Can AI Help Small Businesses Go Global Without a Big Finance Team?

Small businesses often face substantial barriers in global trade, including managing currency fluctuations and payment disputes without the resources of dedicated finance teams. Ant International CEO Peng Yang asserts that AI can bridge this gap, noting that only 8% of small firms export directly compared to 30% of large ones. He envisions AI-powered solutions fostering a “re-globalisation” where smaller firms can more effectively compete internationally.

Ant International's strategy integrates AI agents into existing payment services to streamline complex financial and operational tasks. Its WorldFirst platform, reportedly used by over two million SMEs, allows businesses to manage cross-border payments, currency conversions, and supplier payments from a single account. The company also offers its Falcon TST forecasting model to smaller firms, which Ant International states achieved a consistent forecast accuracy of over 93% on a global benchmark for estimating exchange-rate movements.

Beyond currency management, AI tools address operational challenges such as payment disputes. Antom SmartDispute analyzes cases and suggests responses, with Ant International reporting that merchants using the tool won 41.8% of disputes, compared to 24.5% without it. Additionally, Alipay+ employs AI-powered marketing to connect merchants with international visitors, reporting significant increases in payment volume and orders during campaigns in locations like Bangkok and Kota Kinabalu.

Recognizing the critical role of trust in AI-driven financial services, Ant International is developing safeguards like Know Your Agent (KYA) checks, in collaboration with Visa and Mastercard, to verify AI agents. Its Antom AgentSafePay service checks buyer intent and offers merchants guarantees for specified losses, including those tied to misread instructions. The company also works with regulators, including Singapore's IMDA and MAS, on responsible AI and privacy-enhancing technologies.