Cin7 Core & Xero Integration, made simple.
A plain-English guide to how the Cin7 Core ↔ Xero sync actually works — what flows one way, what syncs both ways, and the settings that trip most new users up. Written by Australian Cin7 Core consultants who set these up every week.
- One-click connect: authorise once from Cin7 Core → Integrations → Xero, then hit Sync Now.
- Two-way for most things: customers, suppliers, items, invoices, payments and credit notes flow both directions.
- Cin7 Core is the source of truth for stock: Xero's own inventory module is not compatible and must be cleared first.
- Chart of Accounts is Xero-owned: edit it in Xero; Cin7 Core reads it but can't change it.
- One-way exceptions: credit notes created in Xero won't flow to Cin7 Core — always raise those in Cin7 Core.
A two-way connection between your inventory and your accountant's ledger
Cin7 Core handles the warehouse — products, purchasing, stock, assemblies. Xero handles the books. The integration keeps both systems talking so you never enter the same invoice twice.
Cin7 Core
Inventory, sales, purchases, manufacturing, POS
Xero
General ledger, chart of accounts, BAS, payments
The Cin7 Core ↔ Xero sync matrix
A quick reference table showing exactly which direction each record type flows, and which records are one-way or controlled by configuration.
→ = one-way flow • ↔ = two-way flow • — = does not sync
What each data type actually does
The sync matrix above is the cheat-sheet. Below is the detail behind each row — useful when you're planning an implementation or debugging a mismatch.
Chart of Accounts
Xero → Cin7 Core (read-only)Every change to your Chart of Accounts in Xero syncs down to Cin7 Core automatically. Cin7 Core treats the CoA as read-only — you can map accounts to inventory events, but you cannot create or rename accounts from within Cin7.
Practical tip: if your accountant wants a new GL code, add it in Xero first and wait for the next sync before mapping it in Cin7 Core.
Tax Rules
Xero → Cin7 CoreGST rates, BAS codes, and any custom tax rules flow from Xero into Cin7 Core. Cin7 Core maps these to products, customers, and suppliers so invoices pick up the correct tax treatment without manual entry.
Customers & Suppliers
Two-way syncCreate a contact in Xero and it appears in Cin7 Core. Update a customer's address, ABN or payment terms in Cin7 Core and the change pushes back to Xero Contacts. Both systems keep the same master record.
Products & Items
Cin7 Core → Xero (Xero → Cin7 optional)Create or update a product in Cin7 Core and it syncs to Xero as a non-inventory item. You can also opt in to pull items from Xero the other way.
Invoices
Two-way (Cin7 Core → Xero by default)Sales invoices raised in Cin7 Core automatically push to Xero once authorised. Invoices raised in Xero can also be pulled back into Cin7 Core — but we typically recommend you standardise on a single direction to avoid duplicate records.
Credit Notes
Cin7 Core → Xero onlyCredit notes raised in Cin7 Core flow through to Xero but are not automatically allocated against the original invoice — your bookkeeper will need to reconcile the allocation.
Payments & Refunds
Configurable two-wayPayments and refunds can export from Cin7 Core, import from Xero, or both — it's set per connection. Most businesses we work with reconcile payments in Xero (where the bank feed lives) and let them flow back to close invoices in Cin7 Core.
Prepayments
Cin7 Core → XeroPrepayments recorded in Cin7 Core export to Xero and are automatically allocated against the matching invoice the moment it's authorised. Useful for deposits and pro-forma workflows.
Overpayments
Xero → Cin7 CoreOverpayments captured in Xero (often via bank feed reconciliation) import into Cin7 Core and attach to the associated invoices.
Manual Journals
Cin7 Core → XeroCin7 Core posts automatic manual journals to Xero for every inventory event that affects the P&L — COGS on dispatched sales, assemblies and disassemblies, stock adjustments, and purchase/sale revaluations. This is how Xero's balance sheet stays aligned with Cin7 Core's stock on hand.
Xero Tracking Categories
Mapped once, applied on exportMap Xero tracking categories (branch, region, department, etc.) to Cin7 Core entities once. From then on, every invoice, credit note and journal exported from Cin7 Core carries the right tracking codes so your Xero P&L splits exactly the way you need it.
How to connect Cin7 Core to Xero
The connection itself is one click. The setup around it — mapping accounts, tax codes and tracking — is what takes a bit of thought.
