Small Business (SMB) stories - Page 5

India’s Union Budget backs tech infrastructure, data centres and MSMEs, signalling policy continuity and long-term digital growth plans.

Australian small firms race to use AI in design, but research shows most still insist on human hands to shape trusted, distinctive brands.

New Zealand employers face a flood of overqualified applicants, with 98% struggling to spot standout talent amid rising job applications.

Commonwealth Bank will raise eligible variable business loan and overdraft rates by 0.25 percentage points from 13 February 2026.

Revolut launches a unified merchant payments suite in Australia, tying in‑person, online and A2A payments directly to its business accounts.

Revolut Business launches an all-in-one acquiring platform in Australia, unifying online, in-person and account-to-account payments.

Fintech investor Brian Collins has been appointed CEO of Enterprize Tasmania as it ramps up support for the state’s growing startup scene.

Sage adds Copilot, AI agents and smarter automation to Sage X3, promising faster decisions for mid-sized finance and supply chain teams.

Vertiv launches compact PowerUPS 200 range in EMEA, aiming backup power at homes, gaming setups, retail tills and small office equipment.

Infosecurity Europe 2026 will debut a Cyber Startup Programmeme at ExCeL London, adding a startup zone, founder track and pitch award.

YouLend partners with Intuit to embed fast SME funding of GBP £1,000-£2m directly inside QuickBooks as a new UK Capital Marketplace.

Security, privacy and data protection will command the biggest tech spend for Australian retail SMBs in 2026, ahead of AI and global growth.

OpenAI unveils an Australia-wide AI push, pairing a Sydney supercomputer campus with skills training and new startup support schemes.

OpenAI will levy a 4% fee on Shopify merchants for sales made via ChatGPT’s integrated instant checkout from late January 2026.

CEFC commits up to AUD $60m so Hyundai Capital can cut loan rates on cheaper Hyundai and Kia EVs, targeting households and small firms.

West Midlands tech firm Hubtel urges ministers to make the new Cyber Bill agile enough to counter rapidly evolving AI-driven cyber threats.

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.