tackle the juicy topic of AI's impact on accounting and why 50% of firms are still twiddling their thumbs. Joined by our regular hosts Indi Tatla, John Toon and Ryan Pearcy (recovering from 'man flu,' of course), this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and a hint of tech-induced panic. Don't miss it!

00:00 Coming Up

02:14 Intro

App News

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07:47 Iris acquires Dext

13:17 Sage Results

17:28 Sage Releases and Updates

18:25 Datamolino Release

18:51 Fathom Bulk Update Facility

20:28 New Apps in the Xero App Store

22:48 AdvanceTrack - AI's role amid the talent shortage

30:07 Joe Lines - The next chapter for Nook (and the payments space)

46:43 Rate and subscribe!

Welcome to today's 'Digi-Tools in Accrual World' episode and this week we’re looking at the real impacts of AI on practice and the labour market.

In App News we look at Xero extending classic invoicing, Agicap's €45 million funding, and the fall in demand for freelance jobs due to AI.

Ruben from Briefcase shares exciting insights on making accounting great again!

Get the lowdown on talent shortages, TaxCalc's big investment, skyrocketing salaries, impressive partnerships, and a hint on future AI recruitment. Hit play, stay ahead!

AdvanceTrack's accounting Talent Index: https://www.advancetrack.com/talent/ Find out more about Briefcase at: Briefcase.so

00:00 Coming Up...

02:16 Intro

App News

05:23 Xero Classic Invoicing

11:16 Agicap Raise €45m

17:14 TaxCalc Receive Investment

21:35 Studies show AI's impact on labour markets

23:51 Roveel x Joiin

26:09 Moss x Airwallex

29:39 46% of firms struggling with client deliverables - AdvanceTrack

35:43 AI in Practice - Reuben Steenkamp

55:17 Leave a Review!

Join us in today's episode of 'Digi-Tools in Accrual World' as we dive into the latest buzz in the accounting tech industry!

From Nook's acquisition by Modulr and FreeAgent's updated smart capture functionality to TrueLayer's big layoffs – we've got all the juicy details.

Lucy Cohen spills the beans on Mazuma's bold acquisition plans and the challenges both boomers and Gen Z are facing around exiting and entering practice ownership.

We're also featuring an insightful chat with Sophie Hossack from Alloca Bank with more on mixing digital banking (at scale) with a human touch. And also - despite the controversy around Jag’s rebrand - is there a lesson there for accountants and bookkeepers?

00:00 Coming Up

App News

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03:17 Nook Acquired

07:17 Modulr Powering HMRC

08:35 FreeAgent Smart Capture Expanding

09:33 FreeAgent still officially friendly

10:42 ApprovalMax Raise £10m

11:38 Dext Payments Teaser and more

13:26 Truelayer lays off 25% of it's team

15:41 Allica - Relationships and Scale

23:57 What can accountants learn from the Jag rebrand?

30:36 Lucy Cohen - The generational shift in practice ownership

In this episode of 'Digi-Tools in Accrual World,' we dive into the latest news and trends while embracing the chaos! From monstrous acquisitions by Thomson Reuters, Simpro, Bright, and Access Group to the nostalgic nod to Excel's 40th birthday, this episode is packed with industry insights.

Don't miss our deep dive into the rise of Finfluencers and the FCA's crackdown, as well as tips on strengthening those accountant-bank relationships from special guest Sophie Hossak from Allica Bank.

00:00 Coming Up

01:26 Intro

App News

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02:42 Thompson Reuters acquire LLM company

04:44 Simpro Acquire Big Change

06:20 Bright Acquire Inform Direct

10:50 Access Group Acquire HireAra

12:23 Nexly Launch for Auditors

20:05 And in other news... Happy Birthday Excel

20:45 Allica Bank - Building Bridges between Accountants and Banks

31:27 Wuvvable Dogs

34:47 Florentina Sandu - Good Judges and Bad Influencers

39:40 Outro

In this episode of the Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast, brought to you by The Digital Disruptors and sponsored by XLedger, we dive headfirst into the cutthroat world of business advisory - who has the edge, accountants or business coaches?

The word on the street is banks may have lost their mojo with accountants, prompting a wild 47% to feel as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when it comes to business banking.

We have app updates galore from MIMO, Pleo, ApprovalMax, and Xero, and the lowdown on the Xero Beautiful Business Fund 2024 winners who are redefining awesomeness in business.

Plus, discover why multi-banking is the new black for SMEs and a whole lot more!

Don't forget to like, share, follow, and send us your thoughts! ✉️

00:00 Coming Up…

01:32 Welcome!

App News

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09:19 MTD Thresholds Dropping

16:10 Xero Beautiful Business Fund 2024

19:20 Mimo Release

24:09 AML HQ Launches in the UK

26:31 Pleo Releases

27:40 Approval Max Pricing Updates

28:49 New in the Xero App Store

32:52 Allica - The growing chasm between accountants and bank relationship managers

42:53 Drew Moyes - Friendliness, Community and Simplicity for MTD

50:51 Outro

The £9 Billion Missing for UK SMEs - PLUS App News, Dan Cockerton and Johann Goree

Join John, Ryan, and Indi as they review John’s creepy merch ideas, find out how SMEs are missing out on billions and share the latest app news, including updates from Adsum, Modulr, FreeAgent, and Firmcheck. Hear about Tide's strategic acquisition, Acumatica's new release, and more.

Plus, find out why Engager.app's Johann Goree is celebrating their big win at the Digital Disruptor Awards and what it takes to overcome major life hurdles to deliver an industry defining event.

And don't miss the banter, from bath time chat to ginger walrus facts, this episode has it all!

There's more info on the savings interest SMEs are missing out on and the Allica Bank report here: https://www.savingssqueeze.com/

00:00 Coming Up

02:04 Welcome

App News

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09:25 Adsum Upcoming Beta Test

11:31 Modulr Batch Management Release

12:33 FreeAgent Binning Paper Notices

13:36 MTD Updates

20:18 Acumatica

21:45 Tide Acquiring Again

27:04 Allica - £9bn in missing interest

42:31 Overcoming huge obstacles, to do what's never been done before - Dan Cockerton

46:39 Where are the next tech innovations coming from? Release of the Year winner Johann Goree

01:03:00 Rate the podcast!