New research from ActiveCampaign, a leading autonomous marketing platform, reveals that artificial intelligence is helping small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) close the marketing gap with enterprise competitors. The company’s latest report, 13 Hours Back Each Week, highlights how AI is transforming operations for SMB marketers delivering significant time and cost savings while boosting confidence and performance.
According to the survey, 75% of small businesses believe AI is enhancing their ability to compete with larger organizations. SMBs reported saving 52 hrs and $4,739 /month by integrating AI into their marketing workflows. Among “Power Users” those who use AI daily time savings jumped by 57%, and operational cost savings increased by 36% compared to less frequent users.
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“Small businesses may work with tighter margins, but their size and agility provide a perfect opportunity for strategic AI implementation,” said Jason VandeBoom, Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign. “We’re observing small and medium-sized businesses innovatively leverage AI to compete effectively with much larger rivals.”
Key Insights from the Report:
- 47% of SMBs are using AI daily.
- 81% of respondents use AI for marketing tasks, 78% for design and creative, and 76% for analytics.
- 77% of marketers say they feel more confident when AI supports their work.
- A staggering 97% say AI has reshaped how they view their roles.
Interestingly, the report shows only a 3% difference between SMBs and large enterprises in how strategically they use AI for tasks like lead nurturing, timely follow-ups, campaign analysis, and operational efficiency indicating SMBs are keeping pace with enterprise adoption trends.
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“Marketers are moving beyond foundational AI adoption and applying advanced tools to forecast trends, uncover new revenue streams, and automate complex workflows,” said Amy Kilpatrick, Chief Marketing Officer at ActiveCampaign. “The real value comes when marketers treat AI not just as a tool but as a long-term strategic partner.”
The survey was conducted by Talker Research and included 1,000 U.S.-based marketers, agency professionals, and small business owners between May 21 and June 12, 2025.
As SMBs increasingly embrace AI-powered marketing tools, platforms like ActiveCampaign are helping redefine what’s possible for resource-constrained businesses looking to scale with efficiency and intelligence.
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