Prabhu RamIndia’s MSMEs are entering a more mature phase of digital growth. A new study by CyberMedia Research (CMR) finds that nearly eight in ten MSMEs (78%) now identify operational efficiency as their top business priority for the year ahead, ahead of revenue growth (71%) and customer acquisition (64%).
The findings suggest a clear shift in business priorities, from expansion-led growth to a sharper focus on productivity, resource optimization, and operational resilience. Structured digital advisory support is emerging as a key enabler in this transition, with 76% of digitally aware MSMEs actively seeking digital guidance. Among MSMEs that completed the Vi Business #ReadyForNext assessment, 83% reported measurable benefits from the recommended solutions, underlining the value of assessment-led approaches in translating digital intent into tangible business outcomes.
At the same time, the path from digital ambition to execution remains uneven. Budget constraints, skills gaps, cybersecurity concerns, and uncertainty around technology choices continue to slow adoption for many MSMEs. Yet the broader direction is clear: Indian MSMEs are increasingly looking beyond digital adoption as an end in itself, and instead toward practical, needs-based technology interventions that can improve competitiveness, resilience, and long-term business performance.
I discussed these shifts in the MSME digital growth agenda with ET Now.
