Explain this invoice in plain English
One button that turns an invoice into a short, plain summary of what the customer is paying for, why it changed from last time, and what to expect next.
Every amount on an invoice carries a calculation receipt. Open a line and click "Show calculation" to see the formula, each step, and the final number. This is exact and always available.
Sometimes you want the whole bill in words, not a table. Near the invoice total there is an "Explain this invoice" button. Click it and you get a few sentences that read like a person talking you through the bill.
What it tells you
The summary answers the questions a customer actually asks, using only the numbers already on the invoice:
- What am I paying for, and why now. It names the charges in plain terms, calls out a metered line, and points out a part-period charge when a change happened mid-cycle.
- Why this is different from last time. When there is an earlier invoice for the same subscription, it compares the two and says what drove the change: an item added or removed, a quantity that went up or down, or a discount that ended.
- What to expect next. If a discount is about to end or a change is already scheduled, it gives you a heads-up so the next bill is no surprise.
It only ever uses the figures already on the invoice. It does not work anything out on its own, so the words always match the numbers. The exact receipts are still there on each line whenever you want them.
When you would use it
- A customer emails asking why their bill went up, and you want a clear answer you can read back or paste into a reply.
- You are reviewing a renewal and want a quick read of what changed since last month.
- You are training a new teammate on how a subscription bills.
Good to know
The first time anyone asks to explain an invoice, the summary is written and then saved, so opening it again is instant for you and everyone on your team. If the invoice is still a draft and its numbers change, the summary is written again from the new figures, so it never falls out of step with the bill.
Explaining invoices is part of the Grow plan and up. On the Launch plan the button shows what the feature does and how to turn it on.