AI Search Pulse / HR and payroll software
Xero
xero.com
Xero ranks 2nd of 25 in UK HR and payroll software AI answers: named in 211 of 356 answers (59.3%, ±9.2). Strongest on Claude and Gemini (68.3%), weakest on Perplexity (45.0%). Named in 51 of 60 questions.
Headline figures
- Visibility
- 59.3% ±9.2
- Named in
- 211 of 356 answers
- Rank
- 2nd of 25
- Change
- First reading
The ± is the margin of error: if we had asked a different mix of similar questions, the figure would land inside this range 95 times in 100.
Visibility over time
| Scan | Visibility | 95% range |
|---|---|---|
| 3 November 2026 | Visibility: 59.3% | 95% range: 50.4% to 68.7% |
Engine by engine
| Engine | Xero | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Xero: 61.7% (37 of 60) | Category average: 22.8% |
| Claude | Xero: 68.3% (41 of 60) | Category average: 29.6% |
| Gemini | Xero: 68.3% (41 of 60) | Category average: 27.2% |
| Perplexity | Xero: 45.0% (27 of 60) | Category average: 19.3% |
| Google AI Overviews | Xero: 55.4% (31 of 56) | Category average: 16.5% |
| Google AI Mode | Xero: 56.7% (34 of 60) | Category average: 17.8% |
The questions
Xero was named in 51 of 60 questions.
| Question | Xero named by | Others named instead |
|---|---|---|
| What's the best payroll software for a UK small business with about 15 staff that handles RTI and auto-enrolment? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| What's the cheapest HMRC-recognised payroll software for a limited company director who only pays themselves? | Xero named by: Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Employment Hero (1 engine), FreeAgent (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), Moneysoft (1 engine), Shape Payroll (1 engine) |
| I run a restaurant with weekly-paid and zero-hours staff. Which payroll software handles holiday pay and tronc properly? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: BrightPay (1 engine) |
| Should I use a payroll bureau or software, and which UK providers offer both? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: MHR (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software is best for an accountant running payroll for lots of clients? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| What payroll software do most UK small businesses use? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| How much does payroll software cost per employee per month in the UK, and which providers are best value? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Is there any free payroll software for a UK employer with fewer than 10 employees? | Xero named by: Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: BrightPay (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software works best for a care home with lots of shift workers and overtime? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Rippling (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software automatically sends RTI submissions to HMRC every pay day? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| What payroll software handles auto-enrolment pension duties and re-enrolment for me? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| What's the difference between the main cloud payroll providers for a UK business with 50 staff? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| How hard is it to switch payroll software partway through the tax year in the UK, and which providers help with the move? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: IRIS (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), QuickBooks (1 engine) |
| I'm moving payroll away from my accountant to do it in-house. What software should I use? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| What's the best value payroll software for a charity with 30 part-time staff? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: BrightPay (2 engines), Moneysoft (2 engines), IRIS (1 engine), MHR (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software is best for a construction firm that pays CIS subcontractors as well as employees? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which UK payroll software has the best customer support when something goes wrong? | Xero named by: Claude, Gemini, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: BrightPay (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), ADP (1 engine), Cintra (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| Which payroll providers do UK businesses rate most highly in reviews? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: BrightPay (1 engine), Deel (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| What's the easiest payroll software for someone who has never run payroll before? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: ADP (1 engine), QuickBooks (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software suits a business with staff in England and Scotland on different income tax rates? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which payroll tools work out statutory sick pay and maternity pay properly? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Is it better to buy standalone payroll software or use the payroll that comes with my accounting package? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which UK payroll bureaus offer the best value managed payroll for a small business, and what do they charge per payslip? | Xero named by: Claude, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Moorepay (2 engines), IRIS (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software handles salary sacrifice pension schemes for a UK firm with 25 employees? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which cloud payroll software is easiest to move to from an old desktop payroll package? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which payroll software lets employees see their payslips on their phone? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: BrightPay (2 engines), IRIS (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software is ready for mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind from April 2027? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| What are the pros and cons of the most popular UK payroll apps for a 20-person company? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which payroll software is the most reliable for getting pay day right every month? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: ADP (1 engine), Deel (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| What payroll software works for a small business that pays a mix of monthly salaries and hourly wages? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: QuickBooks (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software has no setup fee and lets me pay month to month? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Employment Hero (1 engine) |
