Living Business

03/09/2026

Sometimes the tool that changes everything isn't a whole new system — it's one feature you didn't know you needed.

We recently helped a client whose team was overwhelmed by email updates (travel changes, cost adjustments, the lot) that all needed tracking in WorkflowMAX. Using Copilot to summarise the emails, instead of reading every one individually, made a huge difference — less mental load, less risk of missing something, and time back in the day.

Read the full story here:

Every so often, you come across a piece of software where one feature alone justifies the entire subscription. It doesn’t need to be flashy or complex—it simply needs to solve a real problem, in a meaningful way.

01/09/2026

A few things we see again and again when we review a business's processes:

- Manual steps that don't need to be manual anymore
- Everyone keeping their own spreadsheet "just in case"
- The same information typed into two or three different systems
- Good features in Xero, WorkflowMAX or Unleashed that nobody's using yet

None of these are anyone's fault — they usually build up over time. But spotting them is often the fastest way to save your team hours every week. Read more: https://www.livingbusiness.co.nz/blog/what-process-review

27/08/2026

eInvoicing is a great idea, but if your business relies on repeating invoices or bulk sending (like most of ours do), it doesn't fit smoothly into your workflow just yet.
We've had a look at what's working, what's not, and what Xero has planned. Read more: https://www.livingbusiness.co.nz/blog/an-update-xero-einvoicing

25/08/2026

Quick WorkflowMax tip: if you regularly filter your reports the same way, you can now save that view instead of rebuilding it every time. Handy if you like to check active jobs, overdue work, or uninvoiced costs on the regular.

Read more about this and a couple of other quiet upgrades: https://www.livingbusiness.co.nz/blog/small-big-improvements-workflowmax

24/08/2026

In case you missed it... - https://mailchi.mp/da27a9334a9f/clarity-in-numbers-and-more-4225814

20/08/2026

Here's something worth knowing before you trust any AI tool with your business numbers: it isn't a human brain. It spots patterns and predicts answers, but it doesn't "know" things the way we do, and it can get things wrong while sounding completely confident.

That's not a reason to avoid it. It's a reason to keep a person in the loop, checking and sense-checking along the way.

We help business owners get comfortable doing exactly that, so the AI in your systems works for you, not around you.

Have a read here: https://www.livingbusiness.co.nz/blog/curiosity-matters-in-ai-age

18/08/2026

"Can you help us with Xero, WorkflowMax, Unleashed, automation, training, or bookkeeping?"

We get asked this a lot, and the answer is always yes. But before we suggest anything, we take a step back and look at how work actually happens in your business right now — who's involved, what systems are used, and where things tend to get stuck.

That's what we call a process review, and it's the starting point for everything we recommend. Read more: https://www.livingbusiness.co.nz/blog/what-process-review

17/08/2026

Heads up: Xero pricing is changing from October - https://mailchi.mp/87222702a2f5/heads-up-xero-pricing-is-changing-from-october

14/08/2026

Ever wondered how eInvoicing actually works in Xero? Instead of an invoice landing in someone's inbox as a PDF, it goes straight into their accounting software through a secure network called Peppol — ready for approval and payment.

Less admin, fewer errors, and better security than email. It's a great idea, and one we think more Kiwi businesses should know about.

We've put together a quick rundown of how it works and where it still has room to grow: https://www.livingbusiness.co.nz/blog/an-update-xero-einvoicing

12/08/2026

I've used the free version of HubSpot in my own business for over five years, so I know the value of having it set up well. Through my 10+ years in the Tauranga BNI network, I've got to know the team at Hart Consultancy, who are currently offering a free HubSpot audit. If you're using HubSpot, it could be a great opportunity to identify a few quick wins.