Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Only 37% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan use integrated platforms that combine digital payments with business management tools, although 55% of surveyed companies consider such solutions attractive, according to Visa’s Pay and Get Paid 2026 study, conducted with support from Ipak Yuli Bank.
Visa said most Uzbek SMEs already accept and make digital payments, but many continue to handle financial and operational tasks associated with payments separately. Some businesses rely on several systems to manage these processes.
According to the report, the initial phase of digital payment adoption among Uzbekistan’s SMEs has largely been completed. The next step is to integrate payments into day-to-day business management.
Among the main challenges identified by surveyed entrepreneurs were compliance with tax and regulatory requirements, cited by 23% of respondents; time-consuming administrative work, reported by 17%; and financial record-keeping, mentioned by 16%. The report links these difficulties to the disconnect between payment processing and subsequent operational tasks.
The study also examined why some businesses have not adopted integrated platforms. Among companies that do not use them, 15% said their businesses were too small, another 15% were unaware that such solutions existed, and 8% preferred to continue using manual processes.
According to the report’s authors, wider adoption will depend on businesses understanding the benefits of these platforms, their affordability and their ability to scale as companies develop.
Businesses that have already adopted integrated solutions generally report positive experiences. Satisfaction among users stands at 70%, while 55% say the platforms have improved efficiency, including by reducing the time and effort required to manage their businesses.
The report also highlights potential benefits for financial institutions. More comprehensive data on customers’ payments and business operations can help lenders better understand SME cash flows, assess risks and develop more suitable lending solutions over time.
“As digital transactions become part of everyday commerce, the value they deliver to SMEs increasingly depends on what happens after the transaction. For issuers, this creates broader opportunities: integrated platforms help build a more complete, data-driven understanding of SME needs and provide more personalised support, including, where appropriate, financing solutions that help businesses manage working capital and grow,” said Behzod Abdurakhmanov, Visa’s senior director in Uzbekistan.
Natalia Zatvornyuk, head of the Transaction Products and Processes Department at Ipak Yuli Bank, said the gap between entrepreneurs’ interest in comprehensive solutions and their actual use indicates that access to digital services is no longer the only issue.
“What matters is how much these solutions help businesses in their daily operations. Payments, cash flow monitoring and other financial tasks should take less time, giving entrepreneurs more opportunities to focus on developing their companies,” she said.
The Pay and Get Paid 2026 study was conducted through face-to-face interviews in March and April 2026 with business owners and individuals responsible for financial decisions. It covered 11 markets, including Uzbekistan, where 249 SMEs were surveyed.
Ipak Yuli Bank was established in 1990 and, according to the bank, serves more than 4.5 million customers.
