“Building the Future of Business, Together” was the theme of this year’s Acumatica Summit in Las Vegas last week. The event was Acumatica’s largest Summit ever, with over 3,500 attendees and 90-plus breakout sessions.
CEO John Case and Acumatica executives discussed Acumatica’s strategy for 2025, how its cloud-based ERP platform helps small and medium businesses (SMBs) improve business performance, and how “innovations like AI can be performance amplifiers that help businesses overcome real-world issues.”
Below are some key highlights from the Summit, and perspectives with how they align to SMB Group survey insights.
Acumatica touted its “pragmatic approach to AI” at last year’s Summit, but AI didn’t dominate the conversation. This year, AI has taken center stage as Acumatica ramps to an AI-first strategy.
Acumatica’s vision is to use AI to develop an ERP system that serves as a digital coworker for SMBs, embedding AI capabilities throughout its platform to help customers get things done more efficiently and make better decisions.
Chief Engineering Officer Miten Mehta described it as developing “AI that works for you,” emphasizing Acumatica’s commitment to ensuring that data is accurate, accessible, unified, secure, and private (Acumatica has pledged that it will not expose customer biz data to public LLMs), and to building an open and extensible platform that enables customers to integrate third-party applications and data.
Acumatica is using AI in three key ways:
The company also launched two new offerings, Acumatica AI Studio and Acumatica Labs, to aid its own AI development initiatives and help partners and customers create or extend AI functionality.
Despite this more extensive scope, Acumatica continues to take a pragmatic approach to AI. Acumatica’s Chief Product Officer Ali Jani noted that projects that don’t address customers’ real-world challenges are not likely to end up in the product.
Alignment with SMB directions: Acumatica’s expanded commitment to AI meshes with increasing AI momentum among SMBs. According to SMB Group’s SMB Buying Journey Survey, the overwhelming majority of SMBs are accelerating AI investments—and most will require vendors to embed them within their solutions.
Partners have always been central to Acumatica’s strategy, and it continues to invest heavily in strengthening partnerships with developers to better unify data, processes, and people across core application areas.
Acumatica announced expanded partnerships with ADP, Shopify, and Bill. Each is designed to integrate core business processes, help customers streamline operations, and improve decision-making with cross-platform, real-time data.
While all vendors talk about integration, Acumatica seems to be taking it to a new level: According to Shopify’s spokesperson at the event, Acumatica’s “very deep integration sets you apart from all of your peers.”
Alignment with SMB Directions: SMB Group research indicates increasing SMB demand for robust integration capabilities. For instance:
Acumatica highlighted how its software-as-a-service (SaaS) model and industry focus help customers to scale their operations as they grow.
Because Acumatica was developed as a cloud-native platform, customers can take advantage of new technologies and features as they become available—including dozens of native integrations and AI capabilities that it incorporates into its solutions.
Acumatica introduced new AI functionality for each of its industry editions. These capabilities are intended to help customers evolve their ERP platforms from back-office transactional systems to strategic organizational centers.
For example, Acumatica has:
Alignment with SMB directions: SMBs will continue to shift their workloads to cloud computing and as-a-service solutions. 80% or more of SMBs say they are very or somewhat likely to choose cloud or SaaS solutions for financial management, sales/marketing, human resources, and other key applications to leverage the resources and innovation they need to grow.
Acumatica emphasized its commitment to learning, solving problems, and co-creating with its customers and partners. Acumatica has poured a lot of energy into building community, online and in real life,. For example:
Alignment with SMB directions: SMBs want vendors to move beyond transactional interactions to a consultative approach that better aligns solutions to their challenges and objectives. For instance, SMBs’ top requests for how vendors can improve the tech purchasing experience include: doing a better job of explaining how solutions meet specific business goals, and spending more time understanding their requirements. Personalization also matters post-implementation, where many SMBs want easier access to support, dedicated account managers, better training options, and regular check-ins/feedback sessions.
Acumcatica’s 2025 Summit showcased the company’s newly invigorated approach to AI and innovation—while holding true to its commitment to helping SMBs grow. Combined with its continued investment in industry-specific capabilities, and seamless integrations with partners like ADP, Shopify, and Bill, Acumatica underscored its clear focus on empowering businesses with real-time, actionable data they need to support growth.
Acumatica’s dedication to understanding and responding to the evolving needs of SMBs is just as important. The vendor’s track record of listening to customers and fostering community-driven innovation will help ensure that its technology investments match with what customers need to succeed.
With its AI-first approach, enhanced integrations, and authentic focus on customer success, Acumatica’s strategic direction is aligned not just with industry trends, but also with the specific requirements of SMBs—boding well for its continued growth in the SMB market.
