Xro - xero

They could get an award for cash burn, opps, sorry, that's naughty but I couldn't resist :D

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Originally Posted by Roger

They could get an award for cash burn, opps, sorry, that's naughty but I couldn't resist :D

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:)

What are they supposed to do with the money? Pay a dividend? Spending makes sense but you can't have it both ways. It was always justified with the need to grab market share quickly but now it's about winning a marathon. I'm surprised that they didn't use some of the funds for a small acquisition.

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Originally Posted by Casino

:)

What are they supposed to do with the money? Pay a dividend? Spending makes sense but you can't have it both ways. It was always justified with the need to grab market share quickly but now it's about winning a marathon. I'm surprised that they didn't use some of the funds for a small acquisition.

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They have acquired Paycycle, Spotlight Workpapers and Workflowmax. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xero_(software)#Acquisitions

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Originally Posted by andysh

They have acquired Paycycle, Spotlight Workpapers and Workflowmax. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xero_(software)#Acquisitions

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And how many since getting $180m? Intuit bought 14 companies in the last 18 month.

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Originally Posted by NewGuy

Ugh. Workflow max is a dog. Horrible software. Almost the antithesis of xero. Strange acquisition, to say the least.

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I think it's been completely overlooked how genius and important the WFM acquisition was.

Going by some of the comments on here and NBR regarding the Xero implosion this is the kind of world we will be living in soon:

"In the world I see - you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty car pool lane of some abandoned superhighway."

Luckily, Tyler Durden slept in this week.

Take it easy everyone, the world isn't ending (yet)

Lucky we don't have red cards anymore, I suspect there would be a few flying at the moment...

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Originally Posted by NewGuy

Ugh. Workflow max is a dog. Horrible software. Almost the antithesis of xero. Strange acquisition, to say the least.

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Works well as as practice management software links with xero, links to IRD and efiles gst and tax returns. All good I like it and it's free as opposed to myob accountants office which costs $9000 for the same

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Originally Posted by NewGuy

Totally disagree. I used it for a few months and went straight back to harvest. So much more intutive and better aligned with the look, feel and ethos of xero.

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OK.... so they lost you to harvest..... how many did they gain in NZ in that year again? Probably not a bad trade

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Originally Posted by NewGuy

It is widely accepted that the software really is beautiful to use. I use it for both my trust and my business. It truly is a fantastic product. However, that doesn't make it a multi-billion dollar business as its currently valued. There is simply too much deeply-entrenched competition in key markets, whose products will rapidly evolve to catch up - and perhaps even surpass - xero over the longer term.

If I had to guess, I'd put their odds of success in the states - generously - at (say) 1 in 5.

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I appreciate your opinion NG. I understand the difficulty in valuing saas but may I ask what you value Xero at? What do you see the fair value SP as presently?

I also believe that incumbents software are rapidly catching up and yes it is a worry, however as has been mentioned before, the world is still waking up to saas and many businesses dont use accounting software at all - I believe cloud accounting (with all of its future implications) will pull many new users into accounting software, and when the hoards come - Xero will be ready to soak up the goodness. 1% is all they need to be huuuuuge. One thing i do wonder however is why attack Intuit in the US so early, when they could have entered many countries in europe instead, with much more simple tax systems... I do see a bit of ego from Rod with this david and goliath type behaviour. Anyway I dont know F-all, im sure they have discussed this in detail and had their reasons - so Im just happy sitting back and taking a punt.

When their newly recruited american representative walked out of his position after only a few months saying xro would not make it in the USA as it didn't understand the local competition and how rapidly they have reacted/adapted... things have gone pear shaped.
Its a complex mix of having a company with a high burn rate but no real substance, its product is intangible and they can loose favour very quickly. If it doesn't achieve dominance it will eventually end up being sidelined.

Just look at the failure of microsoft based cell phones.. Apple and Android have the market wrapped up.