Xero recruits longtime partner into US expansion efforts

Xero's expansion across the United States will now continue hand-in-hand with US-based payroll firm Gusto. The partnership will allow Xero to deliver full-service payroll across all 50 US states.

 "We're partnering with Gusto because we have a shared vision for building innovative new solutions that help small businesses and accountants thrive in the new economy," comments Xero Americas president Keri Gohman.

"We're both born-in-the-cloud companies working to build software that makes complicated business tasks more simple and human. By joining forces, we can help more small businesses and accountants find long-term success.

Xero and Gusto have been working together for the past five years. According to Gusto chief operations officer Lexi Reese, the integration between Gusto and Xero has become one of the most popular integrations on their platform.

"We are confident that together we can help business owners manage the back-office complexities that can distract them from growing their companies.

Xero's United States subscribers will be able to access online payroll with federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically paid and filed; payroll and financial data syncs with Xero; expense and time tracking software; and HR integration for workers' compensation, health insurance, and retirement plans.

The partnership will also allow both companies to build deeper technical integration between the Xero and Gusto platforms.  The full integration between Xero and Gusto is expected to be completed by early 2019.

The integration will include single sign-on; cashflow management; and accountant collaboration; while enhanced Xero features include:

● Business tasks automated: ​Xero uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the menial and repetitive tasks of running a business while increasing the accuracy of business data.

● Business data connected: Xero makes it easy to have a real-time view into all of a business' data and cash flow with a shared ledger and connections to banking information and more than 700 small business apps.

● Real-time insights delivered: ​Xero allows an accountant or other trusted advisor to have meaningful conversations about key decisions—everything from navigating compliance requirements to major business transactions.

"Xero and Gusto have a shared vision for building innovative new solutions that help small businesses and accountants thrive in the new economy," Xero says in a blog post.

"We're both born-in-the-cloud companies working to build software that makes complicated business tasks more simple and human. By joining forces, we can help more small businesses and accountants find long-term success.