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What does the future hold for small businesses? For those ready to seize the opportunity, the possibilities are wide open.

We see the cost of starting and running a small business declining. Smaller, lighter and smarter systems, components and manufacturing methods are being developed. Intelligent machines instead of people, or people in partnership with those machines do more work. What happens to workers, and what happens to the companies that depend on their purchasing power?

The playing field between large and small businesses will be more level and often more collaborative. For more effective competition, they both will rely on each other’s capabilities.

The global marketplace will be more interconnected. Small businesses will find new opportunities in specialized product and service niches. They will be able to meet customized demands of their customers. Technology-enabled networks and marketplaces will better at deploying talent than traditional companies.

What will the future of education be? On-demand learning is set to outperform traditional learning institutes in keeping skills up to date.