{"id":23007,"date":"2026-10-15T16:31:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T16:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=23007"},"modified":"2026-10-15T16:31:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T16:31:37","slug":"from-tap-to-pay-to-ai-how-technology-is-affecting-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=23007","title":{"rendered":"From tap to pay to AI: How technology is affecting small businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>Opinions expressed by\u00a0Digital Journal\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-small-businesses-have-more-technology-available-to-them-than-ever-before-digital-payments-ai-and-automation-can-make-some-jobs-easier-but-they-also-come-with-new-costs-and-risks\">Small businesses have more technology available to them than ever before. Digital payments, AI, and automation can make some jobs easier, but they also come with new costs and risks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A customer taps a phone at the register instead of reaching for a card. An employee uses software to make next week\u2019s schedule or check inventory. Someone else turns to AI for help answering a customer question. For many small businesses, technology isn\u2019t something coming in the future. It\u2019s already mixed into the work they do every day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That convenience comes with more to keep track of. There are software bills and payment disputes, along with questions about customer information and security. Even signing up for a new service can mean agreeing to terms that affect the business later. When questions about those obligations turn into a dispute, a business owner may come across the attorneys at Shulman &amp; Hill while researching what to do next.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-digital-payments-have-changed-how-customers-pay\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digital payments have changed how customers pay<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paying at the register doesn\u2019t always involve cash or even pulling a card out of a wallet anymore. One customer may tap a contactless card or phone, while another places an order and pays through the business\u2019s website without ever walking through the door.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National payment numbers show how common card payments have become. According to the Federal Reserve, cards accounted for more than three-quarters of the number of noncash payments in its latest triennial payments study.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Giving customers more ways to pay can make a purchase easier, but accepting those payments isn\u2019t necessarily free or effortless for the business. There may be transaction fees, monthly subscriptions, or equipment to buy and eventually replace. Disputes add another task. If a customer challenges a payment, the business may have to go back through receipts, order information, and other records to respond.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-small-businesses-are-finding-uses-for-ai-and-automation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small businesses are finding uses for AI and automation<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using AI at work doesn\u2019t necessarily mean handing an entire job over to a machine. The uses can be much smaller. It might help with the first draft of a routine email, sort through information, suggest marketing copy, or answer a common customer question. Automation can take care of repetitive jobs too, including appointment reminders and parts of bookkeeping or inventory management.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More small businesses are experimenting with AI, although most still aren\u2019t using it. Research from the U.S. Small Business Administration\u2019s Office of Advocacy found that AI use among small businesses with fewer than 250 employees increased from 6.3% to 8.8% during a six-month period in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then there\u2019s the less exciting part of adding new software. It has to work with what the business already has, and it has to be worth the cost. Employees may need training. Information may have to be moved from an older system. Subscription costs can add up, and somebody has to deal with the glitches that tend to come with changing the way work gets done.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting an answer quickly isn\u2019t much help if the answer is wrong. AI can produce incorrect information that sounds convincing, which becomes a bigger concern when that information is copied directly into an email, advertisement, report, or something else a customer will see.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What goes into the system matters too. Employees may have access to customer information, financial details, internal documents, or other material that isn\u2019t meant to be shared freely. Before putting any of it into an AI tool, the business needs to understand how the service stores and uses that information.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AI-generated text and images can raise intellectual property questions as well. Whatever the use, there should still be a person on the other end checking the finished work before it is published or sent to a customer.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cybersecurity-risks-can-follow-small-business-technology\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cybersecurity risks can follow small-business technology<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every new online account or connected device gives a business one more thing to protect. Passwords can be stolen. A phishing email can look enough like a message from a real vendor or coworker to fool someone who is busy. If an employee account is compromised, the person behind the attack may be able to reach business or customer information too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends several basic security practices for small businesses. They include keeping software updated, backing up important information, using multi-factor authentication, training employees, and limiting access to sensitive information. The FTC also recommends paying attention to the security practices of vendors that can access company or customer data.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And sometimes the weak point isn\u2019t the software. It\u2019s an ordinary mistake. An employee clicks a convincing link or sends information to someone who appears to be a vendor but isn\u2019t. Training won\u2019t eliminate every mistake, but it can help employees recognize when an email, request, or login page doesn\u2019t seem right.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-technology-can-bring-contract-and-data-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technology can bring contract and data questions<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s usually an agreement hiding behind that new piece of software. Payment processors, cloud services, software companies, and other vendors have their own terms covering things such as fees, cancellations, data access, disputes, and what happens when the service doesn\u2019t work as expected.<\/p>\n<p>Customer data deserves the same attention. Where is it stored? Who inside the business can see it? Does an outside company have access? Those answers can change as soon as the business switches payment systems or adds another software platform.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technology coverage in Digital Journal has also examined the growing role of AI in small-business operations as customers get used to faster service and more convenient processes. That can put pressure on owners to keep up. Still, adding a tool quickly and figuring out how it fits the business are two different things.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-small-businesses-can-put-some-safeguards-in-place\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small businesses can put some safeguards in place<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The monthly price advertised for a service doesn\u2019t always tell the whole story. Before signing up, it makes sense to look at the other expenses that may come with it. Hardware, extra users, training, and transaction charges can all change the actual cost.<\/p>\n<p>Not every employee needs access to everything either. Access can be limited based on what someone needs to do their job, while important files can be backed up and staff can be trained to spot phishing attempts. Automated work should still be checked before customers see it. For AI in particular, businesses can also decide ahead of time what employees can and can\u2019t put into those systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Problems are easier to handle when nobody has to invent the response in the middle of one. Employees should know what to do if an account is compromised, a customer disputes a payment, or information goes to the wrong person. Technology can take work off someone\u2019s plate, but it doesn\u2019t remove the need for people to pay attention to what it is doing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How can small businesses use AI?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There isn\u2019t one standard use for AI in a small business. It may help with customer service, marketing, scheduling, bookkeeping, inventory, or other routine work. What makes sense depends on the business and the tasks employees are trying to manage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Are digital payments free for businesses to accept?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not always. Depending on the service, a business may pay transaction fees, subscription charges, hardware costs, or other expenses to accept digital payments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are some cybersecurity risks for small businesses?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phishing, stolen passwords, unauthorized account access, ransomware, and compromised customer information are among the risks small businesses can face as more work moves online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Should employees check work created by AI?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. AI can produce information that is inaccurate or that simply doesn\u2019t fit what the business needs. Having someone review the work before it reaches a customer or becomes part of business materials can catch those problems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What should a business check before choosing new technology?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Price matters, but it isn\u2019t the only consideration. Security, data handling, contract terms, employee access, training, and compatibility with existing systems can all affect whether a new tool is a good fit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; 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height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> From tap to pay to AI: How technology is affecting small businesses<br \/>\n<br \/>#tap #pay #technology #affecting #small #businesses<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opinions expressed by\u00a0Digital Journal\u00a0contributors are their own. Small businesses have more technology available to them&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[12395,4861,1103,1479,9141,180],"class_list":["post-23007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-affecting","tag-businesses","tag-pay","tag-small","tag-tap","tag-technology"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26.png",1600,900,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-768x432.png",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-1024x576.png",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-1536x864.png",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26.png",1600,900,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-1115x715.png",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-800x500.png",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-1024x576.png",1024,576,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-540x340.png",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TechTO-11-26-400x250.png",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=7\" rel=\"category\">Stories<\/a>","tag_info":"Stories","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}