© SMB Group 2025
As we step into 2025, the technology landscape for small and medium businesses (SMBs) continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. From advancements in artificial intelligence to evolving workforce strategies, SMBs are finding new ways to innovate, compete, and grow. But navigating this evolving environment requires a clear understanding of the trends that will have the biggest impact.
At SMB Group, we’ve identified the Top 10 SMB Technology Trends for 2025, which highlight the critical shifts SMBs must prepare for to stay ahead. From how AI is reshaping technology adoption and the buyer journey to the growing focus on integration, cybersecurity, and collaboration tools, these trends provide actionable insights into the future of SMB technology.
Whether you’re an SMB leader or a technology provider, these insights will help you prepare for the year ahead and position your business for success.
Here are the headlines for 2025’s Top 10 Trends:
Check out the full report for a deep dive into each trend.
If you would like additional information about how you can license this report, or create custom assets that zero in on selected trends, please contact Lisa Lincoln, Director of Client Services and Business Development, at lisa.lincoln70@smb-gr.com.
© SMB Group 2025
The world of technology is rapidly evolving, and small and medium businesses (SMBs) are at the center of a transformative era. As new solutions emerge, understanding how they make technology purchasing decisions has become critical for vendors, service providers, and partners looking to cater to this dynamic market. Our new eBook, The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part Two delves into the purchasing behaviors, priorities, and challenges that SMBs face as they navigate the complex technology landscape. The eBook is a must-read for anyone looking to better understand this journey.
Key Trends Shaping the SMB Technology Buying Journey
The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part Two, is based on quantitative data from SMB Group’s most recent survey. It explores how SMBs research, evaluate, select, and buy technology solutions.
Key questions this eBook examines include:
Why This eBook Matters for Technology Vendors
The SMB market presents a wealth of opportunities for technology providers, but capturing and retaining these clients requires a deep understanding of their unique buying journeys. The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part Two equips vendors with insights to more effectively target and reach prospective SMB customers.
Why This eBook Matters for SMBs
This eBook offers guidance to help SMBs better navigate the complex and often overwhelming world of technology purchases. Survey findings can help SMBs tap into the knowledge of peers to adjust and fine-tune their buying behaviors and processes.
Download Now
Thanks to our survey sponsors, Dell Technologies and SAS, you can download your free copy. Our companion eBook, The SMB Buying Journey, Part One, is available here.
If you are interested in the full survey results, including detailed segmentation by employee size band and industry, please contact Lisa Lincoln (lisa.lincoln@smb-gr.com) for a table of contents and pricing information.
©SMB Group 2024
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, making technology purchasing decisions has become a critical yet challenging process for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With limited resources, SMBs often face difficulties in selecting the right tools to solve immediate problems and position them for future growth. SMB Group’s new, free eBook, The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part One, offers critical insights into how SMBs navigate the complex technology landscape.
A Data-Driven Understanding of SMB Tech Purchasing
The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part One, is grounded in quantitative survey data. It reveals how SMB leaders choose technology solutions, what factors influence their decisions, and how they measure the success of their tech investments.
Key questions this eBook answers include:
Why this eBook matters for SMB leaders
The decisions you make about technology today have long-lasting implications for your business. From increasing productivity to ensuring your company remains competitive, the right tech investments can drive substantial growth. The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part One allows businesses to benchmark their decision-making processes against peers.
By tapping into the experiences of your peers through survey data, this eBook allows you to navigate the technology buying process with clarity. The knowledge shared can help you avoid common pitfalls and set your business up for sustained success.
Why this eBook matters for technology vendors
The SMB Technology Buying Journey, Part One offers direct insights into the decision-making processes of SMBs. By understanding the factors influencing technology purchases, technology vendors can tailor their offerings and marketing strategies to better align with SMB priorities. In turn, this can help vendors build stronger relationships and deliver solutions that resonate with SMB buyers, ultimately improving sales and customer satisfaction.
Download now
Thanks to our survey sponsors, Dell Technologies and SAS, you can download your free copy. Our companion eBook, The SMB Buying Journey, Part Two, is available here.
If you are interested in the full survey results, including detailed segmentation by employee size band and industry, please contact Lisa Lincoln (lisa.lincoln@smb-gr.com) for a table of contents and pricing information.
©SMB Group 2024
SMB Group has just released its latest survey, the 2024 SMB Technology Buying Journey, offering fresh insights into how small and medium businesses (SMBs) approach technology purchasing. Sponsored by Dell Technologies and SAS, this comprehensive 57-question survey captures responses from 738 technology decision-makers across U.S. SMBs, revealing how they think about, evaluate, and purchase technology solutions.
