(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in small business technology news that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
This Week in Small Business Tech News
Small Business Technology News #1 — Apple’s foldable iPhone is rumored to feature unrivaled battery life.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is reported to have a battery capacity over 5,500 mAh (millamp hour), which would make it the largest battery ever put in an iPhone. That tops the current high-water mark of 5,088 mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Earlier leaks suggested Apple tested batteries in the 5,400–5,800 mAh range, focusing on power efficiency and “slimmed-down” foldable iPhone components. The long-rumored foldable iPhone could have class-leading battery capacity and potentially very strong battery life thanks to both size and efficiency improvements. (Source: MacRumors)
Why this is important for your small business:
I have no reason not to believe this rumor. And for iPhone users it presents a pretty exciting new development. Foldable is convenient. But a long lasting battery is probably most people’s biggest ask.
Small Business Technology News #2 — Google Gemini tests a tool to help you switch from ChatGPT, other AI chatbots.
Google is reportedly testing a new feature for its Gemini AI aimed at making it easier for people to switch from other AI chatbots like ChatGPT by transferring their past conversations into Gemini. The feature — called “Import AI chats” — was spotted as a beta tool inside Gemini’s interface, which would let users export their chat history from another AI platform and upload it into Gemini, preserving context from previous conversations. It’s unclear how far Import AI Chats has been developed but if this works as expected — and other chatbots adopt this function — it will make switching between them much easier. (Source: PCMag)
Why this is important for your small business:
This is something to watch. There’s a cut-throat war going on right now between the major AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot and Grok. Businesses that have leaning into one may find themselves wanting to migrate to another in the future, given the fast pace of change. Gemini will always be one of the leaders, so having the ability to pull data into Gemini from other AI Assistants would reduce a lot of potential headaches.
Small Business Technology News #3 — AI is saving customer support teams time, survey finds.
A recent survey that was done by customer service platform Intercom has shown AI is increasingly helping the work of customer support teams more efficiently. Surveying over 2,400 customer support professionals around the globe, 53 percent said that quicker response and resolution time was one of the top benefits of using AI. Around-the-clock availability was another major benefit as AI reduces time devoted to scheduling. Top AI use cases include automating manual tasks, supporting proactive engagement with customers, and performing routine customer tasks. Of those teams with major AI deployment — 75 percent said freed-up time was one of their primary measurements of ROI. The survey didn’t deeply probe downsides, but earlier research shows some customers still worry about losing access to human support. (Source: CX Dive)
Why this is important for your small business:
So far AI is proving to be a significant productivity tool with customer service and software development being the two biggest areas where business has seen actual results from leveraging this kind of technology. Will some AI based systems ultimately replace customer service people? Yes, especially at the lowest end. But those workers who learn now to lean into their AI tools so they can prove their value and increase their productivity will be the ones who still have jobs in the future.
Small Business Technology News #4 — The best ERP software: Expert tested.
Ritoban Mukherjee of ZDNet reviewed the top ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platforms for 2026 and it’s a good list to reference for any business looking into a new or replacement ERP system. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your small business:
These applications are built for companies larger than the typical small business. But if you’re outgrowing your existing accounting platform you’ll be very interested in what to expect when you step up.
The list includes SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo, and Cin, each serving different business sizes and needs. Mukherjee emphasizes real-time analytics, AI-driven automation, cloud scalability, and integration capabilities as the most important factors when choosing an ERP. According to Mukherjee, the top choice is SAP S/4HANA for large companies with complex operations. This ERP gets high marks for its real-time analytics and in‑memory computing, AI‑powered insights and predictive automation, and strong business integration. The best ERP for growing midmarket businesses is Oracle NetSuite. It combines ERP, CRM and e-commerce in one database, and scales easily with modular add-ons.
Small Business Technology News #5 –PayPal: Nearly 40% of U.S. Merchants now accept crypto.
Nearly 40 percent of U.S. merchants now accept cryptocurrency payments, according to a joint 2026 report from the National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal. Adoption is rising fastest among large enterprises, and most merchants expect crypto to become mainstream within five years. Customer demand is the primary driver with 88 percent of merchants saying they’ve received customer inquiries about cryptocurrency payments. Of merchants who accept crypto, out of total sales, 26 percent were crypto payments — and 72 percent reported an increase in cryptocurrency sales over the last year. Crypto payments are no longer niche — adoption is accelerating across retail, e‑commerce, and enterprise sectors. (Source: Bitget)
Why this is important for your small business:
Is your business accepting crypto? It may be time now to make sure you’ve got that covered. You don’t want to lose a customer because you don’t have the capability of accepting their payment.
Each week I round up five small business technology news stories and explain why they’re important for your business. If you have any interesting stories, please post to my X account @genemarks
