Small Business (SMB) stories - Page 4

Event planners in Australia and New Zealand face tighter budgets, faster turnarounds and lingering doubts over AI’s place in their work.

Delivery Group secures GBP £45m hybrid refinancing from Investec to fuel eCommerce network expansion and operational investment plans.

Arcus Compliance founder Lee Bryan’s new book urges start-ups to treat regulation as a strategic growth engine, not a drag on innovation.

Access names Jon Jorgensen co-CEO with Chris Bayne to split tech and commercial roles as it targets AI-fuelled growth off GBP £1.2 billion sales.

Global business travel spend hit USD $1.57 trillion in 2025, with AI-driven, intentional trips set to power faster growth into 2026.

20i unveils Twentie, an AI assistant embedded in its hosting platform, offering account-aware support, reports and analytics with unlimited use.

HSBC UK and Sage unveil in-app tax tool for sole traders and landlords as Making Tax Digital for Income Tax rules loom from April.

TeamSystem buys Spain’s AIG Classic to deepen its SME software reach and tap looming mandatory e‑invoicing rules across the country.

Asia-Pacific startup founders are growing older but no less ambitious, with most over 45 and four in ten still chasing unicorn valuations.

FOMO.ai has launched Hello Gordon, a voice-led AI interview tool that turns expert conversations into multi-format, search-ready content.

Xero rolls out a redesigned, widget-led homepage that surfaces real-time profit, cash flow and tasks in a custom view for each user.

Zoom Health is urging an overhaul of New Zealand’s pharmacy funding as 12‑month prescriptions loom, warning closures and care gaps will grow.

AiDeliv’s reverse-auction marketplace is slashing ocean freight for small importers to an average of USD $0.65 per kilo, data shows.

Regulatory uncertainty stalls most payroll projects, yet leaders eye AI tools to cut compliance strain and sharpen workforce planning.

SMEs prioritise AI and face-to-face meetings, but US firms outpace UK peers on dedicated staff and appetite for external AI advice.

British Business Bank commits up to GBP £10 million to Ascension to boost early-stage tech investment across UK regions outside London.

Paydibs and AltPayNet link Malaysia-Philippines payment rails, starting with Social Security contributions for Filipinos in Malaysia.

Blackpearl ARR surges 114pc to NZD $23.7m in record quarter, as data-led platform strategy puts NZD $30m target firmly in sight.

TELUS and RingCentral will infuse Business Connect with AI assistants, receptionists and insights tools, rolling out to users in early 2026.

Significant UK cyberattacks jump 129%, with major incidents hitting firms’ finances, supply chains and insurance costs across the economy.