The key facts

  • Digital payments are firmly established among Uzbekistan's MSBs, but only 37% of companies use integrated platforms
  • 55% of companies find a universal solution combining payments and business operations attractive
  • The survey was conducted in March–April 2026 across 11 markets; in Uzbekistan, 249 MSB companies were surveyed

Digital Payments Have Become the Norm, but Integration Lags Behind

Small and medium-sized businesses in Uzbekistan have generally completed the first stage of adopting digital payments, yet there remains room for productivity growth. According to a Visa survey conducted for the Pay and Get Paid 2026 report with the support of Ipak Yuli Bank, the vast majority of surveyed MSB companies actively accept and make digital payments. At the same time, many companies handle payment-related financial and operational tasks separately: only 37% use an integrated solution that combines payments with business management.

Key Challenges for MSBs

Financial administration and fragmented tools complicate business operations. Among the challenges, surveyed companies cite compliance with tax and regulatory requirements (23%), labor-intensive administrative work (17%), and financial record-keeping (16%). According to the report, this reflects a gap between payments and subsequent operational tasks: some companies have to use several systems at once.

Demand for Comprehensive Solutions Outpaces Practice

55% of MSB companies find a universal solution combining payments and key business operations in a single service attractive, yet only 37% use an integrated platform. Among the barriers to adoption, companies that do not use such tools cite: the business being 'too small' (15%), unawareness that the tools exist (15%), and manual processes they are satisfied with (8%).

Experience of Integrated Platform Users

According to the report, the satisfaction level among Uzbek companies using an integrated tool or platform is 70%, and 55% note increased efficiency, including reduced time and effort in managing their business. In addition, fuller data on payments and business management help financial institutions understand the structure of cash flows, assess risks, and over time offer more relevant credit solutions.

Views of Market Representatives

Visa Senior Director in Uzbekistan Bekhzod Abdurakhmanov noted that as digital transactions become part of everyday commerce, the value for MSBs is increasingly determined by what payments give a business after the transaction is completed. According to him, integrated platforms help issuers form a complete picture of MSB needs and offer personalized support, and, where appropriate, financing solutions. Natalia Zatvorniuk, Head of the Transactional Products and Processes Department at Ipak Yuli Bank, stated that the gap between entrepreneurs' interest in comprehensive solutions and their actual use shows that the question is no longer only about the availability of digital services, but about how much they help businesses in their daily work.

About the Research Methodology

The Visa Pay and Get Paid 2026 study is dedicated to how MSBs manage payments and daily operations, as well as the demand for integrated solutions. It was conducted through personal interviews with business owners and financial decision-makers from March to April 2026 across 11 markets, including Uzbekistan, where 249 MSB companies were surveyed.