Smart tech investments help businesses adapt, research says

This article is a part of our Risk + Reward series. Capital One Business and Inc. partnered to survey 349 business leaders in November 2025 to explore the factors that affect how they weigh business risks and rewards in navigating modern business landscapes. 

As an entrepreneur, you make decisions every day about where to put your hard-earned money. But when it comes to rapidly evolving technology, whether artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure or other digital tools, it is not always clear how best to invest.

Business owners across the country are asking the same questions about how to properly adopt and deploy new solutions. Most agree that technology is a critical growth driver.

To better understand how leaders think about technology, Capital One Business partnered with Inc. to survey 349 business leaders about their tech priorities, AI adoption strategies and cybersecurity preparedness. The respondents offered insights into where technology is delivering value and where challenges remain.

Here is what they are saying, and how their experiences can help guide your own decisions.

The survey makes one thing clear—business owners believe technology can have a dramatic impact on their companies. In fact, 77% of respondents said their organizations intend to transform their technology infrastructure and solutions, while more than two-thirds plan to increase capital investment over the next 12 months.

At the same time, adoption is not without challenges. Business leaders identified two major concerns: how to effectively use AI and how to protect their organizations from cybersecurity threats.

Interest in AI is particularly strong. The survey found that 65% of companies are making significant investments in AI-driven business transformation, and 42% believe a technology-led transformation is the most important step they can take to achieve their growth objectives.

Still, most businesses are early in their AI journeys. Most respondents described themselves as beginners, advanced beginners or intermediate users. Many are also unsure of how AI is really helping their companies. Only 14% of respondents said they are currently realizing measurable business value from their AI investments. Larger companies are further along, with 18% reporting results, compared with just 9% of smaller businesses.

To use AI more effectively, business leaders may want to take these steps:

• Be specific. Identify a clear bottleneck, such as time-consuming invoicing or delayed customer responses, and evaluate whether AI can realistically address it.

• Ask your team. Employees often have the best insight into inefficiencies or where processes break down.

• Pilot first. Start with limited AI tool testing, then track performance and scale only when results are clear.

While optimism around technology is high, cybersecurity preparedness remains uneven. The survey found that 71% of companies consider themselves prepared for a cyberattack, yet only 12% said they are “very well prepared.”

That gap can be costly. A single attack can disrupt operations, damage customer trust and create long-term financial consequences.

Strengthening your cybersecurity posture does not have to be overwhelming. Here are some practices you can try:

• Assess vulnerabilities regularly. Test your defenses to ensure there are no gaps in protection.

• Train employees. Phishing and smishing attempts remain two of the biggest risks to businesses. Make sure your staff knows when it is safe to click.

• Act before there is a breach. Nearly half of business leaders cite cybersecurity as a top concern, making prevention critical.

If you are unsure how best to deploy new technology, you are not alone. While large companies benefit from bigger budgets and dedicated IT teams, growing businesses often have a different advantage: agility.

Smaller organizations can experiment faster, pivot more quickly when something does not work, and see the impact of new tools sooner. The survey supports this view, with 43% of small-business leaders citing speed and scalability as top benefits of AI, compared with 33% of leaders at larger companies. Many respondents also said AI is helping small and midsize businesses compete more effectively with larger players.

With so many options available, deciding where to invest can feel overwhelming. Focus on where technology will matter most.

• Start with the business outcome, not the tool. Technology delivers the most value when it addresses a specific need, such as improving cash flow, enhancing customer experience or reducing risk.

• Tie technology to returns. Even if ROI is not immediate, define how to track success with metrics such as time saved, errors reduced or revenue opportunities unlocked.

• Balance growth and risk. Speed matters, but security should be built into decisions from the outset, not added later.

• Build buy-in across the organization. Involving employees early increases adoption and helps them establish a habit of using new tools.

Remember, it is not all or nothing. Using flexible and scalable solutions allows you to start small, learn quickly and expand as your needs evolve.

The right technology should support your business strategy. By focusing on outcomes, measuring progress and remaining agile, you will feel more confident about your investments even as technology continues to evolve.

Read more about the factors that affect how business leaders make decisions.