Six trends shaping the future of SMB payments

The global SMB payments market is at a pivotal moment, driven by macroeconomic pressures, ongoing digitalization and the rise of AI capabilities — creating both challenges and opportunities for small businesses. As SMBs navigate financing gaps and shifting expectations, they need strategic, digital-first payments partners that can offer integrated solutions and expert guidance.

The Global SMB Macro Trends Report highlights six key trends shaping the future SMB landscape, signaling where financial institutions and ecosystem partners should focus to better support and grow their SMB portfolios

Key highlights:

• SMBs are seeking tailored, integrated solutions that can streamline operations and improve real-time cash flow visibility.
• Rising SMB digitization and card usage generate rich alternative data that can enable more personalized underwriting and help expand access to credit.
• Flexible working capital tools and strategic guidance can be critical to helping SMBs increase liquidity and drive resiliency in today’s rapidly evolving economy.

1 in 5 surveyed SMBs face cash flow gaps on a daily or monthly basis¹