#BizTrends2026 | TymeBank's Miguel da Silva: 3 business trends SMEs should watch

South African SMEs have mastered the art of resilience, and now, faced with global headwinds and various local challenges, it’s time to turn that strength into strategy. Local entrepreneurs can still seize new opportunities, drive innovation, and build resilient, future-ready businesses in 2026.

By Miguel Da Silva

14 Jan 2026

Miguel da Silva | image supplied

Here are the key trends every South African SME should watch — and how to make them work for you.

1. AI and automation become your best employees

Businesses are already using AI-powered chatbots, digital assistants, and predictive analytics to improve customer service and cut costs. The next wave is AI agents: systems that can act more independently to handle workflows, manage tasks, trigger actions, follow up with customers, and even do some decision-making.

And the good news is that you don’t need deep pockets to benefit. AI has been able to help smaller businesses punch above their weight, freeing up time to focus on growth and strategy.

In 2026: Think small – use AI to automate routine tasks, understand customer trends, and make faster, smarter business decisions.

2. Global reach is possible

In 2026, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a landmark trade agreement designed to make it easier, cheaper, and faster for African countries to do business with each other, is expected to reshape how African businesses trade, produce and scale beyond borders. With a growing middle class and regional integration, Africa is the next big market where local businesses can lead the charge.

SA products and services, from fintech to fashion, are in growing demand across the continent. And e-commerce and logistics tech make cross-border sales easier than ever.

In 2026: Exploring partnerships across SADC, or even East or West Africa, can create powerful growth engines. Your next customer could be in Windhoek, Nairobi or Accra.

3. SMEs demand smarter, simpler funding

For years, “access to finance” has been one of the biggest pain points for SME growth in South Africa. Now there is a shift as entrepreneurs are no longer waiting for traditional banks to catch up. Instead of complex paperwork and long waits, SMEs want speed, transparency, and trust. And fintech lenders are redefining SME finance by offering quick, data-driven funding that’s tailored to real business needs.

Embedded finance is also taking off, where payment systems, POS terminals, or digital marketplaces directly offer working capital. As more businesses go digital, data-based credit scoring is enabling fairer access to entrepreneurs previously overlooked by traditional institutions.
In 2026: Demand faster, fairer, and more flexible funding solutions.