AI for SMBs: Key Findings
- SMB use of AI jumped from 14% to 39% in 2024 as businesses recognized its ability to automate tasks, cut costs, and save time.
- Duda’s web design AI tools help agencies reduce repetitive work, improve accuracy, and focus on strategy for SMB clients.
- 91% of SMBs using AI report increased revenue, showing that purposeful AI adoption delivers measurable business impact.
In 2024, AI usage among SMBs climbed from 14% to 39% as owners discovered it can automate tasks, cut costs, and give them back time to run their companies, according to Verizon’s 2024 State of Small Business Survey.
Even with financial pressures, investment in AI is holding steady because SMBs now see it as essential, not optional.
“Despite economic and financial concerns, they’re still investing in faster internet, AI tools, and social commerce because they understand how these technologies are crucial for their success,” Aparna Khurjekar, Chief Revenue Officer, Business Markets and SaaS, Verizon Business, said in a press release.
That shift puts new pressure on agencies, which are expected to deliver websites and intelligent tools that drive sales and growth.
Editor's Note: This is a sponsored article created in partnership with Duda.
This is why Duda has designed its website builder AI stack for agencies working with SMBs.
At the center is Copilot, a conversational AI built into the platform that helps agencies handle reporting, content, and site management with less manual effort.
Copilot stands out because it fits into existing workflows instead of adding new ones.
Agencies can use plain language to get work done: building sites, creating eCommerce pages, refining copy, or generating product descriptions.
It also takes care of the basics like setting up client accounts, assigning permissions, and producing reports.
And since it draws from live site data, the output is grounded in what’s actually happening, not generic templates.
For teams running multiple accounts, that means fewer bottlenecks and more time for strategy.
“AI is reshaping how people discover, engage with, and build websites. At Duda, we see this not as a disruption, but as a huge opportunity for web professionals,” said Itai Sadan, Co-founder and CEO of Duda.
“And we’re excited to release AI tools that empower agencies and SaaS platforms to build smarter and faster, evolve alongside the web, and stay ahead of their clients’ needs.”
AI tools in website management are now tackling two big needs:
- Efficiency: Conversational assistants take over repetitive tasks, freeing teams to focus on higher-value work.
- Accuracy: llms.txt acts like a modern robots.txt, giving AI a clean reference of a site’s pages and products so brands are represented correctly in AI search.
These developments mean agencies can spend less time firefighting errors and more time shaping strategies that drive real results.
The benefits go beyond efficiency and accuracy, though.
A recent Salesforce survey found that 91% of SMBs using AI say it boosts revenue, based on feedback from 3,350 leaders.
That tells us that forward-looking businesses are using AI to drive growth as autonomous agents become more common.
The timing matters: a Slack study from August 2024 showed SMBs losing valuable hours to tech inefficiencies, underlining the need for AI solutions that improve productivity.
Agencies that integrate tools like Duda’s Copilot into their daily workflows can free teams from repetitive tasks, improve accuracy, and spend more time on strategies that drive results.
When AI is used purposefully, SMB clients gain measurable benefits, including faster content updates, more precise site representation, and ultimately, higher revenue.
Teams that treat AI as a core operational tool today are better positioned to deliver results that stick.
