Mastercard Dreamonomics: Indian SME Payment Preferences, Cybersecurity Needs and New Benefits

What the Dreamonomics research reveals about SME payments

Mastercard’s Dreamonomics study, based on a survey of over 6,000 small and medium‑sized enterprises across 18 countries, shows that Asia‑Pacific SMEs typically use an average of four payment methods for business expenses. Electronic bank transfers are the most common, used by 59% of APAC firms, while instant payments, debit cards and credit cards follow at 55%, 52% and 47% respectively [2]. This pattern reflects a preference for established bank‑based rails even as digital options grow.

Indian SMEs show stronger demand for real‑time payments

Within the APAC region, Indian businesses express a notably higher interest in real‑time payments. The research found that 63% of Indian SMEs are interested in real‑time payments, compared with 51% across the broader APAC region [2]. Additionally, 45% seek flexible digital payment solutions and 39% want a combined credit‑debit business card with controls [2]. These figures suggest Indian merchants value immediacy and flexibility in their payment stacks.

Cybersecurity remains a priority but adoption lags

Security concerns are widespread: 70% of APAC SMEs rate protecting their businesses from cyber threats as a high priority, yet only 39% currently employ any cybersecurity tools [2]. Mastercard’s Dreamonomics report notes this gap and positions its My Cyber Risk program as a response to help SMEs identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

New Mastercard benefits aimed at small businesses

Starting 1 October 2026, eligible Small Business Mastercard cardholders in Canada can access a suite of benefits designed to address the needs highlighted in the research. These include Proactive Cyber Protection (My Cyber Risk) for World Elite cardholders, Enhanced ID Theft Protection for all eligible cardholders, Simplified Expense Management powered by Extend, and the Mastercard Collection for Business offering premium travel, dining and business experiences [3]. A Small Business Summit is scheduled for 6 October 2026 in Toronto to discuss these offerings.

Mastercard cautions that benefit availability and details may vary by country, and the Canadian launch dates do not automatically apply to India. Indian SMEs should monitor local announcements for rollout timing and eligibility criteria.

Implications for Indian SMEs

The Dreamonomics insights point to three actionable areas for Indian merchants:

• Adopt payment methods that support real‑time settlement, given the strong local interest.
• Evaluate integrated cybersecurity solutions, as many SMEs recognize the risk but lack deployed tools.
• Watch for Mastercard’s SME‑focused benefits (such as My Cyber Risk) to become available in India, which could help close the cybersecurity adoption gap.

By aligning their payment and security strategies with the preferences revealed in the research, Indian SMEs can improve operational efficiency and resilience in a increasingly digital marketplace.