The new report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reveals how small businesses are involved in technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The findings are eager to innovate when many small business owners adopt new technologies, but they are eager to face significant obstacles.
Holly Wade, managing director of Holly Wade, NFIB Research Center, said, “SME owners are the best innovative sources in Korea, but many small companies are trying to maintain technology development. It is important for the owner of small businesses.
82%of small employers have reported that they have their own websites. However, only 19%of these projects accept the payment through the site, indicating the growth area of e -commerce function. The larger manpower, especially the business with more than 50 employees, has a higher rate of adoption of websites, suggesting that website investment is related to business scale and resources.
The adoption of AI is still in the early stages of small businesses, but is gaining traction. According to a survey, 24%of small employers use AI technologies, including tools such as CHATGPT and Canva, in various variations by company size. For example, large companies are more likely to integrate AI than small. Small business owners recognize the potential of AI, and 63%believe that applications will greatly affect the industry over the next five years.
In fact, almost 29%of respondents use AI for communication work, and 27%use it for marketing. There is also a hope that many small business owners want to improve their operating efficiency through technology. More than half (57%) has reported that it has introduced new or significantly improved technologies over the past two years, which is an important stage for maintaining competitiveness.
But there is a challenge. Despite the adoption of new technologies, small business owners are often at intersections. 65%reported that new technologies can maintain competitiveness, but only 11%can surpass competition. Ladestly half (48%) of small employers lack a technical advantage over competitors. WADE’s opinion emphasizes this concern as many small businesses point out the struggle faced to keep up with the rapid technology development.
The report also shows that small employers recognize consistent demands for improved technologies to strengthen their competitiveness. When exploring these changes, many people try to integrate the technology that will lead to efficient operation without changing the size of the workforce. Surprisingly, 98%of those who use AI have reported that there is no change in the number of employment, which indicates that the adoption of technology is not always the same as job losses.
For small business owners, the results present both opportunities and challenges. A wide range of perceptions of the importance of technology are ready to accommodate these tools. However, financial pharmaceuticals, lack of technology resources and limited knowledge can create barriers to entry to many owners who try to innovate effectively by interfering with technology integration.
In the future, small business owners should comprehensively evaluate their technical strategy. In other words, it means considering long -term competitive positioning as well as immediate operational demands. Accepting new tools such as AI and investing in website features can improve customer experience and improve market range.
The NFIB report is an important resource for small business owners to explore the complexity of technology and AI adoption. You can access the entire report for details and insights. here. As the technology environment develops, it is essential to maintain competitiveness and maintain information for small businesses that are about to curve.
Image through NFIB
