Worldpay, a leading payments technology and solutions company, has released new research revealing that UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are investing 36% of their yearly revenue – amounting to over £1 trillion – in new tools and technology to help run their businesses. This significant shift highlights the growing commitment of SMBs to embrace innovation in order to improve productivity, efficiency, and meet customer expectations.
According to the research, just 1% of SMB owners reported not using technology to manage any part of their business. This marks a significant change from a decade ago when Worldpay conducted a similar study and found that 1 in 5 SMBs were still using pen and paper to run their business.
Worldpay’s study also found that 90% of businesses reported that their tech investments have greatly improved efficiency. SMBs are increasingly integrating technology across different functions, with 54% using it for financial management, 49% for marketing and sales, and 47% for payment processing. The adoption of technology is also strong in areas such as employee management, inventory control, and customer relationship management, with an average adoption rate of 40%.
SMBs of all sizes are turning to agile technology solutions to enhance the running of their businesses, including The Smirkin’ Cod fish and chip shop in Swansea. Owners Mike Smith and Ben Parkin commented on how their technology investments have improved their business operations: “Worldpay 360 has been a game-changer for us – it’s already saving us hours of admin each week. It’s made the day-to-day running of the business much smoother and the back office has also enabled us to easily add products, make amendments, add users and much more.”
Chris Wood, General Manager, SMB International at Worldpay, stated: “At Worldpay, we have proudly supported SMBs for decades and have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of technology in reshaping how these businesses operate. This digital transformation is not just a trend, it’s a necessary evolution that enhances productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Worldpay is on a mission to provide SMBs with the right technology, empowering independent businesses to compete on a level playing field and thrive.”
Worldpay has recently launched Worldpay 360, an all-in-one business management and payments solution. Available across retail, hospitality, and service sectors in three flexible bundles (Lite, Standard, and Pro), the solution integrates Worldpay’s payment hardware and technology with Yabie’s intuitive software. This allows merchants to set up quickly and access powerful features, such as inventory management, table management, and customizable receipts, directly from the till interface.
Worldpay 360 has been designed to help SMBs manage their businesses more efficiently and effectively. To learn more, visit the Worldpay website.
Methodology:
The research was conducted among 1,250 UK SME business owners aged 18 or above, with a minimum quota of 200 respondents in retail and 200 in hospitality. There was also a minimum quota of 50 respondents per region. The research was conducted between May 6, 2025, and May 15, 2025.
*£1trn is 36% of the total £2.8 trillion revenue turnover of SMEs in the UK in 2024, according to The Federation of Small Businesses.
**Research of 1500 UK SMBs commissioned by Worldpay, May 2015.
About Worldpay:
Worldpay is an industry-leading payments technology and solutions company with unique capabilities to power omni-commerce across the globe. Their processing solutions allow businesses of all sizes to take, make, and manage payments in-person and online from anywhere in the world. Annually, Worldpay processes over 50 billion transactions across 146 countries and 135 currencies, helping their customers become more efficient, more secure, and more successful. To learn more, visit worldpay.com or follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
About Worldpay 360:
Worldpay 360 is an all-in-one business management and payment solution tailored specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. Available across retail, hospitality, and service sectors in three flexible bundles (Lite, Standard, and Pro), Worldpay 360 allows merchants to set up quickly and access powerful features, such as inventory management, table management, and customizable receipts, directly from the till interface. For more information on Worldpay 360, visit Worldpay.com or join them at one of their UK stops this summer on their Bestie Bus Tour.
