Digital
AI at work: India’s SMBs gear up for smarter growth
MUMBAI: India’s small and medium sized businesses are putting their faith in artificial intelligence, with new research from Amazon Ads revealing that most believe AI powered advertising could become their biggest growth driver in the coming years.
According to the study, 89 per cent of SMB marketing leaders feel AI will help them shift precious time toward bigger strategic goals. They estimate a weekly saving of around 5.2 hours simply by using AI to create and manage ads, which adds up to nearly 30 extra working days in a year. Many already have plans for that reclaimed time, whether it is widening sales efforts, sharpening team skills or experimenting with new marketplaces they never had the bandwidth to explore.
SMBs also expect AI to trim their advertising costs by about 31 per cent over the next year. They credit this to quicker data analysis, improved campaign predictions, smoother reporting and smarter media planning. For many, AI is opening doors that were once reserved for large enterprises.
The research shows that 71 per cent of SMBs are already using or testing AI advertising tools, and the early results are encouraging. Businesses are streamlining campaigns through automated visuals, improved performance forecasts and instant ad copy creation. Looking ahead, they expect even stronger outcomes, from broader audience reach to faster creative production and less time spent on repetitive tasks.
Yet enthusiasm comes with a pinch of confusion. Sixty per cent of SMB leaders admit feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of AI tools on offer. More than half are excited about using AI in advertising but simply do not know where to begin, while a third say they sometimes feel as if they are pretending to understand it.
Amazon Ads India director Kapil Sharma, said time remains the tightest resource for small businesses. He explained that Amazon’s AI tools, such as the AI image generator and creative studio, are designed to be simple enough for anyone to use, helping businesses reclaim hours they can reinvest in growth.
Despite the rapid rise of automation, human judgment remains firmly in the picture. SMBs want to stay in control when it comes to final creative approval, budget decisions and understanding cultural nuance. Amazon’s AI tools, including the new video generator, are being positioned as helpers rather than replacements, making advertising more accessible without diluting creativity.
Panda’s Box founder Sukriti Mendiratta, said Amazon creative studio has transformed how her brand works. She shared that the tool allows them to create and test multiple product concepts in the time it once took to build a single visual. This has improved campaign engagement, boosted ad efficiency by 20 per cent and helped the brand reach new audiences.
With optimism rising and AI adoption growing, India’s SMBs appear ready to blend technological speed with human insight as they chart their next phase of growth.
Digital
RBI proposes Rs 25,000 compensation cap for small digital fraud losses
RBI, customer bank and beneficiary bank will share payouts
NATIONAL: The Reserve Bank of India has proposed a new compensation framework for small-value fraudulent electronic banking transactions, requiring the central bank, the customer’s bank and the beneficiary’s bank to share payouts to affected customers.
Under draft rules released on Friday, compensation will be capped at the lower of 85 per cent of the net loss amount or Rs 25,000 in cases where the gross loss from a fraudulent electronic transaction is up to Rs 50,000.
The proposal comes as regulators step up efforts to strengthen customer protection amid a rise in digital banking frauds.
RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra had indicated during last month’s monetary policy announcement that the central bank planned to introduce a compensation framework for small-value digital frauds, allowing affected customers to claim relief once during their lifetime.
According to the draft guidelines, when the loss is below Rs 29,412, compensation of 85 per cent of the loss will be paid. Of this amount, 65 per cent will be borne by the RBI, while the customer’s bank and the beneficiary bank will contribute 10 per cent each.
For losses of Rs 29,412 or more but up to Rs 50,000, the compensation will be capped at Rs 25,000. In such cases, the RBI will contribute Rs 19,118, while the customer’s bank and the beneficiary bank will each contribute Rs 2,941.
If funds are later recovered after compensation has been paid, the customer’s bank must recalculate the payout based on the revised net loss and adjust the recovered amount accordingly.
Customers will be eligible for compensation only if they report the fraudulent transaction within five calendar days of its occurrence.
Complaints must be lodged both with the bank and through the National Cyber Crime reporting portal or the National Cyber Crime helpline. Banks must also confirm that the loss is bona fide under their internal processes.
Once a complaint is received, banks must compensate the customer within five calendar days, the draft rules state.
In joint accounts, only one account holder may submit a compensation claim.
The central bank has also proposed tightening transaction alerts by mandating instant SMS notifications for all electronic banking transactions above Rs 500. For transactions of up to Rs 500, banks may decide whether to send alerts based on internal policies.
Banks will not be allowed to charge customers for SMS messages sent to meet regulatory requirements or those used for promotional, marketing or customer awareness purposes.
The draft framework also calls for stronger oversight by requiring banks to periodically report complaints related to fraudulent electronic transactions to their boards or board-level committees. These reports must detail the number and value of cases across categories including card-present transactions, card-not-present transactions, internet banking, mobile banking and ATM transactions.
The RBI has invited public comments on the draft guidelines until 6 April, 2026. The rules are expected to take effect on 1 July, 2026 once finalised.
Banking officials say the proposed sharing of compensation between the RBI, the customer’s bank and the beneficiary bank is intended to increase vigilance across the digital payments ecosystem.
