Although known for their innovation, small businesses often struggle to respond to rapid technological changes that can hinder growth and competitiveness. National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) recently released a new study that provides data-driven insight into how small and medium-sized businesses integrate new technologies and AI into their business operations.
Over 500 small business owners from various industries participated Small and Medium Enterprises and Technology Research. The report examined the types of technologies these businesses are adopting and the pace at which they are implementing. The focus was particularly on small employers. It's a business with at least one employee.
artificial intelligence
The study revealed a significant correlation between business size and the adoption of AI tools such as ChatGpt, Copilot, Grammarly and Canva correlates with day-to-day operations. Large companies are more likely to integrate AI into their daily operations.
Currently, 24% of small employers use AI, while 76% do not. Adoption rates vary significantly depending on size. 21% of small employers with fewer than 10 employees differ significantly, compared to 48% of employees with fewer than 10 employees and 48% of employees with more than 50 employees.
Future 63% of respondents believe that AI will play a role in the industry within the next five years. 12% expect it to be very important, 21% say it is moderately important, and 30% think it is somewhat important. Only 15% said it wasn't important at all, but 23% weren't sure.
When it comes to case use, 29% of small employers plan to use AI technology for communication purposes such as email, notes, and document creation. Another 27% will use it for marketing and advertising. 14% plan to use it for business or predictive analytics, while 9% expect it to be used for customer service. In particular, almost all small employers (98%) reported that AI had no impact on the size of their workforce.
Using new or improved technologies
Over the past two years, 57% of small and medium-sized businesses have incorporated new or significantly improved technologies into their businesses. Just like with AI adoption, this also expands business size. 51% of small employers with fewer than 10 employees report high-tech upgrades compared to 75% of companies with 50 or more employees.
When asked about the impact of these upgrades, 65% said they allowed this technology to stay competitive, 14% said they helped them catch up and 11% said they felt they were competitive.
The existence of the Internet
82% of small employers surveyed Website. Of these, 75% of companies with fewer than 10 employees had sites, while 90% of companies with 10-24 employees. This number rose to 96% for businesses aged 25-49, and to 97% for over 50 people.
However, only 19% of small businesses with websites accept payments online, while the majority (81%) do not.
