Xero Integration

Transform your Xero accounting data into carbon emissions automatically. NetNada's Xero integration reads your transactions, categorises spending by emission source, applies accurate emission factors, and calculates your carbon footprint—no spreadsheets, no manual data entry, just connect and measure.

How It Works

Most carbon accounting starts with exporting data from accounting systems into spreadsheets. NetNada eliminates this manual step by connecting directly to Xero, reading transaction data, and calculating emissions automatically using spend-based methodology.

1

Connect Your Xero Account

Authorise NetNada to access your Xero organisation with read-only permissions. Connection takes under 60 seconds using Xero's secure OAuth process. NetNada never sees your Xero password and cannot modify your accounting data.

2

Map Chart of Accounts to Emission Categories

NetNada automatically suggests mappings from your Xero chart of accounts to emission categories (electricity, fuel, travel, purchased goods, etc.). Review and refine the mappings based on your specific account structure. One-time setup—mappings persist for ongoing calculations.

3

Import Historical Transactions

Pull historical transaction data from Xero—typically 12-24 months for baseline calculation. NetNada categorises transactions by emission source, identifies suppliers, and aggregates spending by category. Large organisations can import multiple Xero organisations for consolidated reporting.

4

Apply Emission Factors

NetNada applies spend-based emission factors to categorised transactions. Default factors from reputable sources (EXIOBASE, EPA, Australian NGA Factors) or custom factors for your industry. Electricity transactions use location-based grid factors; travel uses mode-specific factors.

5

Generate Ongoing Carbon Reports

Once connected, NetNada syncs new transactions automatically (daily or on-demand). View real-time emissions dashboards, track month-over-month trends, and generate reports—all without touching a spreadsheet. Your carbon footprint updates as you run your business.

Why Connect Xero to NetNada

Eliminate Manual Data Entry

No more exporting Xero reports, reformatting in Excel, and uploading to carbon calculators. NetNada reads your transactions directly, saving hours of manual work each reporting period. Focus on emissions reduction instead of data wrangling.

Real-Time Emissions Visibility

Traditional carbon accounting produces annual snapshots months after the reporting period. With Xero integration, see your emissions as transactions occur. Identify trends, catch anomalies, and respond to emissions changes in near real-time.

Leverage Data You Already Have

Your Xero transactions already contain the spending data needed for Scope 3 calculations. Instead of surveying departments for spend information, pull it directly from your accounting system—more complete, more accurate, less effort.

Consistent Methodology Over Time

Manual data collection often involves different people, different interpretations, and inconsistent categorisation across periods. Automated Xero integration applies the same rules consistently, ensuring comparable emissions data year over year.

Audit-Ready Data Trail

Every emission calculation traces back to specific Xero transactions. When auditors or stakeholders question your numbers, show them the exact invoices and receipts underlying each category. Full transparency from transaction to emission.

Scale Without Additional Effort

As your business grows and transaction volumes increase, manual carbon accounting becomes unsustainable. Xero integration scales automatically—more transactions just means more data processed, not more staff time required.

Who Benefits from Xero Integration

Small and Medium Businesses

SMBs often lack dedicated sustainability staff. Xero integration democratises carbon accounting—if you're already using Xero for bookkeeping, you can calculate your carbon footprint without hiring consultants or learning complex methodologies.

Accounting Firms and Bookkeepers

Add carbon accounting to your service offering without learning new skills. Connect client Xero accounts to NetNada and provide sustainability reporting alongside traditional financial services. Differentiate from competitors with green accounting services.

Growing Startups

Startups need to move fast and can't afford manual data collection. Xero integration lets you measure emissions from day one with minimal effort. Attract sustainability-conscious investors and customers with credible carbon data.

Multi-Entity Organisations

Companies with multiple Xero organisations (subsidiaries, branches, projects) can connect all entities for consolidated emissions reporting. NetNada aggregates across organisations while maintaining entity-level visibility.

B Corp and Sustainability-Certified Businesses

Certifications like B Corp require ongoing emissions tracking and reporting. Xero integration automates the data collection needed to maintain certification, reducing compliance burden while improving data quality.

Xero Integration Features

One-Click Xero Connection

Connect to Xero in under 60 seconds using secure OAuth authentication. Read-only access ensures NetNada can never modify your accounting data. Disconnect anytime from NetNada or your Xero connected apps settings.

Intelligent Account Mapping

AI-assisted mapping suggests emission categories based on your account names and transaction patterns. Map "Electricity - Head Office" to Scope 2 electricity, "Uber" to employee travel, "Office Supplies" to purchased goods. Customise mappings as needed.

Transaction-Level Categorisation

View individual transactions and their emission categorisations. Override automatic categorisation for specific transactions. Handle split transactions where a single payment covers multiple emission categories.

