Small Business (SMB) stories
The partnership gives small and mid-sized Italian firms another bundled cyber option as tighter EU rules push demand for simpler security tools.
The deal widens access to AI inside corporate systems, with a free-to-start SMB bundle offering USD $12,000 in cloud credits a year.
A large gap between AI use and oversight among smaller firms is creating demand for governed, partner-managed tools, Pax8 says.
Demand from advisers and fractional finance chiefs has prompted the London-based lender to start targeting American firms after deploying more than £30 million in Europe.
Companies with 500 to 999 staff were most likely to report unauthorised data access, with 40% saying they had been hit in the past year.
Mid-sized businesses are facing the sharpest exposure, with four in 10 reporting sensitive data access by unauthorised identities in the past year.
Eligible merchants in seven countries will get decisions within hours and funding within 48 hours through their existing Planet software.
The findings suggest many smaller firms are already using AI to lift productivity, but training costs and know-how remain major barriers.
Home crafters and small sellers could save time and material as xTool folds printing, scanning and blade cutting into one desktop machine.
New Zealand's sole traders are set to get a dedicated app as rising accounting software prices push demand for cheaper admin tools.
The expanded tie-up gives businesses new AI tools for workflows, app building and security testing, while smaller firms get a free-to-start bundle.
Higher oil prices helped lift Canadian small business sales 2.0% in the September quarter, though growth remained below historical norms.
It aims to cut support delays for merchants who lack in-house payments expertise, while escalating complex issues to human staff.
Businesses in cramped warehouses can now buy a dust- and splash-resistant keyboard for GBP £34.99, aimed at cutting replacement costs.
Unfamiliar workplace jargon is putting off would-be founders, with 65% of UK respondents saying they do not feel confident starting a business.
Wider adoption among smaller firms could lift annual output, but only one in four Australian SMEs is using AI and just 5% use it broadly.
Higher sales helped New Zealand small businesses lift hiring 2.5% in the September quarter, though payment times also lengthened.
Sales growth for Australian small firms eased to 5.2% in the September quarter, even as construction remained among the strongest sectors.
Security teams are adopting AI faster than they trust it, with 75.5% of respondents saying they still want human review before autonomous action.
US finance teams can now approve and pay vendor bills in one system, reducing manual handoffs and tightening audit trails for QuickBooks users.