Rising Costs stories
Despite inflation and interest-rate pressure, most small firms are boosting marketing and AI use to win customers and protect revenue.
Factories facing labour shortages and rising costs are set to get a new execution tool, as the firms pair consulting with frontline software.
CFOs rank AI skills and market shocks as top threats, as talent shortages, rising costs and geopolitical turmoil squeeze finance teams.
New data show Kiwi small firms generating less per hour than peers in Australia and the UK, as rising costs squeeze margins.
Cash-flow strain is deepening for UK SMEs, even as profits rose 7.4% and nearly half of invoices were still overdue, Sage said.
Australian SMEs can now earn Velocity and Qatar Avios on routine bills, as B2Bpay broadens its rewards platform beyond Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Rising costs and weaker spending left many small firms under pressure, even as national SME activity still managed quarterly growth of 0.6%.
Confidence among New Zealand firms is being driven more by productivity and investment than hopes of a return to pre-pandemic normality.
Only 12% of Australian operators say now is a good time to open a venue, as rising costs and weaker spend squeeze margins.
The funding will help the hospitality software group hire, expand AI tools and buy smaller rivals as venues face rising costs.
Fuel now tops cost pressures for Australian SMEs, but most are still swallowing the rise rather than passing it on to customers.
Rising costs are pushing pubs to sharpen online booking pitches, with virtual tours seen as a way to win World Cup match-day trade.
Sleep loss and costly cover gaps are leaving most UK small firms exposed, as 77% say they do not understand cyber insurance.
Cash flow pressure is building for US small firms as payment times lengthened and late invoices rose in Xero's March quarter data.
UK business leaders say tangled tech is raising costs and slowing growth, as O2 Business launches with a simpler offer for customers.
Tens of thousands of dollars in disputed payments have left a Sydney skincare business exposed as household budgets tighten and chargeback fraud rises.
With margins under pressure across hospitality, the data platform has added Jane O'Riordan to guide strategy as it targets UK and overseas growth.
Rising replacement costs and harsh weather are pushing homeowners to shield costly outdoor settings before fading and damage set in.
Rising costs and policy uncertainty are squeezing small firms, with 63% of owners reporting lower revenue and confidence subdued across the sector.
Real-time scheduling will help the security firm cope with urgent call-outs and late shift changes that older systems could not manage.