Company overview
Xero is a global technology company offering cloud-based accounting solutions designed specifically for small businesses. With engineering teams spread across Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, and Toronto, managing clear ownership, consistency, and effective collaboration presented significant operational challenges.
The challenge
Initially, Xero managed internal software component tracking and ownership through spreadsheets, a common but increasingly ineffective approach as the organization expanded. Recognizing these limitations, Xero developed a custom internal developer portal (IDP) to better handle growth. However, as the company continued to scale, maintaining their homegrown IDP proved to be resource-intensive and lacked advanced features crucial for further growth.
The solution: transition to Cortex
Xero migrated from their homegrown IDP to Cortex.
Cortex significantly enhanced Xero’s engineering operations by introducing powerful features beyond basic cataloging:
Advanced cataloging capabilities: Cortex enabled a comprehensive and centralized portal that clearly defined software component ownership, integrations, and dependencies far beyond the capabilities of their previous homegrown solution.
Integrated scorecards and workflows: Cortex provided sophisticated Scorecards and Workflows that allowed Xero to measure and track productivity, compliance, and operational standards effectively. These tools streamlined processes and improved accountability, something not achievable with previous tools.
Standardization and compliance management: Cortex’s data visualization and analytics enabled Xero to proactively identify gaps and opportunities for standardization. This improved consistency across global teams and ensured quality standards were maintained despite increased development speed.
Enhanced strategic visibility: Cortex transformed software management from a tactical, engineer-level tool to a strategic asset utilized across all levels of leadership. It became a core intelligence platform, informing strategic decisions by general managers, heads of engineering, and executives alike.
Key wins
Comprehensive visibility and clear ownership: Cortex's centralized platform gave Xero a detailed view of all engineering assets, clarifying roles and responsibilities across global teams.
Balanced productivity and quality: Cortex effectively balanced the rapid pace of innovation with rigorous quality and compliance standards, reducing risk associated with fast deployments.
Executive-level engagement and strategic alignment: Adoption of Cortex elevated engineering from a tactical operation to a strategic priority, enhancing the overall impact of the engineering function on business outcomes.
Resource efficiency: By eliminating the ongoing maintenance burden of their homegrown solution, Cortex allowed engineering resources to focus more strategically on innovation and improvement rather than internal tooling.
The migration to Cortex is viewed as a transformative step forward at Xero, significantly enhancing engineering operational efficiency, accountability, and strategic visibility.
“Whether you're a general manager at Xero or an engineer, you're looking at Cortex as your source of intelligence about how we're building software. It's a massive leap forward for us.”
— Mark Dunlop, Head of Engineering at Xero
Conclusion
Cortex is at the core of Xero’s engineering ecosystem, bringing significant improvements in transparency, productivity, quality, and strategic alignment. This pivotal shift empowered Xero to scale effectively.
At Xero, Cortex is a foundational platform for engineering excellence.
