Corporate report

SME Digital Adoption Taskforce: summary of interim report

Published 17 March 2025

Introduction

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) set up the industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce in April 2024 to explore how smaller businesses can be supported to adopt basic, productivity-enhancing digital technology. This includes tools such as cloud computing, customer relationship management and resource planning software.

The taskforce has started work towards a clear ambition for growth and prosperity for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through the adoption of digital technology.

In their interim report, they have started to articulate:

  • a vision for accelerating digital adoption among SMEs
  • a plan for change including how it could be delivered, with reflections in international best practice

Recommendations

The taskforce has recommended that the government should consider:

  • creating a single point of accountability within the government to drive digital adoption 
  • creating artificial intelligence (AI) powered support tools available to all SMEs 
  • providing better access to data for monitoring and evaluation 
  • developing comprehensive understanding of how to drive demand using behavioural science and targeted communication  
  • establishing standards for e-invoicing

Next steps

The taskforce will develop these through engagement with stakeholders and small businesses over the next few months.

They will publish their final report in Summer 2025.

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact digital.adoption@businessandtrade.gov.uk.