SMB Group

In a new blog post, Laurie McCabe examines how Salesforce’s SMB strategy has evolved from Starter Suite to Starter Pro—and why this shift is more evolutionary than revolutionary. 🚀

The analysis explores Salesforce’s multi-year effort to simplify CRM adoption for SMBs, expand functionality without overwhelming users, and increasingly embed AI into core workflows. Rather than viewing Starter Pro as a one-off launch, the post positions it as a strategic next step in building a clearer on-ramp from entry-level CRM to more advanced capabilities.

Read the full analysis here:
👉 https://lauriemccabe.com/2025/12/19/salesforces-evolving-smb-strategy-from-starter-suite-to-pro-suite-and-beyond/

Laurie McCabe of SMB Group outlines a key shift for small businesses in her interview with BizTech Magazine: AI adoption is rising rapidly, with over half of SMBs implementing it and many seeing gains in productivity, collaboration and customer service.
But the challenge remains the same: securing the right skills, time and clarity of use-case to turn AI into a competitive advantage. For small-business leaders, the opportunity lies in using AI to free employees from repetitious work and reskill them for higher-value contributions.
Read more here: https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2025/11/how-ai-changing-way-small-business-employees-do-their-jobs?amp

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How Is AI Changing the Way Small-Business Employees Do Their Jobs? AI tools are becoming essential assistants for millions of small-business workers, says SMB Group’s Laurie McCabe

🚀 AI and SMBs: A New Era of Opportunity
Small and medium businesses are entering a new chapter—where AI isn’t just for tech giants, but a powerful tool to drive real business results.

📘 Our latest free SMB Group eBook, AI and SMBs: A New Era of Opportunity, explores how SMBs are adopting and benefiting from AI—and what’s holding some back. Sponsored by Workday, this report is packed with practical insights from our most recent survey of SMB leaders.

🔍 In the eBook, you’ll learn:
✅ What’s driving SMB interest in AI—and where it’s gaining traction
✅ How usage is evolving beyond automation to predictive intelligence
✅ Top challenges and trust issues slowing adoption
✅ What it all means for SMBs, tech vendors, and partners

👉 Dive into the data and download your free copy here:
📖 https://lauriemccabe.com/2025/07/31/ai-and-smbs-a-new-era-of-opportunity-download-smb-groups-free-ebook-today/

AI and SMBs: A New Era of Opportunity — Download SMB Group’s Free eBook Today Small and medium businesses (SMBs) are at a pivotal moment. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer reserved for tech giants or futuristic scenarios—it’s here, and it’s reshaping how SMBs operate…

Zoho continues to push the boundaries of AI integration while staying true to its values of privacy, affordability, and simplicity. At its May 2025 AI Forum, the company unveiled new innovations—from CRM for Everyone and the Ulaa secure browser to the launch of Zoho Payments.

Laurie McCabe recaps the key takeaways here:
👉 https://lauriemccabe.com/2025/05/19/zohos-may-2025-ai-forum-announcements-ai-driven-privacy-centric-and-fintech-ready

On May 22, is hosting a live webinar to unpack findings from its new 2025 State of Financial Automation report—based on responses from 750 SMB finance leaders.

Laurie McCabe of SMB Group will join the conversation to explore how small and mid-sized businesses are tackling inflation, talent gaps, and market volatility by turning to automation and AI.

Attendees will learn:

💡 Where SMBs are focusing their financial efforts in 2025
💡 How automation is helping drive smarter decisions
💡 What tech vendors and finance leaders can do to stay ahead

📅 May 22 | 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
🔗 Register here