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Streamline Your Accounting: How to Create Multiple Line Items in Xero with Zapier

Published on Feb 28th, 2024

When managing your accounting tasks, integrating different software solutions can save significant time and reduce errors. Xero, a powerful cloud-based accounting software, can be paired with Zapier to automate repetitive tasks. One common question is how to create more than one line item in Xero using Zapier. This article will guide you through the steps to accomplish this, optimizing your accounting workflow.


First, ensure you have active accounts with both Xero and Zapier. Once you've logged into Zapier, create a new Zap. Zaps are automated workflows that connect your apps and services together. Your trigger app will be the software that kicks off the process. For instance, this could be an e-commerce platform like Shopify, where a new order will act as the trigger event.


After setting up the trigger, the action step follows. Here, you'll choose Xero as the action app and 'Create Invoice' as the action event. This is where multiple line items come into play. By default, Zapier’s Xero integration may only offer you to create an invoice with a single line item. To add more, you'll need to use a preformatted input that can put multiple line items into the invoice creation action.


Create the data structure by using a specific format in a text field within your trigger app. Each line item should be separated by a delimiter, such as a new line or a special character. Typically, the structure includes the quantity, item code, description, unit price, and any other relevant information.


Once you have formatted your input, you will map it to the line items field in the ‘Create Invoice’ action setup. Zapier will parse the data and split it into separate line items accordingly. It is crucial that your formatting is consistent to avoid any errors during the data parsing stage.


Before finalizing the Zap, it's always recommended to test it to make sure everything runs smoothly. Send a test trigger from your trigger app and verify that Zapier successfully creates a new invoice with all the line items in Xero.


By setting up your Zapier integration to create multiple line items in Xero invoices, you streamline the invoicing process, which saves you time and improves accuracy. As businesses grow and transactions become more complex, this automation can be a significant asset for your financial management.


For a more in-depth guide, consider reaching out to a professional development and technology consulting service that can tailor solutions to fit your unique business needs and ensure that your accounting system works seamlessly with other software applications.


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