We believe economies that include everyone, everywhere, uplift everyone, everywhere.

But not all small and medium businesses (SMBs) have equal access to digital infrastructure or innovations that could help them address and overcome challenges, particularly when compared to larger businesses. This “digital divide” creates social and economic disadvantages for SMBs and their communities.

We are offering researchers the opportunity to download Visa’s U.S. Small Business Digital Performance Data. Visa Small Business Digital Performance Data aggregates Visa transaction data¹ with NTIA broadband data and U.S. Census data for the very first time.

The combined set will be the most comprehensive and granular data set publicly available to explore the issues surrounding small business digitization and help unlock opportunities and develop solutions to close the small business digital divide.

Together, we can generate insights that help more small businesses gain faster, easier, safer and more affordable access to the digital marketplace.

Researchers who would like access to this data set can submit their research proposals for consideration at the link below.

Read on to learn more about this unique opportunity and the challenges SMBs are facing.

• ¹ Visa Small Business Digital Performance Data attributes have been compiled and reviewed by Visa business, legal, and privacy teams to ensure they are consistent with our standards for safe, responsible data use and disclosure.

Visa analysis found that SMBs with digital commerce capabilities achieve higher sales growth and lower attrition rates compared to SMBs that only offer in-store shopping².

• ² U.S Payments Panel Survey

By analyzing Visa’s U.S. Small Business Digital Performance Data in combination with U.S Department of Commerce/NTIA broadband data and U.S. Census demographic data, researchers will be able to explore the complexities and differences across communities that underlie an SMB’s ability or desire to participate in the digital economy.

Analysis of these data sets can help reveal drivers and impacts of SMB digitization.