Tidy Xero first
Remove any stock items from Xero's inventory module, confirm your chart of accounts is finalised, and make sure your tax rates match how you'll invoice.
Authorise the connection
In Cin7 Core, go to Integrations → Xero, click the Xero logo, and sign in with an organisation admin account. You only have to do this once.
Map your accounts
Link Cin7 Core's revenue, COGS, stock-on-hand and rounding accounts to the matching Xero GL codes. This controls every journal that gets posted.
Set payment direction
Decide whether payments flow Cin7 → Xero, Xero → Cin7, or both. Most clients reconcile in Xero and let the result flow back.
Hit Sync Now
Run the first sync while you're watching. Check a handful of invoices, one credit note and a stock adjustment land cleanly in Xero — then you're live.
Six concrete wins from a properly configured sync
Inventory accuracy underpins every other business decision. A clean Cin7 Core ↔ Xero integration is the foundation.
No double entry
Sales invoices, purchase bills and payments enter one system. Data-entry time drops to near zero and typos disappear from the ledger.
Real-time financials
Every dispatch posts a COGS journal to Xero immediately — so gross margin reports in Xero reflect the warehouse, not last month's snapshot.
BAS-ready tax
GST rules come from Xero, so every invoice, credit note and journal exported from Cin7 Core lands with the correct tax treatment for BAS.
One stock figure, trusted
Cin7 Core owns inventory end-to-end. Xero carries the balance-sheet figure via manual journals, so stock-on-hand and the GL always agree.
Tracking categories that work
Branch, brand or channel P&Ls split automatically in Xero because tracking codes ride along with every export from Cin7 Core.
Scales with your sales channels
Cin7 Core also integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, ShipStation, Shippit, StarTrack and B2B/POS — and each pushes cleanly through to Xero.
Cin7 Core & Xero FAQs
The questions we answer most often when setting up new clients.
Is the Cin7 Core and Xero integration free?
Yes — the native connector is included with your Cin7 Core subscription. There's no additional software licence for the sync itself. Implementation time and mapping work are separate.
Can I use Xero's inventory module alongside Cin7 Core?
No. Xero's inventory tracking is incompatible with Cin7 Core. You must remove existing stock items from Xero and rebuild them in Cin7 Core before the sync goes live. Cin7 Core then becomes the single source of truth for inventory and posts the matching balance-sheet journals to Xero.
How quickly do invoices move between Cin7 Core and Xero?
Near real-time. Invoices and credit notes authorised in Cin7 Core typically appear in Xero within seconds. If the sync queue backs up — say during an end-of-month rush — a few minutes of delay is normal.
Where should I create credit notes — Cin7 Core or Xero?
Always create them in Cin7 Core. Credit notes raised in Xero do not flow back to Cin7 Core, so your stock and COGS figures would drift. Cin7 Core credit notes export cleanly to Xero.
Can I map Xero tracking categories to Cin7 Core?
Yes. Map each Xero tracking category (e.g. Branch, Region, Channel) to a Cin7 Core entity — such as location or sales rep. Every invoice, credit note and journal that exports to Xero will then carry the correct tracking code, so your P&L splits automatically.
Does the integration work with QuickBooks Online too?
Yes. Cin7 Core offers native connectors for both Xero and QuickBooks Online. The mapping concepts are very similar; the menu labels differ.
What happens if the sync fails or pauses?
Cin7 Core queues the record and retries. You can view failed items under Integrations → Xero → Logs, fix the underlying issue (usually a missing GL mapping or a tax code mismatch), and resync manually. Nothing is lost.
Related Cin7 Core guides
Short, practical reads — written by the team that implements these systems every week.
How to back up your Cin7 Core data
A 5-minute video walkthrough of the built-in export routine every business should run monthly.
Cin7 Core blog
Setup guides, server-status updates and feature walkthroughs, sorted by topic.
Inventory software buyer's guide
How to scope an inventory system, what to compare, and where Cin7 Core fits in the market.
Want someone to just get it right the first time?
We're Australian Cin7 Core specialists. We set up the Xero sync — chart of accounts, tax, tracking categories, payments — for new and existing Cin7 Core users every week. One call and we'll tell you exactly what your integration needs.
Book a Setup Call