Key Survey Highlights:
Additional Insights Covered in the Full Report:
The report includes an executive summary with recommendations for vendors looking to better serve SMB customers, and detailed segmentation by industry and for the following employee size bands:
For more information or to request a table of contents and pricing, please contact Lisa Lincoln, Director of Client Services, at lisa.lincoln70@smb-gr.com.
©SMB Group 2024
Whether you’re a fast-growing start-up or a medium enterprise ready to IPO, technology represents a major opportunity for small business owners to close the gap with large corporations. As old tools become obsolete and new tools crowd the marketplace, identifying the right tech solution can be the difference between a successful expansion and a failed one.
In late 2023, SMB Group found that 59% of small and medium businesses (SMBs) expected to increase their technology spending in 2024. But how do businesses decide to spend that money, and how will those budgets change in the years to come? Workday recently spoke with me to discuss the changing impact of technology on small and medium businesses and the tech trends that are defining 2024.
Check out this Workday blog, Top 4 Small Business Technology Trends in 2024, published on August 26, 2024, to learn about the importance of tech for smaller companies, and the four big SMB tech trends defining 2024: artificial intelligence and machine learning, ready-to-go solutions, moving to the cloud, and aligning technology spending with strategy.
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–by Sanjeev Aggarwal, Co-founder, SMB Group
In August, Xero held its annual Xerocon event in Nashville, Tennessee, hosting over 1,000 accounting professionals, financial advisors, and business consultants. Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy started the event by discussing how Xero has been resetting the company, evolving its management team, and accelerating growth and technology initiatives. The company also discussed plans to elevate its focus on the North American small business accounting market and add new AI, mobile, and other features to its accounting platform.
Key Highlights
Perspective
Xero’s strategy and new initiatives hold promise to boost Xero’s competitiveness in the U.S. market, but its success will depend on various factors such as market dynamics, customer preferences, competitor actions, and overall business execution.
To date, it’s proved difficult for the vendor to grow mind and market share in the North American accounting market. Despite Xero’s advancements, expanding its share of the U.S. market has been an uphill battle. QuickBooks dominates the market, and Xero’s success will depend on its ability to differentiate itself effectively. Xero’s new features, particularly AI-driven ones, are promising but will need to be well-marketed and more valuable to users than the competition to truly move the needle.
Likewise, Xero’s expansion of its partner ecosystem and integration capabilities presents a significant opportunity. However, the effectiveness of these partnerships and the benefits they deliver to customers will be critical to its success.
While enhancing customer support is always a plus, it must be meaningfully better than competitors’ support to have a significant impact. By providing superior customer service, Xero has the opportunity to create a niche market of highly satisfied customers who can serve as brand advocates.
Since it is harder to displace an incumbent accounting vendor, Xero will need to lean into selling to the millions of small businesses in U.S. that still use spreadsheets for accounting and the many new small businesses that are formed every day. Persuading these businesses that they need an accounting solution—and or that Xero is the best one for the job—will require Xero to educate small business owners about the value that dedicated accounting software brings to small businesses, elevate brand awareness, and clearly distinguish its value-add versus the competition.
© SMB Group
At the Zoholics 2024 customer conference held in June, SMB Group met with Zoho execs to learn more about news and directions unveiled at the event. Announcements included updates and new products across its CRM and collaboration solutions, security stack enhancements, and new developer tools and services.
In this video, Chandramouli Durai, who heads up Zoho’s integrated security solutions strategy, discusses the company’s long-standing commitments to user privacy and security and investments in new security measures across its product portfolio and integrated security technology stack, including:
© SMB Group, 2024
Note: Zoho is an SMB Group client.
At the Zoholics 2024 customer conference held in June, SMB Group sat down with Zoho execs to learn more about news and directions unveiled at the event. Announcements included updates and new products across its CRM and collaboration solutions, enhancements to its security stack, and new developer tools and services.
In this video, Aarthi Elizabeth, responsible for Zoho’s Collaborative Work Management solutions, discusses insights about Zoho’s strategy for its productivity and collaboration solutions–which happens to be the first application category Zoho tackled when the company launched in 2005.
Listen to our discussion to learn about:
© SMB Group, 2024
Note: Zoho is an SMB Group client.
SMB Group got to chat with key Zoho execs about news and directions in several areas at their Zoholics 2024 customer conference held in June. Zoho unveiled updates and news across its CRM and collaboration solutions, enhancements to its security stack, and new tools and services for developers.
In this video, I talk with Prashanth “PVK” Krishnaswami, who heads up Customer Experience solutions at Zoho, to learn more about CRM for Everyone, which updates Zoho CRM to enable everyone in a company who interacts with customers or customer information to collaborate and communicate within Zoho’s CRM platform.
In the interview, you’ll learn about:
© SMB Group, 2024
Note: Zoho is an SMB Group client.