Digitize now: BDC Small Business Week™ 2018 zeroes in on digital transformation

BDC and PayPal calling on Canada's entrepreneurs to embrace new technologies.

MONTREAL and TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - BDC Small Business Week^TM 2018 (SBW) will focus on the importance, for Canada's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), of adopting new technologies and implementing digital change to boost growth. Entrepreneurs will receive valuable advice and tools during this year's edition, which runs October 14 to 20.

Under the theme "Digitize now: Transform your business," the nationwide event will invite Canadian entrepreneurs to learn about the benefits of new technologies and to take rapid action to measure digital performance for commercial success.

BDC Small Business Week (CNW Group/Business Development Bank of Canada)

"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 BDC. "This year's BDC Small Business Week will help entrepreneurs harness digital solutions to enhance financial performance and, ultimately, boost growth".

SBW 2017 survey results 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% by 2020. "Canada's SMEs 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", he 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."

Editorial resources are available to business editors at bdc.ca/bdcsbw including:

• An infographic on small business in Canada;
• A list of national and local spokespersons now available for interviews;
• Entrepreneur stories on how they adapted their businesses;
• Valuable articles and tools in the Resources section to better understand what is digitization and digital maturity. Make sure to visit regularly for content updates.

PayPal and BDC will co-host a lunch & learn kick-off event at The Globe & Mail Center in Toronto on October 15. Participants will hear from a power-packed panel of prominent Canadian entrepreneurs and walk away with tips, tricks and ideas to fuel growth with technology. BDC will also reveal five strategies for a successful digital transformation and debut a free online digital maturity tool that businesses can use to assess their digitization level and benchmark themselves against industry peers.

About BDC Small Business Week^TM
BDC Small Business Week^TM is a Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) trademark whose origins date back to 1979 when BDC business centres in British Columbia'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 that BDC officially launched BDC Small Business Week^TM 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.

About BDC
BDC is the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. It promotes Canadian entrepreneurship with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. With its 123 business centres from coast to coast, BDC provides businesses in all industries with financing and advisory services. Its investment arm, BDC Capital, offers equity, venture capital and flexible growth and transition capital solutions. BDC is also the first financial institution in Canada to receive B Corp certification. To find out more, visit bdc.ca.

About PayPal
Fueled by a fundamental belief that having access to financial services creates opportunity, PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) is committed to democratizing financial services and empowering people and businesses to join and thrive in the global economy. Our open digital payments platform gives PayPal's 250 million active account holders the confidence to connect and transact in new and powerful ways, whether they are online, on a mobile device, in an app, or in person. Through a combination of technological innovation and strategic partnerships, PayPal creates better ways to manage and move money, and offers choice and flexibility when sending payments, paying or getting paid. Available in more than 200 markets around the world, the PayPal platform, including Braintree, Venmo and Xoom, enables consumers and merchants to receive money in more than 100 currencies, withdraw funds in 56 currencies and hold balances in their PayPal accounts in 25 currencies. For more information on PayPal Canada visit www.paypal.ca.

SOURCE Business Development Bank of Canada

For further information: Flavie Côté, BDC Media Relations, [e-mail], 1-844-625-8321; Malini Mitra, PayPal Canada, [e-mail], 647-205-9582

Related Links

www.bdc.ca