Small businesses are looking ahead with ambition, but they are also preparing for the pressure that comes when opportunity arrives. Mastercard has introduced Dreamonomics, a new global view of the forces reshaping small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) perceptions and approach to growth. The research shows that SMEs are redefining growth as controlled momentum: 68% prioritise stability and predictability over fast growth, 54% actively avoid unnecessary financial risk and 61% are focused on deepening customer relationships rather than reaching as many customers as possible.
Headline findings from the new Dreamonomics report:
- Stability is overtaking speed: 68% of SMEs now prioritise stability and predictability over fast growth, while 54% say they actively avoid unnecessary financial risk.
- Customer depth is beating customer reach: 61% of SMEs would rather build deep customer relationships than reach as many customers as possible.
- Digital ambition is outpacing digital simplicity: SMEs already use five digital business tools on average, 89% want to adopt more and 78% say integrated tools are critical – making simplification a growth issue, not just an operational one.
- Cybersecurity is becoming a growth enabler: 71% of SMEs prioritise protection from cyberthreats, yet only 37% use cybersecurity tools today; 70% are excited about AI’s potential, especially in fraud and security protection (41%).
