According to Crayon’s 2025 Future of Operations study conducted by Forrester Consulting, small to medium-sized businesses are significantly increasing their technology budgets, focusing on strategic investments that support long-term growth. The research indicates that over the next two years, there will be a continued rise in cloud investments, artificial intelligence solutions, and business continuity measures. 88% of SMBs plan to increase their budgets for third-party service engagements to enhance their cloud strategies and cybersecurity., 80 percent of small and medium businesses prioritize improving customer experience, while 67 percent aim to reduce enterprise risk. Notably, the study highlights that cloud-based disaster recovery solutions and hybrid cloud strategies are becoming essential as businesses adapt to new operational challenges. This shift highlights the necessity for trusted service partners who can assist in translating digital investments into tangible business value, as traditional transactional models are no longer effective in this dynamic landscape.
Artificial intelligence services are expected to take years to fully integrate into the economy, as businesses need time to learn about new AI products and train their employees. Sarah Guo, a founder and partner at Conviction, pointed out that cloud computing took about 20 years to become widely adopted, implying that AI might follow a similar timeline. During The Information’s AI Agenda Live conference, industry leaders discussed the hurdles and slow pace of AI adoption, noting that many companies plan five-year timelines to educate their workers and effectively deploy AI tools. Jared Coyle, Chief AI Officer at SAP, mentioned that the most widely used AI products are usually those that streamline routine tasks, like document processing.
Why do we care?
SMB tech budgets are going up—and that’s not noise, that’s Forrester data. Cloud, cybersecurity, continuity, customer experience—these are the areas SMBs are paying attention to. And here’s the kicker: 88% say they’re upping their spend on third-party services. That’s us.
But before you start thinking it’s all AI-fueled gold rush, here’s the reality check: AI adoption will take years. Think about cloud—it took twenty years to become mainstream. Same deal here. Right now, the winning AI tools aren’t the flashy ones—they’re the boring ones. Automating documents. Handling repetitive workflows. That’s where customers see value today.
SMBs don’t want another tool—they want business outcomes. More resilience. Less risk. Better customer experiences. If you’re selling “tech for tech’s sake,” you’ll be bypassed. But if you can frame AI and cloud investments in terms of outcomes—and set realistic timelines—you’ll win those bigger budgets. The game isn’t about selling stuff. It’s about delivering results.