SaaSy Talk S01.41: Tackling Tech Trends with James Bergin

About The Guest(s): James is a senior executive leader at Xero, with a background working in innovation and technology across a range of fintech, banking and retail organisations. He is responsible for defining the future state and strategic direction of technology at Xero, including the use of emerging technologies to solve customer problems. James is passionate about democratising access to digital solutions, and hosts Future Focus — a Xero series looking at the latest tech trends and what they mean for small businesses and their advisors around the world. Summary: In this episode, host Ricky interviews James Bergin, the Executive GM of Technology Strategy and Integration at Xero. James shares insights from his journey in the technology and banking sectors, discussing the importance of continuous learning and the complexity of banks and technology. He also delves into the role of AI in streamlining processes and the potential of blockchain in business. James highlights the need to focus on solving problems and adopting emerging technologies with a purpose. He shares his excitement for AI, the metaverse, and green tech, and provides a sneak peek into how Xero is using AI to streamline manual processes for their subscribers. Key Takeaways: Continuous learning is crucial in the rapidly evolving technology landscape, and organisations should prioritise staying informed about emerging technologies. When adopting new technologies, it is essential to focus on solving specific problems and not get caught up in the hype. AI has the potential to augment human intelligence and streamline manual processes, providing valuable insights and saving time for small businesses. The metaverse, although still in its early stages, holds promise for blending physical and digital realities, but it is important to differentiate between virtual reality and augmented reality. Green tech, particularly carbon accounting and decentralized digital identity, presents opportunities for businesses to address sustainability and traceability challenges. Notable Quotes: "AI really gets its power when it's not so much about the artificial intelligence, but where it's augmenting human intelligence." - James Bergin "Innovation means to create something new in order to change something established." - James Bergin Chapters 00:06 Guest's Journey to Xero 00:22 Guest's Early Career and Transition to Architecture 02:30 Guest's Experience at ASB Bank 03:01 The Importance of Continuous Learning 03:42 The Complexity of Banks and Technology 04:16 The Role of Technology in Streamlining Processes 06:54 Guest's Current Role at Xero 11:03 The Role of AI in Business 15:12 The Future of Tech Trends 16:49 The Role of Blockchain in Business 25:23 The Future of Xero 26:26 Guest's Legacy and Future Plans 28:39 Quick Fire Round Subscribe on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZVkJ12FIqD39oqgj7Kcjq  Subscribe on Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/saasy-talk-unfiltered/id1709426070 Subscribe on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@SaaSyTalkUnfiltered Subscribe on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasy-talk-unfiltered Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://substack.com/@saasytalkunfiltered Visit our Website:  https://saasytalkunfiltered.transistor.fm/  Follow Ricky Sevta on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickysevta/ Follow Sean Diljore on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/seandiljore/