'Farming in the Cloud' online accounting launched by Xero

Xero launches new 'Farming in the Cloud' online accounting and farm management solution with key farming solution partner Figured

Confirms partnership with RD1

11 June 2014

Online accounting software company Xero today formally launched its dedicated rural online accounting and farm management solution – Farming in the Cloud – together with key farming solution partner, Figured, at the National Fieldays in Mystery Creek.

Xero also announced that rural services company, RD1 has joined Farming in the Cloud as a partner, and as part of this is working with the wider Fonterra group to explore opportunities for integration.

Ben Richmond, CA, Xero Rural Strategy Lead said: “We are excited to now have all our major rural supplier partnerships in place. Figured has been instrumental in taking Xero to the farming market. Now, having RD1 on board, alongside the likes of PGG Wrightson which is already a partner, really validates the power of Farming in the Cloud as a ground-breaking farm productivity tool, and looking ahead we’re pleased to be broadening our relationship with Fonterra.”

“We are excited to be partnering with Xero and look forward to further opportunities to work closely together,” said Jonathan Good, RD1, General Manager Business and Retail Development.

Xero entered a formal relationship with PGG Wrightson in February, and is now integrated with Farming in the Cloud, meaning PGG Wrightson account holder transactions seamlessly feed through into Xero and are coded correctly – and as part of its innovation partnership with Xero, the company is committed to leading the rural industry through the integration of its services with Farming in the Cloud.

Mark Dewdney, Chief Executive Officer, PGG Wrightson, said: “We’re delighted to now have this feed up and running – Xero’s innovation is receiving international acclaim but we think that, back here in New Zealand, Farming in the Cloud is set to be a game-changer for farmers and the rural sector in terms of creating greater integration and more collaborative services.

“Farming can be a tough business and we are looking forward to using the power of the cloud to create more value for our customers and help them in managing their accounts and businesses more efficiently.”

Rural supplier CRT’s feed is already live and as part of the merger with Farmlands, they are currently working to integrate Farmlands’ transactional feeds with Farming in the Cloud.

Farming in the Cloud enables farmers, accountants, banks and key rural suppliers to work together from the same set of online, real-time data, and is the result of extensive collaboration with the rural industry to identify and work through pain points in the farm accounting process.

“Farming in the Cloud provides an eco-system of accounting software and farm management tools, allowing farmers and their accountants, banks and rural service companies to painlessly work together from the same set of online, real-time data, so that they can make confident on-the-spot decisions based on their farm and their own unique challenges,” said Mr Richmond.

“This greater collaboration between key stakeholders means the accounting and business management role becomes less arduous, meaning more time on the farm and for exploring opportunities for greater profitability.”

Hot off the back of a nationwide Farming in the Cloud road show engaging with accountants, bank managers and rural advisors, Xero and Figured will showcase the solution’s capability to farmers at Fieldays and answer questions.

“We’ve had a huge amount of positive feedback from the more than 1,000 rural professionals, including farmers, accountants, and bankers about how Farming in the Cloud adds value in a way that goes to the very heart of farm management – running a farm as an efficient business,” said Duncan Anderson, Project Director, Figured.

“Key business tasks like forecasting, livestock reconciliation and establishing an accurate picture of financial position are all crucial elements in the farm accounting process which until now, have been very difficult to achieve – no longer,” said Mr Anderson.

Pricing

In order to get the best out of Farming in the Cloud, it’s integral that all stakeholders – the farmer, accountant, bank manager and rural advisor – are all using the product.

A range of pricing options are available depending on how simple or comprehensive the engagement with Farming in the Cloud. To find out more, farmers should contact their rural accountant or Xero directly on farming@xero.com.

ENDS

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