Xps uses high energy. Only atomic energy level (K shell or S shell for example) is able to absorb x-ray. electrons in deep shell levels don’t almost interact with outside of the atom, thus, the absorption band is very narrow.
On the other hand, inferred is very lower energy. Only loose bonding matches the energy. Loose bonding is the indication of the interaction between many atoms.
In short, x-ray is for atomic level, while inferred is generally for interactions between atoms