Digital commerce and AI drive 2.4% global growth, according to Visa

Visa's report reveals that digital commerce and AI drive 2.4% global growth. Learn about opportunities for SMEs and how to adapt.

domingo, 5 de julio de 2026 • 2 min read • Q2BSTUDIO Team

Opportunities for SMEs in the digital economy and AI

The global economic landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. According to the latest projections, worldwide growth will reach 2.4% this year, driven primarily by two disruptive forces: the expansion of digital commerce and the mass adoption of artificial intelligence. This scenario, far from being a simple statistic, redefines the rules of the game for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to remain competitive in an environment of rising costs and increasingly demanding consumers.

Industry data reveals that e-commerce is no longer an option but has become an essential channel. In medium and small cities, online shopping penetration has risen from 31% to 56% since before the pandemic, representing a unique opportunity for businesses that previously relied exclusively on in-person traffic. To capitalize on this shift, companies need custom applications that allow them to manage inventories, process payments, and offer frictionless personalized experiences. Technology is no longer a luxury but a fundamental enabler.

In parallel, investment in artificial intelligence is driving industrial cycles in the United States, the European Union, and China. This wave of investment strengthens supply chains and creates new collaboration opportunities. Companies that integrate AI for businesses into their processes will be able to optimize everything from demand forecasting to customer service through AI agents. It is not just about automating repetitive tasks, but about making data-driven decisions in real time, something that business intelligence services like Power BI make possible by converting large volumes of information into actionable dashboards.

However, the path is not without challenges. Inflationary pressure, especially in energy costs, forces SMEs to review their operating expenses. This is where adopting AWS and Azure cloud services offers a competitive advantage: it allows reducing investments in own infrastructure, scaling resources according to demand, and improving technological resilience. Furthermore, migrating to the cloud facilitates the implementation of robust cybersecurity policies, a critical aspect when the volume of digital transactions grows exponentially. Protecting customer data is not only a legal obligation but also a trust factor that differentiates brands.

In this context, software development companies like Q2BSTUDIO play a strategic role. We help organizations design and implement custom software tailored to their specific needs, whether to create e-commerce platforms, internal management systems, or analysis dashboards. Our experience ranges from integrating artificial intelligence to automating processes, including cybersecurity and support in cloud environments. Each solution is built with a modular and scalable approach, considering the future growth of the business.

Adapting to the new economic cycle requires a proactive attitude and smart investment in technology. Companies that manage to combine a solid digital strategy with analysis and automation tools will be better positioned to navigate uncertainty and capture the value generated by global transformation. The key is to understand that the 2.4% growth is not an abstract number: it is the reflection of an economy that rewards innovation and efficiency.

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