How small businesses can benefit from technology disruptions

Brian W. Kelly

Technology disruptions — they sound like a bad thing, don’t they? And maybe for small business owners who refuse to embrace them, and then find themselves losing a competitive edge, they can indeed be a bad thing.

Small businesses employ nearly half the entire American workforce and represent 43.5% of America’s GDP (gross domestic product). However, small businesses typically run on a tight budget, so they can’t always afford expensive tech or skilled IT workers. This lack of tech expertise can make it harder for them to effectively implement and manage new digital tools and platforms.

Currently, the major technological disruption for small businesses in the country is the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI). The good news is that the rapid advancement of this technology is changing the landscape for small businesses in the U.S. Despite ongoing challenges such as inflation, supply chain disruptions and talent acquisition, AI has emerged as a crucial tool that empowers small business owners to innovate in a competitive marketplace.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 99% of small businesses are using at least one technology platform, and 58% of small businesses say they used generative AI in 2025. Of those businesses actively using AI, 91% believe it will help their business grow in the future. Tech trends like AI chatbots, automated customer service and predictive analytics are changing the way businesses work.

Businesses are using tools like AI-powered chatbots for customer support and to automate tasks like invoicing and scheduling. Delegating AI to manage repetitive tasks like sending invoices and scheduling appointments can drive efficiencies and save time and money for business owners. When properly applied, AI tools can make things run smoother and faster and give customers a better overall experience.

Connectivity needs for AI usage focus on high bandwidth, low latency and reliable connections. To capitalize on the promise of AI, small businesses need fast and reliable access to the internet and applications. Spectrum Business Internet, for example, has over 99.9% network reliability, but customers can add Wireless Internet Backup to prevent a power outage from disrupting their operations and productivity.

You can enhance your connectivity with the fastest, most reliable internet speeds Spectrum Business Internet has solutions available for small businesses owner plans with fast, reliable speeds go up to download speeds of 1 Gbps with speeds up to 2 Gig available in select markets.  

Find out which level of Internet bandwidth is right for your business. Or shop plans that work for you at any stage of your business.