What you’ll learn:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The perception used to be that AI was a tool only big companies could afford to explore. But now, AI is quietly becoming a small business ally. In fact, 75% of SMBs are already putting money into AI. That\u2019s not a small experiment. It\u2019s a real shift in how these companies are choosing to grow. And for over a third of them, AI is fully integrated into their daily operations. But there\u2019s still a perception gap. SMBs using AI already see it as a common tool in their industry. Most of them assume their peers are using it too. On the other hand, among those who haven\u2019t adopted AI yet, only one in three believe it\u2019s common. That means some small businesses may be underestimating just how many of their competitors are already getting a head start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bottom line? AI isn\u2019t some luxury for tech giants. It\u2019s a practical, everyday tool helping small businesses become ready for what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When small businesses bring AI into the picture, they\u2019re not just doing it for the sake of it. They\u2019re putting it to work in ways that make a real difference, especially in the everyday tasks that take up time and budget. According to the report, some of the top use cases are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n And this is just the start. In fact, 71% of small businesses say they plan to increase their AI investment over the next year. Only a small 4% are planning to scale back. Why the confidence? Because the payoff is clear. A whopping 85% of SMBs using AI say they expect a return on that investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The excitement isn\u2019t just about what AI can do now, but where it\u2019s headed next. Most business buyers (78%, in fact) believe AI will match human capabilities within the next decade. That opens the door for even smarter, more autonomous systems (like Agentforce<\/a>) that work across departments, serving customers, and scaling operations without constant supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover the strategies used by small business leaders to meet challenges and drive impact using AI, Data, and CRM.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Small businesses run tight on resources \u2014 be it time or money. That\u2019s why AI is making such a big splash. It\u2019s helping teams do more with less, and actually enjoy the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take operations, for example. Nine out of ten small businesses that use AI say it\u2019s made things more efficient. We\u2019re talking about fewer manual tasks and more time to focus on customers<\/a> instead of spreadsheets. And when your team isn\u2019t buried in repetitive work, they can think bigger, act faster, and actually breathe a little easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the customer side, AI is adding that extra bit of magic. It helps tailor product recommendations<\/a>, speeds up responses, and even customises services based on each person\u2019s preferences. You can think of it like having an AI agent<\/a> who knows your customers almost as well as you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s no surprise then that 78% of SMB leaders using AI believe it\u2019s going to be a game changer. Because when your business runs better, your team feels empowered, and your customers feel seen. That\u2019s the foundation for the future of small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI sounds exciting, but for many small businesses, it also sounds a little intimidating. The biggest worry? Security<\/a>. It\u2019s not that SMB leaders don\u2019t see the potential. They do. But they also know their data is valuable, and handing it over to a technology they don\u2019t fully understand can feel like a leap of faith. If AI tools aren\u2019t built with strong business safeguards<\/a>, the risks of data leaks or breaches can outweigh the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But security isn\u2019t the only thing on leaders\u2019 minds. Depending on the industry, there are other hurdles to clear. Financial services teams, for example, often struggle with complicated legacy systems<\/a> that don\u2019t always play nice with new tech. Meanwhile, retailers are navigating a tricky line between innovation and trust, wondering how to introduce AI without making customers feel like they\u2019re being watched or profiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, these challenges aren\u2019t stopping forward-thinking small businesses from exploring what\u2019s possible. With the right tools<\/a>, the right partners, and a clear understanding of what AI can (and can\u2019t) do, even the most hesitant SMBs can move forward with confidence. Many are starting small \u2014 testing AI in low-risk areas, leaning on trusted platforms<\/a>, and learning as they go. With the right guardrails<\/a> in place, AI doesn\u2019t have to feel like a risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Back to top.)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the next few years, AI won\u2019t just be a competitive edge. It\u2019ll be the baseline. The way small businesses connect with customers and streamline their work is changing, fast. And the ones already using AI? They’re already thriving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re curious about where things are headed, now\u2019s the time to explore. Salesforce for small business<\/a> gives you AI tools built for the way you work. So, you can start small and scale big. Dive into the Small and Medium Business Trends Report<\/a> to see how others are making it work and what\u2019s coming next. Start your journey with the\u00a0Free<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Starter Suite<\/a>\u00a0today. Looking for more customisation? Explore\u00a0Pro Suite<\/a>. Already a Salesforce customer? Activate\u00a0Foundations<\/a>\u00a0to try\u00a0Agentforce 360<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI supported the writers and editors who created this article.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Learn what AI means for the future of your business from the latest Small and Medium Business Trends Report findings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":695,"featured_media":11820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sf_justforyou_enable_alt":true,"optimizely_content_id":"1b562686fbdb4d9a93b6c100AP","post_meta_title":"","ai_synopsis":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"sf_topic":[214,26,23],"sf_content_type":[707],"coauthors":[613],"class_list":["post-11821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","sf_topic-startups","sf_topic-small-business","sf_topic-artificial-intelligence","sf_content_type-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
AI adoption among SMBs is surging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s where it gets interesting: the small businesses that are growing are nearly twice as likely to be investing in AI compared to those that are struggling. The link between AI adoption and momentum<\/a> is becoming hard to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\tSection Title\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=300\")
<\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAgentforce for Small Business is Now Built Into Salesforce Suites\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/09\/startup-GTM-AI-strategies-2.jpg?w=300\")
<\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHow Startups Are Using AI to Boost Their GTM Strategies\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/AI-Literacy-SMB-1.png?w=300\")
<\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAI Literacy For Startups and Small Businesses: Applications + Tips\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/Agentic-AI-SMB.jpg?w=300\")
<\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat Is Agentic AI For Small Business? Everything You Need to Know\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The most popular ways small businesses are using AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXc9H4Ft7zmDhlZSNHWAG9g_TwiNQiA11ZW6qjgPwm6j9-XcYA0BDYuTwdw9CpWNbeA8mSJfZVIKSjiWq82e-Nbzq9zZsSMcoqOSG82YPXUQ1JAbbgycBAFAiyTWT9ZiDq4KZ69fZA?key=VL2ILoFPrAeWbPQcM8GIgY1O\")
Get the latest AI insights from the SMB Trends Report, 6th Edition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/02\/form-image-smb-trends-6-1268x714-1.png\")
\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\nAI is driving real business results for SMBs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s holding SMBs back from using AI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/04\/image_050d22.png?w=1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nReady or not, AI is reshaping what\u2019s possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n