The Cost of Waiting: Why AI Adoption Delays Hurt SMBs

Written By Matt Perry

Delaying AI adoption carries real risks. Competitors who integrate AI sooner will gain efficiency, agility, and market share.

MIT Sloan research shows that companies leading in AI adoption are 3x more likely to significantly improve decision-making compared to late adopters. For SMBs, this gap widens quickly because small margins amplify advantages. If your rival answers customers faster, runs leaner operations, and spots opportunities sooner, you’re playing perpetual catch-up.

👉 The truth: Waiting for AI to “settle” isn’t caution—it’s surrender. Early adopters aren’t just saving time, they’re redefining competitive baselines.

Sources

  • https://sloanreview.mit.edu/projects/expanding-ai-impact/

Matt Perry https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattrperry/
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