Meaning ● Within the SMB landscape, a Customer-First Strategy prioritizes customer needs and satisfaction as the central driver for business decisions, automation implementation, and overall growth. ● This strategic emphasis involves deeply understanding customer expectations and then aligning every facet of the business—from product development to customer service—to exceed them. ● Successful implementation requires SMBs to actively gather customer feedback, analyze purchasing patterns, and adapt their offerings to provide superior value, leading to enhanced customer loyalty and increased profitability. ● Specifically, in the context of automation, a Customer-First approach ensures that technological deployments are designed to improve the customer experience, streamline interactions, and personalize service delivery, all while ensuring employee engagement and avoiding operational pitfalls in SMBs.