- Globally, 64% of SMBs are optimistic about growth in the year ahead. This sentiment is mirrored, albeit slightly more cautiously, in the United States and Canada, where 59% share this positive outlook.
- Driving this growth, according to 54% of organizations, is a renewed emphasis on cultivating deeper connections and relationships with customers. For the US and Canada this number peaks at 61%.
- 72% of SMBs say their main focus in 2024 will be customer satisfaction, a focus similar in North America.
- AI is not just an innovation, it’s now a sidekick to customer support: 52% of employees in the US (57% globally) believe that their organization will intensify scrutiny of customer support performance in the coming year.
Aircall, the customer communication and engagement platform, today launches The Voice of SMBs 2024 global report. Surveying 1,400 employees at small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across North America, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK, the report explores the priorities of SMBs over the course of 2024 and their focus areas for efficient business growth.
Aircall has long established itself as a growth partner for SMBs, and this inaugural report unveils unique insights in a bid to help SMBs across the world better understand how business move forward in 2024. When SMBs represent 95% of the world’s companies and 70% of the world’s population, Aircall sees the actionable insights and analysis therein to empower them to grow effectively in 2024, and turn challenges into opportunities for the SMB community.
Despite a challenging business climate, the report highlights that globally, almost two-thirds (64%) of the 1,400 respondents feel optimistic about growth in the year ahead. In comparison this number reaches 59% for the US and Canada, where SMBs are facing unique hurdles that temper their outlook slightly (high inflation, political climate…). Nevertheless, the overall positive sentiment is a testament to the adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit inherent in SMBs.
The majority (54%) of organizations stated that the biggest growth-driver in 2024 will be increasing connections and relationships with customers, and the top growth-driver across every region surveyed underlining a revival of relationship building. Further, four key insights were seen as fundamental to problem-solving, adapting, and responding to the shifting business landscape SMBs find themselves in.
A different SMB mindset and approach
With 61% of businesses saying they are prioritizing customer experiences over growth in the next year, it’s clear that there is a sea change in how businesses are looking to succeed in 2024. A challenging year for small businesses has meant leaders are reappraising the insights key to their success. According to The Voice of SMBs 2024 report, these are:
- Growth Beyond The Numbers: a new definition of growth—one that looks beyond the numbers—means that overall 54% of organizations state that one of the biggest growth drivers in 2024 will be increasing connections and relationships. This sentiment is even more pronounced in North America, where 61% of businesses identify this as their primary strategy for expansion. Notably, this was the top growth-driver across every region, meaning selling at all costs is out of fashion—something evidenced by the news that Google and Yahoo are planning to crack down on bulk email sends.
- AI As Your Sidekick: How SMBs can achieve this, despite the everyday pressures they face, comes down to technology. AI is not just an innovation, it’s now a sidekick to customer support: With 52% of businesses focusing on enhanced scrutiny of customer support performance, and 47% acknowledging the value of personal details in delivering effective customer experiences, AI’s role is becoming indispensable.
- The Art of Human Connection: In the global survey and in North America as well, 72% state that their business’s main focus next year will be the satisfaction of its customers, showing the degree to which meaningful conversations and interactions have returned to the front of mind for customer-facing teams,
- A Focus on Coaching: growing businesses will be focusing even further on reducing turnover of staff and ensuring they have the right talent at hand. Almost two-thirds (65%) highlight that they have a good or extensive training, coaching, and development program and in the US almost half of employees (46%) anticipate spending more time training or upskilling coworkers in the year ahead.
Aircall’s CEO, Scott Chancellor comments: “I joined as Aircall CEO at the end of 2023, and this report excited and surprised me as soon as I saw it. Like Aircall itself, I am passionate about small businesses, and The Voice of SMBs 2024 isn’t just a report—it’s a resource-packed guide with actionable insights and tips that will help SMBs problem-solve, adapt, and respond to the shifting business landscape they find themselves in. With the correct strategies in place, SMBs can navigate tight budgets, and big competition—and unlock a kind of growth to be proud of.”
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