Crayon’s latest independent study of small-to-medium sized business operations across the APAC region shows SMBs are not just increasing their technology investments—they are making strategic, forward-thinking moves to position themselves for long-term growth.
Findings from Crayon’s 2025 study reveal that tech budgets are on the rise across the SMB sector, and the next two years will see a continued upward trajectory in cloud investments, AI solutions, and business continuity measures.
As a MSP, CSP, integrator, or consultant, this is the perfect time to align business offerings with emerging demand. The SMB market is poised for significant transformation, and Crayon’s unique quantitative studies of SMB operations provide the insights needed to seize these opportunities.
Key Areas of Investment Growth
Business Continuity
The lessons of the pandemic era have left a mark on SMBs mindsets, with data showing decision makers across the region prioritising solutions that ensure operational continuity. Cloud-based disaster recovery solutions, automated storage tiering, and enterprise application backup are all seeing significant adoption intent, as SMBs aim to protect their data while maintaining access and uptime across cloud platforms.
Cloud Infrastructure and Platforms
With more SMBs subject to increased compliance and regulation, many are rethinking ‘cloud-only’ strategies and revising their approach to hybrid cloud to include on-prem and edge. This corresponds with increased appetite for IoT which indicates the region’s distributed industries are moving fast on emerging technology, whilst seeking to control the cloud and data related costs at the same time.
Business Applications
Cloud ERP was the #1 business application adoption in our 2023 study and solution adoption intent remains very high. At the same time, as SMBs pursue improved customer experience and improved market competitiveness, the appetite for CRM, Field Service and Customer Journey Analytics is surging.
Security
IT organisations are the fastest adopters of AI within the SMB sector. Combined with increased intent to implement Zero Trust frameworks, Extended Detection and Response and cybersecurity awareness training services, SMBs will invest to protect all they have gained from cloud and are yet to gain from AI.
Emerging Tech and Spend Trends
The 2025 study shows that mid-market SMBs are increasingly adopting hybrid cloud solutions, prioritising flexibility and scalability to manage complex workloads. Public cloud adoption remains widespread, but SMBs are seeking multi-cloud solutions to better manage risk, enhance performance, and optimise costs.
AI-Driven Security and Cloud Optimisation
With an increasing focus on AI for security and business applications, SMBs are seeking partners who can offer end-to-end solutions that integrate AI-driven security, cloud optimisation, and data management. These solutions are crucial for businesses looking to realise the full potential of their cloud investments while staying ahead of evolving security threats.
Cloud and AI Combine for Business Continuity
The correlation between AI adoption and business continuity is clear. As AI becomes a centerpiece of business operations, SMBs require cloud solutions that support real-time data processing, secure data storage, and disaster recovery—all of which are integral to business continuity.
Increased budgets for Third-Party Expertise
SMBs need expert guidance to navigate the evolving landscape of cloud technology and AI implementation. The 2025 study reveals that 88% of SMBs intend to increase their budget for third-party service engagements, with a growing demand for cloud strategy development, cybersecurity assessments, managed cloud services, and AI adoption support.
This represents a massive opportunity for MSPs, CSPs, and integrators to become key partners in SMBs’ digital transformation journeys. To succeed, partners must offer comprehensive services that cover everything from cloud strategy to AI integration and data protection.
Distribution, Done Differently
Crayon’s quantitative studies of SMB operations have been ongoing since 2021, providing a unique perspective on how market disruptions influence SMB tech priorities, budgets, and technology adoption. Crayon is the only cloud distributor in the region to invest in independent studies of the SMB segment. The company doesn’t just gather data — it analyses trends, identifies opportunities, and provides actionable insights that can drive businesses forward.
The release of the Future of Operations study for 2025 Distribution, done differently means an ongoing commitment to delivering strategic value add with insights that help partners position for immediate and emerging demand.
Get the Study
Download The Future of Operations today, and stay ahead of SMB customer objectives, priorities and technology buying behaviour.
*The Future of Operations: Advancing AI-Driven Innovation and Cloud Agility for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses is a Forrester Consulting study, conducted on behalf of Crayon, March 2025
_(8).jpg&w=100&c=1&s=0)
.jpg&q=95&h=298&w=480&c=1&s=1)
