// INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY //
New study from GTIA shows SMBs in the US are hungry for technology
T he Global Technology Industry Association( GTIA) has released new B2B market research and intelligence that reveals how and why small and midsize businesses( SMBs) in the US are leaning into technology and leveraging the expertise of IT service providers( ITSPs) to deliver tangible business outcomes. The findings explore three major business and technology trends shaping the SMB sector this year: the strategic alignment of technology and business goals, accelerating adoption of AI and the evolving state of cybersecurity readiness.
The report’ s top five takeaways are:
• Increasing awareness of the need for greater alignment between business goals and technology spending, with 65 % of SMBs identifying technology as a‘ primary factor’ in achieving business objectives.
• Strong and growing interest in AI adoption, with more than six in 10 reporting a moderate or significant increase in AI spending in 2025.
• A concerning gap in cybersecurity diligence, with only four in 10 SMBs identifying it as a strategic priority in their 2025 budgets.
• Recognition that 80 % of SMBs still see‘ some or a lot of room’ for improvement in their vision and strategy for technology use.
• Increased investment levels, with nearly two-thirds planning to spend between US $ 25,000 and US $ 1 million on technology in 2025.
“ Today’ s SMBs are prioritising growth, operational efficiency and increasingly AI,’ said Carolyn April, VP of Research and Market Intelligence, GTIA.‘ And with 80 % of SMBs acknowledging they have‘ some or a lot of room’ for improvement in their vision and strategy for technology, the time is now for IT service professionals to step in and get IT done right.”
The study underscores the vital economic role SMBs play. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 99 % of US businesses have fewer than 500 employees and together employ 45 % of the total workforce. This makes their technology decisions not only critical for their own growth but also significant for the broader economy.
AI is emerging as the most impactful new or emerging technology over the next two years, named by almost two-thirds of SMBs surveyed. From automating routine processes to enabling deeper customer insights, AI adoption is moving from concept to concrete applications that deliver measurable returns.
However, the report also issues a wake-up call regarding cybersecurity. While many SMBs recognise the value of protecting digital assets, budget constraints and competing priorities mean that security is not always receiving the attention it warrants.
This gap creates opportunities for ITSPs to provide proactive, scalable and affordable cybersecurity solutions.
“ SMBs and the channel partners who support them are stepping into a new era of technology leadership and B2B growth,” said April.
“ The future is now as SMBs and ITSPs forge stronger partnerships, working together to enhance security, scale efficiently and apply AI in meaningful ways to improve customer experience, productivity and innovation, while operating secure by default.”
With technology now recognised as a core growth driver, SMBs are making bold investments in tools, talent and partnerships that will define their competitive edge for years to come. The GTIA’ s research makes it clear: those who align strategy with the right technology, while addressing security gaps, will lead in this new era of digital opportunity. �
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