Asia-Pacific SMEs seek integrated tools to manage digital growth

A Mastercard survey of 6,615 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across 18 countries indicates that 74% of Asia-Pacific SMEs are seeking integrated business tools to manage growing digital complexity. While 74% of these businesses express optimism about their future and 61% frequently experiment with new ideas, 69% prioritize stability and predictability.

SMEs in the region use an average of five business tools and four different payment methods for expenses. Electronic bank transfers are the most common at 59%, followed by instant payments (55%), debit cards (52%), and credit cards (47%).

As businesses adopt more technology, including artificial intelligence, there is an increasing demand for simpler, more connected systems. Anouska Ladds, Mastercard EVP in APAC, noted that businesses require payment experiences that align with their actual operations to help manage cash flow and working capital effectively.