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Recent research from SMB Group indicates that 53% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are currently using AI, with another 29% planning to adopt it within the next year. This demonstrates that AI has moved beyond the experimental phase and is now part of everyday operations.
In practical terms, AI's most significant impact on small companies lies in efficiency and time savings rather than in major revenue boosts. Data from Thryv Inc shows that 58% of small business AI users report saving over 20 hours per month by automating routine tasks such as content generation, scheduling, and communication. This often feels like adding capacity to a small team without the need to hire additional staff.
Customer-facing teams are often where AI's presence becomes most noticeable. According to the U.S. Chamber, approximately 58% of small businesses identify as using generative AI tools, particularly for content creation, marketing, and customer interaction activities that directly influence how a company engages with its audience. In companies with 10 to 50 employees, this typically results in quicker response times, more consistent messaging, and lightweight automation instead of completely replacing human agents with chatbots.
On the administrative side, companies are also leveraging AI for bookkeeping and operational workflows. According to Verizon, organizations that track AI adoption report that as many as 24% of SMBs use AI for written communications and other back-office support functions, allowing staff to focus on higher-value work. In this context, AI serves as a force multiplier for small teams, reducing errors, speeding up approvals, and helping to keep everyone aligned without the need for additional hiring.
However, real adoption of AI is not uniform across every department. A global report highlighted that while 81% of SMB leaders believe AI can help achieve business goals, far fewer integrate AI into their formal strategic planning. This indicates uneven usage and understanding of AI within many small firms. For companies with 10 to 50 employees, this often leads to pockets of enthusiasm in marketing or operations, while other areas lag.
Perhaps the most significant indicator of how AI is becoming embedded in a small company’s culture is the trend toward tangible outcomes: According to CPA Practice Advisor, 91% of SMBs that implement AI report improvements in either revenue or efficiency, illustrating that AI's role is practical and tied to measurable business results. When adoption is intentional, the narrative within these companies shifts from experimentation to performance enhancement.