Zapier reports 76% of SMBs automate work, urges AI governance
A survey of 508 U.S. small and medium‑sized business owners conducted by Centiment for Zapier shows 76% have adopted some form of automation. Of those, 38% rely on rule‑based "if this, then that" workflows, 52% use AI features built into existing tools, and 30% run AI‑powered automation that makes decisions across multiple systems with limited human input. Most users (74%) depend on automation…
Key points
- 76% of SMB owners have adopted automation; 38% use rule‑based, 52% use AI features, 30% use AI‑powered automation.
- 94% of automation users report benefits such as consistency, cost savings, and time freed for higher‑value work.
- 55% say they still have manual tasks; main barriers are tool uncertainty (43%), cost (34%) and complexity (30%).
Despite the payoff, 55% of owners say they still have repetitive manual tasks they haven’t automated. The top obstacles are uncertainty about which tools work (43%), perceived cost concerns (34%), and perceived technical complexity (30%). The guide recommends starting with low‑code platforms like Zapier, picking a single repetitive process, involving the employees who perform the work, and establishing simple governance policies that define approved tools, data handling rules, human‑in‑the‑loop checkpoints, and regular policy reviews. These steps aim to protect the competitive edge AI offers while keeping operations safe and compliant.
The story so far
4 episodes →- Zapier reports 76% of SMBs automate work, urges AI governancethis story
76% of SMB owners are automating work. The next step is making sure they're doing it safely.
Zapier Blog · 22 September 2026
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This text was published by Zapier Blog and written by Lane Gillespie. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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