| Which payroll provider can handle a UK business with 200 employees across several sites? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: Moorepay (5 engines), Rippling (5 engines), ADP (4 engines), IRIS (4 engines), Sage (3 engines), Cintra (2 engines), MHR (2 engines), PayFit (2 engines), BrightPay (1 engine), Deel (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| Which payroll software do UK accountants recommend for small businesses? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| For a growing business, is payroll software that bundles HR better than a payroll-only product? | Xero named by: Claude, Gemini, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: ADP (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine) |
| Which HR software is best for a 40-person UK company that needs payroll built in? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: Cintra (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), Employment Hero (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Personio (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| Which HR system will help a small UK employer keep up with the Employment Rights Act changes, like day-one sick pay? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini | Others named instead: BrightHR (3 engines), Breathe (2 engines), CharlieHR (2 engines), HiBob (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| What's the easiest HR software to set up for a UK startup under 20 people? | Xero named by: Claude, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), CharlieHR (3 engines), HiBob (3 engines), Factorial (2 engines), Personio (2 engines), Zelt (2 engines), BambooHR (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| What's the best all-in-one HR, payroll and benefits platform for a UK business with 100 to 250 staff? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Gemini | Others named instead: HiBob (3 engines), Sage (3 engines), Zelt (3 engines), Cintra (2 engines), Employment Hero (2 engines), MHR (2 engines), Rippling (2 engines), Breathe (1 engine), BrightHR (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Personio (1 engine) |
| What do small UK businesses use to manage holidays, sickness and rotas in one place? | Xero named by: Claude, Gemini | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), BrightHR (3 engines), CharlieHR (2 engines), Factorial (2 engines), BambooHR (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine) |
| How much does HR software cost for a UK company with 50 employees, and which providers are best value? | Xero named by: Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), Employment Hero (4 engines), BambooHR (3 engines), HiBob (3 engines), PeopleHR (3 engines), Personio (3 engines), Sage (3 engines), BrightHR (2 engines), CharlieHR (2 engines), IRIS (2 engines), Zelt (2 engines), Factorial (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| What's the difference between HR software built for UK companies and the big US platforms? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: BambooHR (2 engines), Rippling (2 engines), Breathe (1 engine), CharlieHR (1 engine), Factorial (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Personio (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| We've outgrown spreadsheets for holiday tracking. What HR software should a 25-person firm move to? | Xero named by: Claude | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), BambooHR (3 engines), CharlieHR (3 engines), Personio (2 engines), Zelt (2 engines), Cintra (1 engine), Factorial (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine) |
| Which HR software do UK small businesses say is easiest to use day to day? | Xero named by: Gemini | Others named instead: BambooHR (4 engines), Breathe (4 engines), CharlieHR (4 engines), BrightHR (3 engines), Employment Hero (3 engines), HiBob (2 engines), PeopleHR (2 engines), Rippling (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), Factorial (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| Which HR software comes with employment law advice for a small business without an HR manager? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: BrightHR (6 engines), BambooHR (2 engines), Breathe (2 engines), CharlieHR (2 engines), Employment Hero (2 engines), HiBob (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| What's the best HR software for a small business in the UK? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: BambooHR (1 engine), Breathe (1 engine), BrightHR (1 engine), Cintra (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), Personio (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| Which HR platforms help with right to work checks and keeping employee records GDPR compliant? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: Personio (5 engines), Breathe (3 engines), BrightHR (3 engines), HiBob (3 engines), Rippling (3 engines), CharlieHR (2 engines), Employment Hero (2 engines), Factorial (2 engines), ADP (1 engine), BambooHR (1 engine), Cintra (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| Is there decent free HR software for a UK business with under 10 staff? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), CharlieHR (4 engines), PeopleHR (2 engines), BrightHR (1 engine), Deel (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), PayFit (1 engine), Sage (1 engine) |
