Five tips to make the most of app exhibitors at Xerocon Nashville

It feels like the magical two days that were Xerocon London just happened, and we’re already preparing to hit the road again for Xerocon Nashville this August! 

It’s the perfect time to not only meet some of the apps being exhibited at this year’s Xerocon, but hear real-life stories on how connecting apps with Xero can streamline your work and expand your possibilities. 

So, how can you prepare ahead of time to meet the app exhibitors, ask the right questions and come away empowered? We’ve got five tips to get the most out of apps heading to Xerocon Nashville. 

1. Write down you and your clients’ business needs ahead of time

Understanding the areas your business needs help in, or processes that are eating up time, is a great first step to knowing what apps will be best for your practice.

• What are your pain points?
  Look at the processes you have in place and speak with your colleagues to get feedback on areas that can be more efficient. Make a shortlist of pain points you hear repeatedly
• What are your clients’ pain points?
  Talk to your clients or refer back to previous appointments to understand what they need most, struggle with, or are repeatedly requesting. Their feedback could be solved by an app that your practice can use, or by apps that you can recommend as part of an advisory service

2. Make a shortlist and get to know the apps exhibited

Walk into Xerocon with a plan of which app exhibitors you want to speak to, so you can cross feedback and questions off your list and find your perfect solutions sooner.

• Explore the apps coming along
  Take a look at the full list of apps being exhibited at Xerocon Nashville 2024 and note down how they integrate with Xero and practices
• Make a shortlist
  Take note of the apps that may meet your business needs and have features that could solve your pain points. 
• Start some free trials ahead of Xerocon
  Many apps offer free trials, and each of the app exhibitors will include a link to their Xero App Store listing. You can connect your Xero account and start a trial in just a few clicks, allowing you to explore each app that interests you and note down features you like and questions you have – all without committing to a paid plan upfront

3. Put together your own personalized agenda

A great part of attending an event as big as Xerocon is the ability to personalise it to your priorities. You can easily scroll through each day’s sessions , and add ones you’re interested in to your own personal agenda. 

If finding the right apps to streamline some of your practice operations and offer clients more is on your priority list, you might want to add these key sessions to your agenda. 

Wednesday 14 August

• Elevate your practice’s service offering with connected apps: Learn how to harness the power of Xero App Store apps to enable you to better service your clients’ needs, from tackling tax obligations and bookkeeping to offering insightful advisory services and a custom app stack for their industry
  Add to my agenda

Thursday 15 August 

• Carbon accounting: the next frontier of compliance: Advisors are rapidly needing to help clients navigate new standards and legislation in the sustainability space. Learn how you can upskill in carbon accounting and offer a valuable service to clients
  Add to my agenda
  
• Deliver added value and increase efficiency with BILL Spend & Expense: Join us for an invaluable session on how you can add automated spend management to your practice offerings with BILL, featuring a sneak peek of BILL’s new sync with Xero and actionable strategies to take home
  Add to my agenda
  
• Xero Awards United States & Canada 2024: Meet the app exhibitors set to be announced as the Practice App of the Year and Small Business App of the Year at a special awards ceremony held during Xerocon
  Add to my agenda

DON’T MISS THE APP EXHIBITOR DEMOS: Head to the Xerocon agenda to find the dozens of live app demos happening each day. See apps in action and get a preview of new features and products.

4. Talk to the experts

Take full advantage of apps being at Xerocon by talking to their teams directly. Come along with a list of questions about their product or about recommending apps as an advisory service, so you can maximise your time with them.

Want help ahead of time with your shortlist, or with prioritising which app exhibitors you should speak to? Your Xero account manager can help walk you through the apps being exhibited and suggest the best fit for your needs. 

5. Leave Xerocon ready to take action 

Once you’ve recovered from all the action, innovation and excitement that Xerocon brings, get back to business with an action plan from all you’ve learnt about apps. 

• Write notes on your shortlisted apps
  Narrow down your shortlist to a final list of apps you loved based on the conversations you had, demos you attended, and showcases you watched. Take notes of the benefits and the answers apps gave you to refer back to later so you don’t have to remember it all during Xerocon
• Talk with your team
  Come back to your team and talk through the apps that you think could help solve the pain points your practice identified for you and your clients. This can help you quickly get your team on board and ready to incorporate apps into your everyday operations
• Recommend apps to your clients
  Met some great app exhibitors that could help some of your client’s business needs and pain points? You can get clients started with one-click app recommendations right within Xero
• Turn your trials into subscriptions
  If your free trials went well and your Xerocon conversations solved your questions, then it’s time to make it official! Go through the subscription plans for your chosen apps and pick the best plans for your practice before your trial ends so you don’t lose any functionality

Discover apps that can move your practice forward with the Xero App Store

If you want to learn more about how apps can help benefit your practice and your clients every day, explore the Xero App Store and our guide to using apps as an advisor. 

See you in Music City!