Small Business (SMB) stories

Rockwell's Plex wins Major Player status in six IDC MarketScape reports as AI-enabled ERP and finance tools gain ground among manufacturers.

Splashtop bets on AI-assisted patching and security alerts in a single console as it targets lean IT teams and MSPs with a new endpoint platform.

8x8 unveils AI Studio to let customer experience teams build agents with natural language, aiming to cut integration delays and costs.

Australian fintech Zeller enters Britain as small merchants face rising card costs, betting on faster onboarding and lower fees to win market share.

Robotic Marketer adds AI direct mail to its marketing platform, aiming to help home services firms target buyers and coordinate print with digital campaigns.

Springboards unveils Flint, a novelty-focused AI model for marketers, as it refreshes its platform with new self-serve plans and wider access.

Businesses that integrate systems, act on data and move quickly are pulling ahead, while those relying on manual processes risk falling further behind.

Brands that dominate search and social share a deliberate strategy, while quieter rivals often lack the consistency, authority and distribution to be seen.

Virtual offices help startups cut overheads, project credibility and adapt to remote work, making them a flexible base for growth.

Australia's energy shock deepens pressure on sole traders and smaller firms, with CreditorWatch flagging higher tax defaults and insolvency risk.

Thryv has rolled out Thryv AI Lead Flow in Australia and New Zealand, aiming to help small businesses capture enquiries, score prospects and automate follow-up.

Actionstep and iManage team up to give midsize law firms a single workflow for matters, documents, governance and security.

Intuit appoints Xero veteran Matthew Miles as Head of Product for APAC as it steps up investment in Australia and wider Asia Pacific.

Sydney skincare founder says chargeback scams have stripped tens of thousands from her AUD $500,000-a-year brand as fraud pressure builds.

AI mentions surge in Australian job ads as employers broaden use, but public sector hiring still lags private firms by months.

RMS adds direct bank payments through GoCardless as Australian hotels brace for Reserve Bank reforms that could ban card surcharges and lift merchant costs.

Gallagher Security expands its Australian leadership team with a national SMB and perimeter appointment plus two regional hires in NSW and the ACT.

Moodi boosts Female Founder Fund with NZ and Australia grants, offering $15,000 to four women-led start-ups without equity or repayment.

Xero's Anthropic tie-up deepens finance software AI split as groups weigh integrated platforms against agent tools that work across multiple systems.

Business NSW says soaring fuel, freight and supplier costs are forcing 47% of surveyed firms to review staffing, with regional employers hardest hit.