| How do the main HR software options for UK SMEs compare on holiday management, documents and reporting? | Xero named by: Claude | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), CharlieHR (4 engines), BrightHR (3 engines), HiBob (3 engines), BambooHR (2 engines), Factorial (2 engines), Personio (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), Zelt (2 engines), Cintra (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine) |
| What HR software suits a retail business with lots of part-time and seasonal staff? | Xero named by: Gemini | Others named instead: BambooHR (3 engines), Factorial (3 engines), Rippling (3 engines), Sage (3 engines), PeopleHR (2 engines), Personio (2 engines), ADP (1 engine), Breathe (1 engine), BrightHR (1 engine), CharlieHR (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine), MHR (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine) |
| We've outgrown our first HR system at 150 staff. Which HR platforms should we move to? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: HiBob (6 engines), Personio (6 engines), BambooHR (5 engines), Rippling (5 engines), ADP (3 engines), Factorial (2 engines), PeopleHR (2 engines), Breathe (1 engine), BrightPay (1 engine), CharlieHR (1 engine), Deel (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), Moorepay (1 engine), Sage (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| Which HR tools help UK employers keep track of the new day-one rights to paternity and parental leave? | Xero named by: Claude, Perplexity | Others named instead: Breathe (3 engines), BrightHR (3 engines), PeopleHR (2 engines), Personio (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), ADP (1 engine), BambooHR (1 engine), CharlieHR (1 engine), Cintra (1 engine), Employment Hero (1 engine), Factorial (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), MHR (1 engine) |
| Which HR software providers are known for good onboarding and support? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: BambooHR (6 engines), Rippling (6 engines), HiBob (3 engines), Breathe (2 engines), Deel (2 engines), Personio (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), ADP (1 engine), MHR (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine) |
| Which HR software includes performance reviews and staff engagement surveys? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: BambooHR (3 engines), Personio (2 engines), HiBob (1 engine), Rippling (1 engine) |
| What's the best HR software for a UK business that also employs staff overseas? | Xero named by: Claude | Others named instead: Deel (4 engines), HiBob (4 engines), Rippling (4 engines), Personio (3 engines), ADP (2 engines), Sage (2 engines), BambooHR (1 engine), Breathe (1 engine), IRIS (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), QuickBooks (1 engine), Zelt (1 engine) |
| Which HR software charges per employee with no long contract? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: BambooHR (4 engines), Deel (3 engines), Sage (3 engines), Breathe (2 engines), PeopleHR (2 engines), Rippling (2 engines), Employment Hero (1 engine), Factorial (1 engine), Personio (1 engine) |
| How do the main HR systems for UK SMEs compare on connecting to separate payroll software? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: None |
| Which HR software for UK SMEs includes recruitment and applicant tracking? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Google AI Mode | Others named instead: Breathe (4 engines), Personio (4 engines), Employment Hero (3 engines), PeopleHR (3 engines), Sage (3 engines), BambooHR (2 engines), Factorial (2 engines), IRIS (2 engines), CharlieHR (1 engine), HiBob (1 engine) |
| Which HR system is best for a hospitality business with several sites, rotas and timesheets? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google AI Overviews | Others named instead: BambooHR (1 engine) |
| How do the main HR platforms for UK SMEs compare for a hybrid team split between office and home? | Xero named by: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity | Others named instead: BambooHR (2 engines), HiBob (2 engines), Breathe (1 engine), CharlieHR (1 engine), Cintra (1 engine), Factorial (1 engine), PeopleHR (1 engine), Personio (1 engine) |
| Which HR software makes it easy to bring across data from our old system and spreadsheets? | Xero named by: No engine | Others named instead: Rippling (5 engines), BambooHR (4 engines), Personio (4 engines), HiBob (3 engines), ADP (2 engines), Breathe (2 engines), Deel (1 engine), Factorial (1 engine) |
Where Xero was named
A small sample of what the engines wrote. These are their own words: we have not verified what they say and they are not our view. The figures above count every answer, quoted or not.
ChatGPT,
Which payroll software automatically sends RTI submissions to HMRC every pay day?
Xero Payroll (UK) - integrated RTI filing direct to HMRC on each pay run (no separate Government Gateway upload).
ChatGPT,
What payroll software handles auto-enrolment pension duties and re-enrolment for me?
Xero Payroll (UK) - Handles eligibility assessment, joining letters, and contribution files for several UK schemes.
ChatGPT,
Which payroll software suits a business with staff in England and Scotland on different income tax rates?
Xero Payroll - good if you also want cloud accounting and integrated payroll.
Claude,
What payroll software handles auto-enrolment pension duties and re-enrolment for me?
Xero Payroll: Xero automates enrolment and re-enrolment assessments, worker communications, and opt-ins or opt-outs.
Claude,
I'm moving payroll away from my accountant to do it in-house. What software should I use?
Xero Payroll, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent work if you already use that accounting software.
Claude,
Which payroll providers do UK businesses rate most highly in reviews?
Xero Payroll: often praised for ease of use if you already use Xero for accounting.
Gemini,
Which payroll software automatically sends RTI submissions to HMRC every pay day?
Xero Payroll: Generates the FPS report and sends it to HMRC with a single click ("File FPS") at the conclusion of the pay run.
