Tag Archives: rod drury

01/02/2012 Posted in Business 3 Comments

Xero Raises Another Round and Acquires WorkFlowMax

By Ben Kepes

Exciting news today from Xero ahead of their user conference tomorrow that spans two important announcements. I’ll cover them individually. $20M Raised from Existing Shareholders Existing shareholders have reinvested to the aggregate tune of $20M. Sam Morgan, Sam Knowles, Craig Winkler and Peter Thiel’s fund Valar Ventures have all taken

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25/01/2012 Posted in Business 1 Comment

Xero Market Update–Hockeystick Achieved

By Ben Kepes

Xero has just given a market update in advance of heir partner conference next week. The numbers are all heading in the right direction despite the fact that Xero is yet to break even – previous market announcements indicated that Xero was following a strategy that put market growth ahead

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04/11/2011 Posted in Business 2 Comments

Easing the On Ramp–Xero Makes a Logical Move, Three Years On

By Ben Kepes

Around three years ago, before some “heated” discussions made communication between us a little strained, I spent a fair amount of time talking with Xero CEO Rod Drury around the Cloud/SaaS market generally. Those conversations started well before the Xero IPO when he was still shopping little more than a

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21/07/2011 Posted in Business 5 Comments

Xero Buys Paycycle and Clarifies US Market Entry

By Ben Kepes

At its AGM today, Xero announced a number of things, one of which was the acquisition of Australian payroll provider Paycycle in a deal worth $1.5M. When Xero launched they went on record as saying that payroll was outside of what they considered core functionality – this position was in

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04/07/2011 Posted in Business 6 Comments

Some Xero Analysis

By Ben Kepes

A month or so ago I was asked to provide some comment for the Natonal Business Review to go with Xero’s full year financial report. I was positive but with reservations and comments. In response to my comments, Xero CEO Rod Drury made some ad hominem comments about me and

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14/06/2011 Posted in Business 1 Comment

Integration is Great Xero. What of Those Security Issues Though?

By Ben Kepes

A year ago I remarked upon Xero’s entry to the Google apps marketplace congratulating Xero for being part of the Google initiative but questioning why the integration wasn’t deeper. As I said at the time; I clicked the link and was taken to a Google Apps Marketplace page which was

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24/05/2011 Posted in Business 1 Comment

Xero and the US Market

By Ben Kepes

In the four or so years since Xero launched with great fanfare in New Zealand, moved on to Australia and gained a modicum of visibility in the UK, many of us have been waiting to see what would happen in he REAL market, that of the US. While I personally

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21/03/2011 Posted in Business 1 Comment

Cashflow and the Clouds. A Need for More Engagement

By Ben Kepes

I recently published a CloudU whitepaper looking at the economics of Cloud Computing. In it I pointed out the added value that cloud computing can bring, beyond any cost savings. Case in point: a local bank has introduced a service for SMBs that is better known in medium-sized businesses. Factoring

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17/03/2011 Posted in Business 3 Comments

On Product Roadmaps and Agility

By Ben Kepes

Kashflow CEPO CEO Duane Jackson recently posted discussing their policy of not disclosing a product roadmap. To summarize Jackson’s argument, he believes that publishing a detailed roadmap is problematic because it; Reduces agility Builds expectations with customers and hence reduces the opportunities to delight Introduces competitive risks Sets them up for

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16/02/2011 Posted in Business 2 Comments

Social Accounting

By Ben Kepes

At the recent Xero Partner Conference held in New Zealand, Xero bought US based CPA, Jason Blumer to present to Australasian accountants about his view of the future of accounting practices.While he was here, and beyond the obligatory bungee jump, Blumer made a video (embedded below) discussing what he sees

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The Author

Ben Kepes is an analyst, an entrepreneur, a commentator and a business adviser. His business interests include a diverse range of industries from manufacturing to property to technology. As a technology commentator he has a broad presence both in the traditional media and extensively online. Ben covers the convergance of technology, mobile, ubiquity and agility, all enabled by the Cloud. His areas of interest extend to enterprise software, software integration, financial/accounting software, platforms and infrastructure as well as articulating technology simply for everyday users. More on Ben

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