Dext
Dext sits between your document pile and Xero - capturing receipts and invoices from every source, extracting the data, and publishing coded transactions ready to reconcile
Everything on this page comes from using Dext with Xero across hundreds of client files - setting up extraction rules, reviewing AI categorisation, and making sure every transaction that hits Xero is clean before BAS time. This is what we have learned
What Dext does
Features
Capture receipts and invoices from any source, extract the data automatically, and push clean coded transactions to Xero. Staff submit, Dext extracts, Xero codes
Receipt & invoice capture
Capture from mobile photo, email forwarding, browser upload, direct supplier connections, and bank feeds. If there is a document, there is a way to get it into Dext
AI data extraction
AI reads each document to extract supplier, date, amount, GST, and line items. Quoted recognition rate of 99%+ on clear, well-formatted documents
Auto-categorisation
Every transaction is automatically categorised using AI and mapped to your chart of accounts. Suggestions improve the longer you use it
Expense & mileage tracking
Employees capture expenses on their phone as they happen. Mileage claims are calculated automatically and submitted for approval in one tap
Approvals workflow
Set roles and permissions across your team. Expenses route through the right approvers before anything reaches Xero - no bypassing the process
App & bank connections
Connects to 11,500+ apps, banks, and institutions including PayPal, Shopify, and direct bank feeds - automating document collection before you even open Dext
Best for
- bookkeepers managing high document volumes
- businesses with field staff or frequent travellers
- trades and professional services capturing job expenses
- anyone eliminating manual data entry into Xero
- clients needing a single document inbox for all receipts and invoices
Integration mapping
Shared data between Xero and Dext
Dext handles the document side, Xero handles the accounts side. The integration keeps both platforms aligned - every captured document flows into Xero already extracted and coded, with your chart of accounts, contacts, and tracking categories available at the point of capture
Documents & Transactions
Account Setup
Getting started
How to connect Dext to Xero
Authorise Dext with your Xero organisation, sync your chart of accounts and contacts, then review the default category mappings before capturing your first documents
Before you start
- confirm you have Xero Advisor access - a Standard user cannot authorise the connection
- have your chart of accounts reasonably clean before connecting - Dext imports what is in Xero, including any junk accounts
Get access to Dext
- Starting fresh - go to the Dext listing on the Xero App Store click Get this app - starts your 14-day trial and links Dext to your Xero organisation
- Already a Dext customer - Settings Integrations Xero tile Connect follow authorisation prompts
Sync your chart of accounts
- in Dext: Settings Integrations Xero Sync accounts
- accounts, tax rates, contacts, and tracking categories import from Xero
- review default expense category mappings - Dext pre-assigns accounts but they may not match your coding conventions
Set up your team and approval rules
- add users with appropriate roles - submitter, approver, or admin
- configure the approval workflow for expenses and invoices
- set default expense categories per employee or supplier if your coding is consistent
- enable Mileage tracking if field staff need it
Capture your first documents and review
- capture a batch of receipts via mobile, email forward, or drag-and-drop upload
- review AI extraction and categorisation in the Inbox - correct anything that looks off
- Publish to Xero - check the transactions are landing in the right accounts
- adjust default supplier rules for any that miscoded - the AI learns from corrections going forward
Things to know
What to watch out for
Dext is reliable but a few habits will determine whether your Xero file stays clean or slowly accumulates noise
AI categorisation needs bedding in
The AI learns from your coding patterns but the first weeks require active review. New suppliers, unusual transactions, and ambiguous descriptions are where suggestions drift - check before publishing until patterns are established
Document quality determines extraction
Dext quotes 99%+ accuracy on clear documents. Handwritten receipts, low-light phone captures, and non-standard formats push that rate down. Extraction errors need correction before they hit Xero
Supplier records can duplicate
New suppliers without history may not match existing Xero contacts and create duplicates. Review the contact sync in the first few weeks - duplicates that get through to Xero are harder to clean up than prevent
Document volume affects plan cost
Dext prices by seat but document allowances vary by plan. Businesses with seasonal spikes or multiple entities need to check monthly submission limits - going over triggers additional costs that compound quickly
Pricing
What Dext costs
Pricing model
Per seat / month - unlimited document submissions on higher plans
Free trial
14 days, no credit card required
Document volume is the main variable. Businesses with seasonal spikes or multiple entities need to check monthly submission limits - going over triggers additional costs that compound quickly
Frequently asked questions