Gemini,
Which payroll software is ready for mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind from April 2027?
Xero supports payrolling core employee benefits directly within its cloud payroll system for real-time PAYE processing.
Gemini,
What payroll software do most UK small businesses use?
Best for: Micro to small businesses already using Xero for bookkeeping.
Perplexity,
What's the best payroll software for a UK small business with about 15 staff that handles RTI and auto-enrolment?
Xero Payroll; Businesses already using Xero; Handles RTI, auto-enrolment, bank/accounting integration and employee self-service.
Perplexity,
Which payroll software automatically sends RTI submissions to HMRC every pay day?
Xero Payroll automatically sends an RTI Full Payment Submission (FPS) to HMRC after every pay run - effectively each payday.
Perplexity,
What payroll software handles auto-enrolment pension duties and re-enrolment for me?
Xero Payroll - automatically assesses and enrols eligible staff, calculates contributions, alerts you when re-enrolment is due, and sends data directly to NEST or The People's Pension.
Google AI Overviews,
What's the best payroll software for a UK small business with about 15 staff that handles RTI and auto-enrolment?
Xero Payroll: Best overall if you already use Xero for your accounting.
Google AI Overviews,
Which payroll software automatically sends RTI submissions to HMRC every pay day?
Xero ( Xero PAYE Payroll ): Automatically submits RTI data to HMRC after every pay run.
Google AI Overviews,
What payroll software handles auto-enrolment pension duties and re-enrolment for me?
Xero Payroll : Automatically assesses employees during every pay run, tracks worker eligibility, handles contributions, and features an automated pension re-enrolment workflow under the Workplace Pension Settings.
Google AI Mode,
What's the best payroll software for a UK small business with about 15 staff that handles RTI and auto-enrolment?
Xero Payroll - Best if you want integrated accounting.
Google AI Mode,
Which payroll software automatically sends RTI submissions to HMRC every pay day?
Xero Payroll : Features built-in, cloud-based RTI filing that communicates directly with HMRC's gateway upon pay run completion.
Google AI Mode,
I'm moving payroll away from my accountant to do it in-house. What software should I use?
Xero Payroll: Best if you already use Xero for accounting.
Answers that did not name Xero
A sample of up to 10 answers, not the full set.
ChatGPT
Is there any free payroll software for a UK employer with fewer than 10 employees?
Named instead: BrightPay, Employment Hero
Claude
Is there any free payroll software for a UK employer with fewer than 10 employees?
Named instead: IRIS, PayFit
Gemini
What's the cheapest HMRC-recognised payroll software for a limited company director who only pays themselves?
Named instead: IRIS, Moneysoft, Employment Hero, Shape Payroll, FreeAgent
Perplexity
How hard is it to switch payroll software partway through the tax year in the UK, and which providers help with the move?
Named instead: QuickBooks, IRIS, PayFit, PeopleHR
Google AI Overviews
What's the best value payroll software for a charity with 30 part-time staff?
Named instead: IRIS, BrightPay, Moneysoft, MHR
Google AI Mode
I run a restaurant with weekly-paid and zero-hours staff. Which payroll software handles holiday pay and tronc properly?
Named instead: BrightPay
ChatGPT
Which UK payroll software has the best customer support when something goes wrong?
Named instead: Sage, IRIS, BrightPay, Moorepay, Employment Hero, PeopleHR
Claude
Which payroll software works best for a care home with lots of shift workers and overtime?
Named instead: Rippling
Gemini
Which UK payroll bureaus offer the best value managed payroll for a small business, and what do they charge per payslip?
Named instead: Moorepay, PayFit
Perplexity
What's the best value payroll software for a charity with 30 part-time staff?
Named instead: BrightPay, Moneysoft, Moorepay, Zelt
Sources
- gov.uk39 answers
- acenteus-cca.com32 answers
- workforce.com32 answers
- zelt.app31 answers
- expertsure.com30 answers
- xero.com29 answers
- whichpayroll.com24 answers
- iris.co.uk23 answers
- sage.com23 answers
- reddit.com21 answers
Own site: linked in 33 of 211 answers that named Xero (15.6%).
Neighbours in the ranking
Sage1st, 60.7% ±8.0
BrightPay3rd, 44.7% ±10.1
QuickBooks4th, 39.3% ±8.7
What would move this
Where the data points, not a promise of any result.
- Sources the other top-ranked companies are cited from: cintra.co.uk, factorial.com, brightpay.co.uk
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