<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true">Xero, a New Zealand-based small business platform, is acquiring Melio for $2.5 billion.The deal will give Xero access to Melio's SMB bill pay platform, enhancing accounting and payment services.Xero CEO stated that this acquisition will help improve cash flow management for U.S. SMBs and accountants.The partnership between Xero and Melio aims to address crucial needs in accounting and payments for American SMBs.The U.S. SMB payment market is estimated at $29 billion, driven by digitization and demand for software solutions.Many businesses still rely on outdated payment methods and manual AP systems, facing challenges like paper checks.Research shows that most businesses have not automated supplier payments, leading to data entry errors and process delays.Late payments for small businesses remain a problem, with an average delay of 9.1 days, impacting financial stability.The acquisition aligns with the push for advanced payment methods to enhance financial operations for smaller firms.The news about Xero acquiring Melio was shared on PYMNTS.com.