Recent Release | 26 Jul 2023

SMB Ambitions Barometer

Thought Leadership Team

Oxford Economics

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) worldwide are optimistic about their future international endeavors, but have they taken the steps necessary to achieve their goals? What barriers do these businesses face in their efforts to grow?

To better understand SMBs’ ambitions and challenges, Payoneer commissioned Oxford Economics to survey 3,575 SMB entrepreneurs and business owners from 15 countries and a range of goods and services industries. Our research found that while SMBs agree that international development is key to growing their businesses and achieving their goals, many do not feel prepared to tackle the various challenges that come with expansion, from trade regulations and currency volatilities to language and cultural barriers. Still, SMBs remain optimistic: they expect increases in their revenue growth rates over the next two years through a combination of digitization, innovation, and continued support from their governments and business communities.

The experts behind the research

Our Thought Leadership team produces original, evidence-based research made accessible to decision-makers and opinion leaders. Principals for this project included:

Edward Cone

Editorial Director, Thought Leadership

Sundus Alfi
Sundus Alfi

Senior Research Manager, Thought Leadership

Kayla Luparello

Research Associate, Thought Leadership

You might be interested in

Leading through the great disruption: How a human-centric approach to AI creates a talent advantage

The Oxford Economics' and Adecco Group’s Business Leaders research investigates the changing world of work from the executive perspective. Our research focuses on the impact on talent strategy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI).

Find Out More
Thriving beyond boundaries: Human performance in a boundaryless world

In collaboration with Deloitte, Oxford Economics surveyed 1,000 global executives and board leaders in order to understand their perspectives on emerging human capital issues.

Find Out More
TikTok: Helping grow small and midsized businesses and deliver value for consumers across the United States

Starting in late May 2023, Oxford Economics, in collaboration with TikTok, initiated a study to better measure the economic value of the TikTok platform to local communities across the US. As part of the research, we surveyed 1,050 SMBs that use TikTok, and 7,500 TikTok users to learn how businesses and users interact with the app and leverage the economic and social opportunities it provides.

Find Out More
Seeing behind the meter: How electric utilities are adapting to the surge in distributed energy resources

In partnership with Siemens, Oxford Economics surveyed 100 decision-makers from electric utilities in North America to gain insight into how they are managing their grid with the influx of electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries.

Find Out More