Marketing:1) BDC: The Digital Transformation of SMEs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence; 2)Digital Main Street and Google: A Small Business Guide To Winning Major Events
1) BDC: The Digital Transformation of SMEs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
June 2026
The Digital Transformation of SMEs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
96% of Canadian SMEs use at least one digital technology, up from 91% in 2021, while generative artificial intelligence (AI) is already used by three in ten Canadian businesses.
While business productivity is growing slowly in Canada, greater adoption of digital technologies could enable many businesses to improve their performance and become more efficient. If all Canadian SMEs reached the same level of technology use as the most advanced ones, Canada’s GDP could grow by nearly 14% ($350 billion).
But to achieve this, businesses must further increase their level of digital maturity, that is their ability to use technologies in a structured, integrated and effective way. Just under a quarter (23%) of SMEs have a high or very high maturity score.
Better planning, training and effective data management are essential to ensure businesses can benefit from the productivity gains and increased resilience that come with using technology.
Discover
• the level of adoption of digital technologies and AI;
• the persistent barriers to technology adoption;
• strategies that can help SMEs accelerate their digital transformation;
• real-world case studies of companies that have used digital technologies and AI
Here is a link to the article: https://www.bdc.ca/globalassets/digizuite/62208-digital-transformation-of-smes-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence.pdf
2)Digital Main Street and Google: A Small Business Guide To Winning Major Events
Watch the Recording: A Small Business Guide to Winning Major Events
On May 13th, Digital Main Street and Google Canada hosted a live workshop “A Small Business Guide to Winning Major Events”. This free virtual webinar was designed to empower small businesses to capitalize during major event moments. From the Calgary Stampede, TIFF, and SailGP Halifax to Toronto and Vancouver set to be host cities for the big tournament, Canada is set to welcome the world for major cultural and sporting events. For small businesses, this presents an incredible opportunity to turn global attention into local foot traffic and new revenue. Watch the session now and learn how to optimize your Google Business Profile, share real-time updates to attract new customers, and ensure your business is discoverable when it matters most.
In this recording, businesses will:
• Learn how to optimize your Google Business Profile to capture the attention of both locals and tourists.
• Understand how to leverage real-time updates, special hours, and posts to drive foot traffic on busy event days.
• Discover best practices for making your storefront easily discoverable when visitors search for nearby places to eat, shop, or visit.
• Get actionable strategies for turning a temporary surge in global event visitors into lasting local revenue.