Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistant built into the Microsoft 365 apps you already use, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. It uses your own work data (emails, files and meetings) to draft documents, analyse spreadsheets, summarise meetings and write emails. It is a paid add-on to a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription.
XLOOKUP is the best choice for most users on Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021+: it looks in any direction, defaults to an exact match, and handles errors natively. INDEX/MATCH is the flexible fallback for older Excel versions and left-of-key lookups, while VLOOKUP still works well for simple, left-to-right lookups in legacy files shared with older Excel.
Xero and MYOB both handle invoicing, bank reconciliation, GST, BAS, and Single Touch Payroll in line with Australian standards, so neither is universally better. What differs is where each one is strongest, and which of those strengths matter to your business. This guide sets out the practical differences so you can decide.
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What is Xero? A Beginner’s Guide
Xero is cloud-based accounting software used by small and medium businesses to manage invoicing, bank reconciliation, payroll and reporting. Because it runs in your browser rather than on one computer, you and your accountant or bookkeeper can work in the same file at the same time. It is one of the most widely used accounting platforms in Australia.
If you have been exploring AI tools at work, you have almost certainly come across both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT. They look similar on the surface: you type a prompt, the AI generates a response, and both are powered by technology from OpenAI. But underneath, they are designed for very different purposes, and choosing the wrong one for a task will leave you frustrated.