One of my favorite quotes is from Ice Hockey star Wayne Gretzky.

I skate to where the puck is going to be…

As technology and business people, we saw the upcoming and inevitable trend towards Software as a Service (SaaS). The latest report from IDC has some great quotes that really resonate with us here at Xero.

SaaS to drive the local software market, says IDC

Quote: The real growth potential in the next five years lies in the SMB market, says Loeffler. With 96% of companies employing less than 20 people, the local business landscape is dominated by the SMB segment, he says.

And

Quote: Loeffler recommends vendors wanting to target this market really listen to what SMBs want, rather than offering them scaled-down enterprise solutions with functionalities that SMBs don’t necessarily need.

We can see the puck coming!

Xero was featured in yesterday’s New Zealand Herald in an article (”Meet Xero, the small business hero.“) by accounting systems expert Vikki Bland.

Our favourite banker Martin S commented on the photo, that behind every great man is a hard working woman (hi Mum!).

We agree with some of the comments about accounting being more than cash flow. It’s still early days at Xero. Watch this space.

Debbie Haddon a chartered accountant and IT specialist for Xero’s first partnered accounting firm Openside CA Ltd, was published this week commenting on the benefits of browser based accounting software.

You can read the full article here that appeared in The Channel Magazine.

If you would like to know more about online accounting call Openside on 0800 322268 or email claire@openside.co.nz

Online accounting provider Xero announced today it has appointed highly experienced sales professional Anthony Bishop as global sales director.

Bishop has 18 years experience working for global software companies, most recently as New Zealand country manager of SAS Institute, the world’s largest privately owned software company.

Xero founder and chief executive Rod Drury said Anthony’s addition continues Xero’s strategy of building a world class team to execute on our global opportunity.

“Anthony’s enterprise sales experience gives us the horsepower to define and build a scalable international sales model appropriate for small and medium businesses,” Drury said.

Bishop’s career has been driven by the desire to see customers leverage innovative technology solutions that accelerate growth and capability.

“I look forward to the challenge at Xero of using the power of the Internet to develop a sales engagement model that suits small businesses,” Bishop said.

“It’s exciting to be involved with a company designed to go global from New Zealand,” he said.

Online accounting provider Xero announced today it has appointed New Zealand technology high-flyer Alastair Grigg as chief operating officer.

Grigg joins Xero from Air New Zealand where he has been chief information officer since 2004, responsible for a global portfolio of more than 400 enterprise systems, 200 IT staff, 10,000 users and the management of significant IT infrastructure outsourcing contracts.

Grigg said he was excited to be joining a company with the vision, capability and drive to become a global operation.

“This is an opportunity to build out this new and innovative global service that will transform accounting and business management practices for small and medium businesses,” Grigg said.

Xero founder and chief executive Rod Drury welcomed Alastair to Xero, saying his arrival signalled the start of Xero’s next phase.

“Our beta program has demonstrated the value of Xero; we now need to build our operational capability to take advantage of our opportunity,” Drury said.

“There is no better wingman than Alastair,” he said.

Grigg has 16 years of IT industry experience involving roles with vendors such as IBM, Computer Associates and Geac, contrasted by roles in successful start-up ventures such as Telecom Xtra, Glazier Systems and utilyx.com.

These roles focussed on business establishment, general management, business development, systems development and program management.