QuickBooks Online: 3 Refreshed and Enhanced Features for a More Efficient System

Intuit recently rolled out a major makeover to QuickBooks Online (QBO). This batch of upgrades not only showcases an updated, modern navigation system but also a suite of enhanced features to make the system more efficient, faster, and easier to use.   

When Are New QuickBooks Features Available?  

The updated design is now available to all users on an opt-in basis. However, starting in October 2025, the classic view that users are accustomed to will officially be retired. For the time being, users can still toggle back to the older view via the Settings gear, but this option will eventually disappear once the transition is complete.   

3 New Tools to Make QuickBooks More Efficient  

While there are many new features in QBO that improve the user experience, three main changes can make your system more efficient: enhanced keyboard shortcuts, AI-powered assistants, and custom fields.  

As you adjust to the new layout and tools in QBO, it may be helpful to take advantage of the existing Bookmarks feature. The Bookmarks module is located on the left-hand menu and allows you to organize pages in a way that makes sense for you and your system needs. It can help you find your most frequently visited pages, reduce searching time, and keep you on track when working through multi-step processes.   

1. Enhanced Keyboard Shortcuts Assist with Accessibility

The new enhanced keyboard shortcuts enhance overall accessibility for users and can help streamline your processes. For example, try Ctrl + Alt + X on your keyboard to open the Expense entry screen, or, when entering a date for a new transaction, try clicking T on your keyboard for a shortcut for today’s date.   

2. AI-Powered Assistants Add Valuable Insights

Included in this enhanced suite of features are also some new AI-powered assistants. One exciting example is the additional insight provided while coding transactions under the “Bank Transactions” section. The virtual assistant can predict where the transaction should be coded based on historical entries and even search for a new Vendor online who is not already in your system to recommend a suitable chart of accounts.   

Another feature to explore is the Accounting Agent (AI-Assistant) “Insights” that is provided in the top right corner of reports. This tool helps analyze your books to point out potential discrepancies.   

3. Custom Fields Provide Additional Flexibility and Analytics

Intuit has also overhauled how users track and analyze their data. A couple of months ago, “Custom Fields” replaced “Tags”. Custom Fields allow for additional flexibility and can be applied across multiple transaction costs.   

These Custom Fields are especially helpful for customizing reports or sorting data by an additional filter. Some use-cases for this custom filter include project codes, source of business, client reference numbers, and lot/batch numbers.  

Get the Most Out of Your System with Support from Maner’s Accounting Experts  

Business owners and accountants alike may experience some growing pains as we learn to master the new system. However, these updates are designed to save time, improve accuracy, and, with the help of AI, provide you with greater confidence in your financial data. If you haven’t already started exploring the refreshed user interface and new features, now is the perfect time! And if you have questions, the accounting professionals at Maner are always ready to support your efforts. Contact us with questions.