Mastercard Survey Shows SMEs Favor Stability, Seek More Digital Tools
Small and medium-sized enterprises are major engines of employment and economic activity, but limited resources leave them more exposed to volatility, technology shifts and cyber risks. Mastercard’s inaugural Dreamonomics report examines how owners are redefining growth as manageable, predictable progress rather than expansion at any cost. The research, conducted by Hypothesis on Mastercard’s behalf, surveyed more than 6,000 SMEs across 18 countries and covered digital adoption, financial risk, customer relationships and cybersecurity.
Mastercard released the report on Sept. 15, 2026, finding that 68% of respondents favored stability and predictability over rapid growth, while 54% actively avoided unnecessary financial risk. SMEs already use five digital business tools on average, yet 89% want to adopt more and 78% regard integrated tools as critical. Cybersecurity remains a notable gap: 71% prioritize protection from cyber threats, but only 37% currently use cybersecurity tools. Separately, 61% would rather deepen customer relationships than maximize customer reach.
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The history behind this eventMastercard Says Small-Business Growth Hinges on Technology Integration and Payment Infrastructure
Mark Barnett, Mastercard’s global head of small and medium enterprises, said the core of digital transformation for small businesses is not chasing buzzwords such as AI, but connecting systems, networks and communities. Integrating operating platforms and interoperable payment infrastructure can reduce administrative burdens while helping businesses manage funds and growth opportunities more effectively.
Barnett recently further emphasized that payment timing has a greater impact on small-business cash flow than transaction value alone. Autonomous digital agents can also help handle procurement, payments and reconciliation. The reports disclosed no specific publication date or financial amount, but their focus shows that Mastercard views real-time, interoperable payment capabilities as a foundation for small-business growth.
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