ActiveCampaign's new research report has found AI is enabling SMBs to save an average of 13 hours each week, constituting nearly one-third of the typical work week.

The report, titled '13 Hours Back Each Week', sheds light on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The report indicates that 82% of SMB marketers are currently leveraging AI for marketing purposes, with half of them utilising it on a daily basis. The adoption of AI is reportedly saving these businesses an average of 52 hours and US$4,739 each month. Furthermore, 'Power Users' of AI, defined as those who engage with the technology at least once per day, are experiencing up to 57% more time savings and a 36% reduction in operational costs compared to their less frequent counterparts.

The research, conducted by Talker Research, surveyed 1,000 American marketers, agency marketers, and small business owners between May 21 and June 12, 2025. The findings reveal that 47% of SMBs are using AI at least once daily, with 81% deploying it for marketing, 78% for design and creative tasks, and 76% for analytics.

A significant 75% of small businesses believe that AI enhances their competitiveness against larger organisations. Additionally, 77% of marketers report increased confidence when their work is supported by AI, and 97% acknowledge that AI has reshaped their perception of their work.

ActiveCampaign, an autonomous marketing platform, offers goal-based automation and over 950 app integrations to facilitate cross-channel campaigns. The platform aids teams in automating campaigns through AI agents.

Jason VandeBoom, Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign, commented on the findings: "Small businesses may work with tighter margins, but their size and agility provide a perfect opportunity for the strategic implementation of AI. SMBs drive nearly half of US GDP, and we're witnessing them harness AI's power to transform their marketing operations. They're not just adopting these technologies, they're pioneering creative applications that deliver measurable gains in efficiency and cost savings, enabling them to compete with enterprise-level competitors on a more level playing field."

Amy Kilpatrick, Chief Marketing Officer of ActiveCampaign, added: "With foundational adoption well underway, marketers are entering the next phase of AI maturity, applying more advanced capabilities to forecast market trends, uncover new revenue opportunities, and automate complex workflows. The real opportunity arrives when marketers move from isolated AI use to embracing it as a long-term strategic partner. That’s where differentiation deepens and sustained market leadership begins to take shape."

The report also highlights a minimal 3% difference between SMBs and larger companies in recognising AI's value for critical marketing tasks. This suggests a narrowing gap in AI adoption and utilisation across different business sizes.