The era of AI as a futuristic luxury is officially over—at least for small businesses. New survey data released by Homebase, the all-in-one platform for team management and payroll, shows that artificial intelligence is now mainstream for SMBs, with nearly two-thirds already using or piloting AI tools.
Conducted among 828 U.S. decision-makers at businesses with fewer than 200 employees, the survey paints a clear picture: AI is solving real-world pain points—today—especially in industries like construction, retail, and food service where staffing headaches are daily reality.
“Small businesses are adopting AI fast because they’re seeing real, day-to-day impact,” said Homebase CEO John Waldmann. “With so much on their plates, tools like our AI-powered Hiring and Scheduling Assistants are helping them reclaim valuable time.”
64% of SMBs Already Use AI—And They Like It
Among the standout stats:
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64% of small businesses are already using or piloting AI tools
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Of those, 94.1% found AI valuable, and 42.8% rated it extremely valuable
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Construction, food service, and retail are leading in adoption due to their operational complexity and staffing challenges
AI’s utility is going far beyond chatbots and dashboards. It’s helping busy owners and managers automate the tedious, repetitive work—like hiring and shift scheduling—so they can focus on running their businesses, not just surviving the day.
Agentic AI Is Catching On
The survey also reveals growing awareness of more advanced, agentic AI tools—those that act on behalf of users instead of simply informing them:
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70.5% of SMB leaders say they’re at least somewhat familiar with these proactive tools
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And 65.3% say they’re comfortable trying new AI solutions
This is a notable shift, especially as the industry moves from passive AI assistants toward more autonomous, decision-making systems. It also reflects a broader trend in the workforce tech space: tools that don’t just advise—they act.
Homebase’s own AI Assistants, launched last month, are designed with this in mind. Built to automate hiring and shift scheduling, they were adopted by over 10,000 small businesses in the first few weeks post-launch.
AI Curiosity Is High, But Trust Still Lags
Even among non-adopters, curiosity runs deep:
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68.5% of SMBs not using AI are interested in it
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Yet 61.2% cite data privacy as their biggest concern
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46.9% worry about errors
These anxieties aren’t unfounded, especially with growing scrutiny around how AI makes decisions and handles sensitive data. But they also hint at opportunity: vendors that lead with transparency and explainability are likely to win trust—and market share.
Why It Matters: AI as a Growth Engine for SMBs
Small businesses are often painted as digital laggards—but that narrative is changing fast. Under pressure from economic headwinds and staffing shortages, SMBs are turning to AI not just for survival, but for sustainable growth.
From reducing costs to speeding up hiring, AI is being used to:
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Automate scheduling and time tracking
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Improve hiring speed and candidate quality
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Predict staffing needs and optimize shifts
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Free up owners to focus on growth, not admin
It’s a shift that mirrors broader enterprise trends, but with a small-business twist: results must be fast, practical, and easy to adopt. Platforms like Homebase are betting that if AI delivers that trifecta, mass adoption is inevitable.
If you’re a small business and still on the fence about AI, your competitors probably aren’t. They’re already automating their scheduling, staffing smarter, and reclaiming their nights and weekends.
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