BDC Small Business Week 2018 will focus on the importance, for Canada’s small and medium enterprises, of adopting new technologies and implementing digital change to boost growth.
Under the theme “Digitize now: Transform your business,” the nationwide event, which runs Oct. 14 to 20, will invite Canadian entrepreneurs to learn about the benefits of new technologies and to take rapid action to measure digital performance for commercial success.
“In our increasingly connected, automated and data-driven world, we want to help Canadian businesses act now so they don’t risk falling behind,” says Michael Denham, president and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada. “This year’s BDC Small Business Week will help entrepreneurs harness digital solutions to enhance financial performance and, ultimately, boost growth.”
Survey results from last year’s Small Business Week suggest that, social media aside, digital technology adoption remains quite low among small businesses. For example, less than one-quarter of businesses with fewer than 20 employees currently use e-commerce platforms. Fortunately, this proportion is expected to rise to about 48 per cent by 2020.
“Canada’s SMEs (small and medium enterprises) have to digitize now. This is why we’ve partnered with PayPal Canada to launch BDC SBW and share insights on how e-commerce can help businesses achieve their growth goals,” Denham adds.
“We are delighted to team up with BDC to help Canadian entrepreneurs understand the critical need for a digital transformation so that they can unlock the full potential of digital solutions,” said Paul Parisi, president of PayPal Canada. “At PayPal, we understand that a thriving e-commerce ecosystem leads to greater trade, employment and income opportunities. That’s why we are focused on delivering frictionless digital commerce solutions that help Canadian small businesses start and grow their business and compete on a global stage.”
BDC Small Business Week is a Business Development Bank of Canada trademark whose origins date back to 1979 when BDC business centres in B.C.’s lower Fraser Valley pooled their resources to organize a week of activities for entrepreneurs. This first event and the one that followed in 1980 were so successful BDC officially launched BDC Small Business Week across Canada in 1981.
The initiative was quickly adopted by Canada’s business community. In 2017, close to 300 activities across Canada attracted around 20,000 business people. This BDC flagship event celebrates entrepreneurship at the local, provincial and national levels.
