Meaning ● Cultural Inclusion, within SMB settings undergoing automation, signifies the active and ongoing process of valuing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences in all operational facets, thereby impacting growth strategies. ● Specifically, it ensures that technological implementations and automated processes do not inadvertently create or perpetuate biases. ● A culturally inclusive SMB acknowledges the potential for skewed data sets and algorithms in automated systems, proactively mitigating these risks. ● This inclusion extends to fostering a work environment where employees from varied cultural backgrounds feel psychologically safe and empowered to contribute ideas relevant to improving automation implementations, enhancing product development, and expanding market reach to new customer segments. ● Ultimately, cultural inclusion bolsters innovation and boosts overall SMB competitiveness by driving a broader understanding of customer needs.