Small Business (SMB) stories
Avalara opens registration for virtual event Avalara NEXT 2026, spotlighting “agentic” always-on tax and compliance automation for builders.
Decidr and ICON team up to bring AI-driven Procure-to-Pay automation to SAP users across Asia-Pacific, targeting high-volume finance tasks.
Canva launches Magic Layers beta, using AI to turn flat PNG and JPG images into editable, layered designs across key English-speaking markets.
Entrepreneurs increasingly see AI as a tool for efficiency and cost-cutting, not a springboard to new markets or sustainability goals.
AI 'leaders' in finance rush to pilots but lack rules, data and governance to scale tools into core, high‑accountability workflows.
Visa widens Bridge tie-up to let more firms issue stablecoin-backed cards, targeting faster, more certain cross-border SMB payments.
Empower FCU picks MANTL to streamline omnichannel account opening, targeting sub-10-minute sign-ups across digital and branch channels.
Bitcoin Depot debuts ReadyBucks, offering USD $500-$2,000 online cash advances to US gig workers and small firms across nine states.
UK launches TechFirst drive with GBP £4 million women's tech programme, paid placements and returnships to plug digital skills gaps.
Sage expands AccountsPrep in Sage for Accountants as firms brace for MTD for Income Tax, targeting paper-based clients at GBP £3 per month.
Australian-built Sign Customiser says its online design and pricing tools have powered more than USD $75m in global sign sales.
Offshore wind software developer Kinewell raises GBP £750,000 to scale AI-driven design tools and nearly double its North East workforce.
AI-powered deepfakes and targeted malware ads are fuelling a new wave of scams, leaving UK small firms dangerously exposed online.
Gumtree introduces verified badges and stricter checks for business sellers in the UK, aiming to boost user trust and deter fraud.
TD SYNNEX and SAS launch a European SAS Viya demo environment to speed AI prototypes, cut setup costs and shorten partner sales cycles.
FinTech North will convene major brands, start-ups and policymakers in Liverpool next week as it seeks to cement the city as a key fintech hub.
Cyber fears and skills gaps leave UK SMEs torn between bold 2026 digital ambitions and hesitation over AI adoption and data security.
Qualcom launches EUR €500,000 secure AI push in Ireland, creating new practice, hiring specialists and partnering with NROC on services.
ANNA Money wins HMRC approval for its Making Tax Digital for Income Tax app, enabling sole traders to file quarterly updates from 2026.
Malaysia pitches itself as a regional AI hub, but new research shows workplace adoption lags far behind the technology's potential.