If the software doesn't automate your work, should you have to pay for it?

Ryan Pearcy, Indi Tatla and John Toon are back together covering QuickBooks updates, a significant Active Workpapers release, and two AI stories worth your attention. QuickBooks has restructured its payroll offering into three tiers: Core for simple automated salary runs, Premium adding time tracking and self-serve tools, and Elite bringing in geo-fencing and project profitability. Indi covers Intuit Intelligence, a conversational AI built into QuickBooks that lets business owners ask questions about their own data. She makes the point that QuickBooks has always been more direct about going after the business owner than Xero — this is the latest iteration of that strategy. John adds the arrival of auto-save in invoices and estimates, though he and Ryan disagree on whether it genuinely qualifies. Tax Systems has launched an AI assistant for cross-border tax via its Loctax acquisition, covering 220 jurisdictions and drawing on verified content from the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation. Indi's take: the biggest problem with AI in tax is not speed, it's trust. John raises the billing question — if research time drops significantly, hourly-rate firms face a difficult conversation. John covers a LinkedIn video from Daryl Aw demonstrating the use of Claude to produce financial statements. Pretty much any accountant can do this. The harder question is whether you can do it reliably at scale. Digits has moved to outcome-based pricing. Firms pay only when 95% of transactions are fully automated with no human edits. Ryan thinks they're either very confident or making a desperate growth bet. John says he'd put all his most complex clients on it and never pay a penny. Also covered: WorkGuru's Easter release with new Sales and Operations Hubs, Certinia's Veda AI engine for professional services firms, and the Digital Disruptors Awards returning at Accountex North in Manchester. Advancetrack provides outsourcing and offshoring services for accounting firms, covering bookkeeping, accounts preparation, payroll, VAT and self-assessment. www.advancetrack.com 00:00 Introduction and Nostalgia 03:54 QBO launches new payroll stack 07:04 QBO launches Intuit Intelligence 12:02 QuickBooks adds auto-save to invoices and estimates 13:26 WorkGuru releases major Easter update 16:31 Ryan's AI reluctance 18:01 Active Workpapers drops April UK release 21:25 Nostalgia Trip 22:52 Tax Systems targets cross-border tax with verified AI 28:37 Wrap-Up and Community Engagement 29:37 Daryl Aw demonstrates building financial statements with Claude 33:30 Certinia launches Veda, an AI operations engine for professional services firms 36:54 Digits bets its revenue on whether its AI actually works 41:54 Register for the Digital Disruptor Awards