1、Small Business Now:An AI Awakening1An AI AwakeningResearch created in partnership with Ascend2SMALL BUSINESS NOWHow small businesses are using AI and automation to bolster their business.Small Business Now:An AI Awakening2 Table of ContentsIntroduction 03Special Segments 05 1.0 Attraction or Distrac

2、tion:The New Customer Dilemma 06 What keeps SMBs up at night?Improvements are needed throughout the SMB journey.2.0 Harnessing the Power:How Can AI Help SMBs?10 Interest in AI is growing but there is still a lack of understanding.Hesitations with implementing AI.3.0 AI is Changing the Game for SMBs.

3、14 AI is improving efficiency.AI Can Help SMBs Save MoneyThe Bottom Line 18Participants and Methodology 19About the Research Partners 20Small Business Now:An AI Awakening3IntroductionIf you had an extra hour in your work week to do anything you want,how would you spend it?Small businesses are consta

4、ntly starved for time.On any given day they are probably fulfilling orders,keeping up with their books,interacting with customers,managing staff,and performing dozens of other tasks.Its a lot,and it doesnt leave them much extra time to market themselves to customers.What would an extra hour in the w

5、orkweek mean to them?Quite a bit.We asked 486 small business owners and decision-makers,and heres how they would spend that time:If using AI and/or automation in my marketing could save me at least 1 hour per week,I would use that time to:_.37%Plan whats next for my business 31%Fine tune my overall

6、marketing strategy 30%Improve my product or service(s)26%Spend more time interacting with customers in-person22%Rest and/or take time for myself21%Network with other business owners 17%Get more active on social media17%Budget and managing my expenses12%Update my systems and technology 10%Give back t