Small and medium businesses (SMBs) are a driving force in the global economy, representing between 350 and 400 million enterprises worldwide. They account for 90 percent of all businesses and approximately 44 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). SMBs are the backbone of every community and the lifeblood of the economy
Despite recent challenges, SMBs have shown remarkable resilience and growth. The pandemic has spurred a surge in new SMBs, with 2021 seeing more creations than any year since 2005. This trend highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of individuals seizing the opportunity to become their own bosses, innovate, and build a future on their terms.
This promising landscape is why I joined Microsoft to lead SMB marketing for Microsoft 365—a passion rooted in my experience watching my parents run their small business. From traditional mom-and-pop stores to tech startups, Microsoft is dedicated to developing products that help SMBs expand their customer base and scale their operations, even amid economic pressures.
Helping small Businesses to do more with Less
In today's economy, businesses of all sizes must grow while managing costs. One effective strategy is centralizing business technology with Microsoft 365. By using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, businesses can achieve their goals and reduce costs without sacrificing productivity.
Providing small businesses with a Complete Solution for their Business
Historically, SMBs have relied on various point solutions, none of which perfectly fit their unique needs. The demand for an integrated, tailored solution is significant. A recent Forrester study commissioned by Microsoft found that nearly 65 percent of SMBs prefer purchasing software solutions as a comprehensive suite that addresses all their business needs.
Microsoft 365 offers such a solution, delivering a seamless, cloud-based experience that simplifies remote work and reduces costs and administrative burdens. It's a cost-effective, secure cloud solution packed with tools that help SMBs run their operations, reach new customers, and collaborate efficiently from anywhere.
Enabling SMBs to create documents, meet, call, chat, and connect
Microsoft 365 combines familiar apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to help businesses create professional documents, share them securely, and store them in the cloud. The platform supports the new reality of remote work, allowing employees to meet, collaborate, and communicate with their teams and customers from any location.
Teams enables chatting, online meetings, video calls, appointment scheduling, and professional email capabilities through Outlook. With the rise in cyberattacks targeting SMBs, Microsoft 365 offers built-in security features to protect devices and data. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes advanced security features, ensuring protection with minimal IT complexity.
Customer Success Stories
We are inspired by the way many SMBs have leveraged the power of Microsoft 365 to service their existing customers, pitch new business, meet with employees, and do whatever it takes to keep their company running. For example:
At Tony’s Chocolonely, the team found new ways to keep employees connected with virtual book clubs, themed weekly meetings like “flip-flop formal Friday,” and fitness classes—all running on Teams as a part of the Microsoft 365 solution.
1083, a sustainable jeans and sneakers manufacturer, leveraged Microsoft 365 and Teams to communicate and collaborate more effectively, internally and externally, while the platform’s embedded security features helped ensure that communications were highly secure.
Rodel Financial Services realized the benefits of a unified, easily managed environment from Microsoft apps, services, device management, and information protection. It replaced a disjointed on-premises environment with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, helping South African businesses and their own bottom line to flourish.
From retailers to restaurants to professional services, SMBs can count on the integrated tools of Microsoft 365 to help grow their businesses easily and securely. Act now to save while setting up your business to thrive with Microsoft 365.
Looking Ahead
At Microsoft, we’re committed to the success of small and medium businesses, and we’re pleased to deliver a complete set of business apps and tools that helps them launch and grow their business securely and with ease.
Explore our latest Microsoft 365 products and useful resources for SMBs:
Microsoft Defender for Business—a comprehensive solution to run your business securely from anywhere.
Microsoft Teams Essentials—an affordable, professional meeting solution designed to help small businesses communicate and collaborate in an easy, secure, and reliable way.
Small Business help and learning—learn more about how to set up and use your Microsoft 365 subscription, find tips and templates to help you accomplish your business tasks, and get the most out of hybrid work.
Small & medium-sized enterprises, National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights, The Danish Institute for Human Rights.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Finance, World Bank.
Annual Report of the Office of Economic Research, FY 2019, US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. January 2021.
How the Small Business Sector Has Grown Throughout the Pandemic, Jeanette Mulvey, Neil Bradley. October 21, 2021.
Meeting the Changing Software Technology Needs of SMBs, Forrester Consulting. September 2022.