Supplier Recognition

NetNada learns your suppliers and their emission profiles over time. Recognise that "Shell" transactions are fuel purchases, "Qantas" is air travel, and "AGL" is electricity. Supplier-specific factors available for major vendors.

Multi-Organisation Support

Connect multiple Xero organisations for consolidated group reporting. Track emissions by entity, business unit, or project code. Roll up to corporate totals while maintaining subsidiary-level detail.

Historical Data Import

Import up to 5 years of historical Xero data for baseline establishment and trend analysis. See how your emissions have changed over time, even before you started measuring. Particularly valuable for retrospective reporting requirements.

Automatic Sync

After initial connection, NetNada syncs new transactions automatically. Choose daily sync for near real-time updates or weekly/monthly for less frequent processing. Manual sync available anytime for immediate updates.

Tracking Category Support

Leverage Xero tracking categories (cost centres, projects, locations) for emissions allocation. Report emissions by office location, project, or department using your existing Xero structure without additional configuration.

Real Results from Real Users

See how companies are transforming their sustainability reporting

Digital Agency
Operations Manager, Operations Manager
"We knew we should measure our carbon footprint but didn't have time to collect data manually. Connected Xero to NetNada on a Friday afternoon—by Monday we had our first emissions report. Now we include carbon metrics in our monthly management pack without any additional work."
Impact:
  • Generated first emissions report within 48 hours of connecting
  • Zero ongoing data entry required for monthly reporting
  • Added carbon metrics to investor reporting with no extra work
Accounting Practice
Practice Principal, Practice Principal
"Our clients started asking about carbon accounting, but we didn't want to learn complex sustainability software. NetNada's Xero integration was perfect—we already know Xero inside out. Now we offer carbon reports as an add-on service. Three clients have signed up this month alone."
Impact:
  • Launched new carbon accounting service line with minimal training
  • Onboarded 3 new clients for sustainability reporting in first month
  • Average $2,000/year additional revenue per client for carbon reports
E-commerce Business
Founder, Founder
"Our customers care about sustainability and kept asking about our carbon footprint. We connected Xero to NetNada and discovered our shipping was 60% of our emissions—way more than expected. We've since switched to carbon-neutral shipping and reduced our footprint by 40%."
Impact:
  • Identified shipping as 60% of total emissions
  • Reduced carbon footprint 40% by switching shipping providers
  • Now display carbon footprint on product pages (competitive advantage)

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Xero Integration

Is the Xero connection secure?
Yes, NetNada uses Xero's official OAuth 2.0 authentication. We never see your Xero password. Connection is read-only—we cannot modify your accounting data. You can revoke access anytime from Xero's connected apps settings. NetNada is a Xero-certified app partner.
How accurate is spend-based carbon accounting?
Spend-based methodology is recognised by GHG Protocol as a valid Scope 3 approach, particularly for purchased goods and services. Accuracy depends on emission factors and categorisation quality. NetNada uses reputable factor databases and provides data quality indicators. For higher accuracy, supplement with activity-based data for major emission sources.
What Xero data does NetNada access?
NetNada reads: transactions (invoices, bills, bank transactions), chart of accounts, contacts (supplier names), and tracking categories. We do not access: bank account details, user information, or any data unrelated to emissions calculation. Full data access details shown during OAuth connection.
Can I connect multiple Xero organisations?
Yes, connect unlimited Xero organisations for consolidated reporting. Each connection is authorised separately. View emissions by individual organisation, business unit, or aggregated at group level. Ideal for franchises, multi-entity structures, or accountants managing multiple clients.
How far back can I import historical data?
NetNada can import up to 5 years of historical Xero transactions, subject to data available in your Xero account. Historical import is one-time; ongoing sync captures new transactions only. Import time depends on transaction volume—typically minutes for small businesses, hours for large datasets.
What if my chart of accounts is messy?
NetNada's mapping interface handles non-standard charts of accounts. You can map any account to emission categories regardless of naming conventions. If transactions are miscategorised in Xero (e.g., all expenses in "General Expenses"), you can map at the transaction level using supplier names instead.
Does this work with Xero Cashbook or Ledger?
NetNada works with all Xero products: Xero Business (full accounting), Xero Cashbook, and Xero Ledger. Functionality is the same across products—we read transactions regardless of which Xero plan you use.
Can I still enter data manually if needed?
Yes, Xero integration supplements rather than replaces other data entry methods. Add manual entries for items not in Xero (e.g., employee commuting surveys, activity data), upload additional data sources, and override automatic calculations as needed. Xero provides the baseline; you enhance as required.

Connect Xero in 60 Seconds

Automatic Carbon Accounting from Your Existing Data

Stop manual data collection. NetNada reads your Xero transactions and calculates your carbon footprint automatically. No spreadsheets, no consultants, no hassle—just connect and measure.

View Xero integration guide