The Case for CDAP

The digital era is alive and well across Canada, transforming every industry and form of communication as we know it. As technological dependence continues to grow, companies and professionals are quickly learning that they must find ways to not only adapt, but stay a step ahead of the digital trajectory.

For many businesses, this is much easier said than done. Many obstacles stand in the way of digital adoption, whether that be staff training, financial output, or simply lack digital education amongst employees and management. Finding ways to overcome these barriers and make progress has been a problem growing almost as quickly as the digital age itself, with many business owners demanding solutions.

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) recently performed an inclusive study to look at the numbers behind Canadian businesses and see how significant digital maturity is in the Canadian market. The term digital maturity as defined by the BDC refers to the combination of digital intensity and digital culture that is implemented within a business. This can include the level of expertise amongst staff, as well as the experience perceived by the customer.

Following the collection of detailed survey data and information, the BDC has identified an emerging digital divide amongst Canadian businesses. One of the strongest trends supported by the data showed small to medium-size businesses are most impacted by the growing divide. As large corporations and tech businesses begin to acclimatize faster, the SMEs of Canada are getting left behind.

In 2021, 91% of small and medium-sized businesses invested in technology to improve business operations (Seize the Technological Advantage, 2022). The investment for these digital adaptations costs an average of $118,430, reflecting the steep costs that are often a barrier to entry. Amongst these businesses, it was also found that women-owned operations showed an even more significant delay in digital maturity.

As a whole, the survey found Canadian SMEs to score an average of 51/120 on the BDC digital maturity scale (Seize the Technological Advantage, 2022). This low rate of adoption forecasts a difficult future for these businesses, with 47% of these businesses still stuck in the beginner adoption phase.

Now that we’ve identified the gap and digital discrepancies amongst Canadian businesses, how can businesses find solutions?

To improve the digital literacy of professionals, the Canadian government has introduced a new Canadian Digital Adoption program. Known as CDAP, this program is part of the 4 billion dollar budget administered by the Canadian government to improve digital processes across Canadian businesses. The program intends to help businesses establish an online presence, create an eCommerce platform, and help digitize business operations.

The program offers two separate grant opportunities, both designed to improve digital education and eCommerce capabilities. With grants ranging from $2,400 to $15,000, businesses can pursue new opportunities. Using these resources, brands can not only educate and expand their digital capabilities but continue to strategize and remain competitive in today's market.

As the digital era continues to surge forward, Canadian business owners and staff must use new resources to their advantage to keep up. Programs such as CDAP give smaller businesses the window to better align tech and digital abilities, but it is up to them to pursue these opportunities. Whether it's for better education, financial support, or team training, these programs give Canadian businesses the steps to climb alongside other competitors.

Darian Kovacs is the Indigenous founder of B-Corp certified Vancouver-based SEO company Jelly Digital Marketing & PR & digital marketing course Jelly Academy. He brings 15 years of marketing experience and a passion for education, and creativity. He is the host of the podcast Marketing News Canada.