Small and medium-sized enterprises across Asia Pacific are adopting digital tools, new payment methods and artificial intelligence at a fast pace, according to Mastercard’s newly released Dreamonomics Report. But the same businesses driving this technology adoption are also asking for something simpler: fewer disconnected systems and more unified ways to run their operations.
The report, based on a 2026 survey of more than 6,000 SMEs across 18 countries, found that 74% of Asia Pacific businesses are optimistic about their growth prospects, and 61% say they frequently experiment with new ideas. At the same time, 69% prioritize predictability and stability, a figure close to the 68% recorded globally.
Mastercard notices a shift in what growth requires. Access to technology is no longer the primary constraint for most SMEs. Instead, the challenge has become making an expanding mix of tools, payment methods and financial relationships work together.
“Businesses don’t think in terms of payment rails or funding sources. They think about paying suppliers, managing cash flow and keeping operations moving,” said Anouska Ladds, executive vice president, Commercial & New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. “Every business decision today has a financial dimension. SMEs need payment experiences that fit how they actually operate, giving them the flexibility to stay in control of their working capital, pivot faster to change and adapt to new trends and their customers’ needs.”
The numbers illustrate the complexity SMEs are managing. Businesses in the region use five business tools on average, and 94% say they are interested in adopting at least one more tool they don’t currently use, compared with 89% globally. Despite this appetite, 74% say integrated tools are now critical to supporting daily decision-making rather than adding to operational load.
Payments show a similar pattern. SMEs use four payment methods on average for business expenses, including electronic bank transfers (59%), instant payments (55%), debit cards (52%) and credit cards (47%). Mastercard notes that while this variety gives SMEs flexibility, it also creates friction across reconciliation, cash flow visibility and administrative time.
India stands out as a market where demand for flexible, connected payment options is moving quickly. In the report, 63% of Indian SMEs expressed interest in real-time payments, compared with 51% regionally, while 45% said they were open to flexible digital payment solutions and 39% wanted a combined credit/debit business card with built-in controls.
To address this in India, Mastercard is piloting Mastercard One Credential with City Union Bank (CUB), marking the country’s first offering that links eligible consumer and commercial payment relationships to a single credential. Transactions can be routed automatically based on preset preferences such as amount or merchant category, allowing SMEs to separate business and personal spending while retaining flexibility over how payments are funded.
Security concerns are rising alongside this digital push. Seven in ten SMEs in the region call cybersecurity protection a high priority, yet only 39% currently use dedicated cybersecurity tools. Among AI-powered capabilities SMEs want from financial providers, fraud and security protection ranks highest, cited by 47% of respondents.
Further findings from the Dreamonomics Report are available on Mastercard’s website.
