Small Businesses in Underserved Communities Turn to Tech, Crypto, and AI to Compete
A new national survey from Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), conducted in partnership with Ripple, reveals that underserved small business owners increasingly rely on digital tools, including cryptocurrency payments and AI-powered platforms, as part of their business operations. The findings are detailed in the report, Unlocking Opportunity Together: Research on Digital Adoption and Access for Underserved Small Businesses.
79%
say digital tools are highly important vs 69% outside underserved communities
65%
say AI-powered tools are important to their business
62%
say customers have expressed interest in paying with crypto
The findings, based on a national survey of 600 U.S. small business owners, show that underserved small business owners are more likely than their peers to rely on automated operating systems, AI-driven marketing tools, and digital payment alternatives. Despite high usage of digital tools, barriers to access exist, including cost and complexity of the tools. This highlights the need for access to capital and digital know-how for these businesses to compete and grow in today’s rapidly evolving economy.
