Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are very important for economic development, though they are faced with challenges for continued growth and development resulting from lack of resources, efficiency, and market accessibility. This study seeks to understand the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) on business expansion for SMEs, including data on AI adoption behavior, revenue and efficiency results, market expansion, employee and workforce productivity, and competitive positioning. Based on empirical research from diverse geographical locations, this study shows that adopting AI for business growth increases revenue performance through better customer targeting and operational optimization. Moreover, AI promotes reduced expenditure and employee productivity, resulting in efficiency gains for SMEs. However, differences in firm size, industry type, and readiness for AI technology show that medium and technology-oriented SMEs adopt AI technology to a larger extent. This research shows that despite opportunities for growth and development, SMEs are faced with constraints of financial unpreparedness and lack of technological infrastructure. This shows that for successful growth and development through AI technology, strategic implementation and employee skills are essential for continued market success and penetrability.
Badmus et al. (2026) studied this question.