BDC’s new report on SME digital transformation makes an important distinction for Canadian businesses: adoption is rising, while digital maturity still has significant room to grow.
The report finds that 96% of SMEs invested in digital technologies in 2025, up from 91% in 2021. Generative AI is already being used by roughly three in ten SMEs, and businesses that use AI report stronger satisfaction when adoption is supported by planning, staff training, and better use of internal data.
The productivity implications are significant. BDC estimates that if all Canadian SMEs reached a very high level of digital maturity, SME productivity could increase by nearly 38%, with a potential GDP increase of about 14%.
For business leaders, the stronger opportunity is to connect technology decisions to real operational needs. Where is time being lost? Where are errors being repeated? Where is information fragmented? Where could better systems, better data, or better workflows give staff more capacity to focus on higher-value work?
That framing is especially relevant for rural and small-market businesses. Many local employers do not have large internal IT teams, and they may not have the time or resources for a major system overhaul. Digital transformation can still begin in practical ways: better core software, cleaner workflows, documented processes, more consistent use of data, or carefully governed AI tools that save time and improve decision-making.
The report also reinforces the importance of cybersecurity, skills, and planning. These are often the conditions that determine whether technology adds value or creates new complexity.
For SMEs, digital maturity is becoming a productivity issue, a resilience issue, and a competitiveness issue. The businesses that benefit most will be the ones that use technology with clear purpose, strong internal practices, and a realistic understanding of the problems they are trying to solve.
Source: BDC, The Digital Transformation of SMEs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, June 2026
The Huron Chamber of Commerce is one of Canada’s fastest growing Chambers, connecting community leaders since 1990. Representing businesses across Huron County, the Chamber focuses on growing the local economy, supporting business success, and strengthening our towns and villages. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Chamber advocates for business and community interests, facilitates collaboration, and convenes stakeholders to develop and support a vibrant and thriving county.
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