According to recent research by Worldpay, UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are investing a significant portion of their yearly revenue – over £1 trillion – in new technology and tools to improve their operations. This trend highlights the growing commitment of SMBs to embrace innovation in order to boost productivity, efficiency, and meet the rising expectations of customers.
The study, conducted in May 2025, found a significant shift in the use of technology among SMB owners. While in 2015, only 1 in 5 SMBs were using technology to manage their businesses, this number has now increased to 99%.
Worldpay’s research revealed that 90% of businesses reported a significant increase in efficiency due to their tech investments. The adoption of technology is also evident across various functions, with 54% using it for financial management, 49% for marketing and sales, and 47% for payment processing. Additionally, employee management, inventory control, and customer relationship management (CRM) saw an average adoption rate of 40%.
Even small businesses, such as The Smirkin’ Cod fish and chip shop in Swansea, are embracing agile technology solutions to enhance their operations. Co-owners Mike Smith and Ben Parkin shared how their technology investments, particularly Worldpay 360, have improved the running of their business. “It’s already saving us hours of admin each week. It’s made the day-to-day running of the business much smoother and the back office has also enabled us to easily add products, make amendments, add users, and much more,” they said.
Chris Wood, General Manager of SMB International at Worldpay, emphasized the importance of digital transformation for SMBs. “At Worldpay, we’ve proudly supported SMBs for decades, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of technology in reshaping how these businesses operate. This digital transformation is not just a trend – it’s a vital evolution that enhances productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Worldpay is on a mission to provide SMBs with the right technology, empowering independent businesses to compete on a level playing field and thrive,” he said.
To further support SMBs, Worldpay has recently launched Worldpay 360, an all-in-one business management and payments solution. This solution, available in three flexible bundles – Lite, Standard, and Pro – integrates Worldpay’s payment hardware and technology with Yabie’s intuitive software. Worldpay 360 allows merchants to set up quickly and access powerful features, including inventory management, table management, and customizable receipts directly from the till interface.
For more information on Worldpay 360, visit the website. The study was conducted among 1,250 UK SMB owners aged 18 and above, with a minimum quota of 200 respondents in retail and 200 in hospitality. The research was conducted from May 6 to May 15, 2025.
The £1 trillion investment in technology by UK SMBs represents 36% of the total £2.8 trillion revenue turnover of SMBs in the country in 2024, according to The Federation of Small Businesses. Worldpay is an industry-leading payments technology and solutions company that processes over 50 billion transactions annually across 146 countries and 135 currencies. To learn more, visit worldpay.com or follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Worldpay 360, the new all-in-one business management and payment solution tailored for UK SMBs, is now available across the retail, hospitality, and service sectors. The solution, available in three flexible bundles (Lite, Standard, and Pro), allows merchants to set up quickly and access powerful features, including inventory management, table management, and customizable receipts directly from the till interface. For more information on Worldpay 360, visit Worldpay.com or join them at one of their UK stops this summer as they take to the road with their Bestie Bus Tour.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.