What’s next for businesses now that CDAP has ended?

The federal government has announced that the Boost Your Business Technology grant is fully subscribed and will no longer accept new applications. This will be disappointing for organizations that recently discovered the value of this digital transformation subsidy but haven’t had a chance to apply for funding.

However, MNP Digital remains committed to supporting Canadian small businesses with their digital transformation goals.

Here, we will review the changes to Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) as of February 19, 2024. We’ll also highlight our new cost-effective digital adoption service offering for those who couldn’t take advantage of the program.

Recent changes to the Canada Digital Adoption Program

The wrap-up of the Boost Your Business Technology grant means the federal government will no longer accept applications for the $15,000 in federal subsidies. The grant program was initially expected to continue into 2025 but ended early because of extremely high interest.

Organizations that applied before February 19, 2024, are still eligible for the Boost Your Business Technology grant, pending the outcome of their application. The government will also continue to reimburse claims with a pre-existing grant agreement completed within the eligibility window.

MNP remains committed to supporting small and mid-sized businesses

MNP Digital remains committed to CDAP and supporting small and mid-sized companies in their digital transformation goals. We will continue to complete all client engagements through the program.

We’re also available to help implement digital transformation plans developed through CDAP, whether or not the plan was developed with MNP Digital.

Digital Adoption Accelerator: Ongoing support for digital transformation

The unprecedented uptake of CDAP funding has highlighted an ongoing need for digital adoption guidance and support across Canada. Nowhere is this more critical than among small to mid-sized businesses. MNP Digital will continue to provide comprehensive and cost-effective digital transformation solutions through our updated Digital Adoption Accelerator.

This two-to five-week engagement helps businesses of all sizes leverage modern technology to standardize, automate, and simply processes. This can help enhance customer experiences and reshape product and service delivery.

This program will mirror much of what was already available through CDAP (less grants and additional funding) and will include the following services:

• Business needs assessment: Review your operations, current technology, and business strategy to identify where you can benefit from digital transformation — and what to prioritize.
• Review solution options: Find platforms and capabilities that will support your budget and business objectives — and create a cost/benefit analysis of your top options.
• Strategy and roadmap: Design a comprehensive digital strategy with steps, timelines, and resources to achieve your near- and long-term transformation objectives.
• Execution and implementation: Project management, onboarding, and infrastructure management to ensure your digital adoption goes smoothly and realizes your desired outcomes.

Businesses can select from the most necessary services to achieve their digital adoption objectives. This will ensure that every transformation initiative is affordable while remaining targeted to their needs and internal capabilities.

Funding is still available for CDAP approved organizations

Importantly, the end of the Boost Your Business Technology grant doesn’t impact the $7,300 wage subsidy to hire a student or recent graduate — or the $100,000 interest-free loan opportunity through BDC.

Organizations previously approved for funding or that previously completed a digital transformation roadmap can still apply for both sources of funding beyond February 19, 2024.

Continuing the momentum

As Soumya Ghosh, Partner at MNP Digital, explains:

“CDAP opened the door for many small and medium-sized businesses to realize the true value of digital transformation. It’s not just about the technology you implement — it’s about your organizational objectives and how all your technologies work together to support and drive toward those goals. After CDAP, we’ve seen more small and mid-sized businesses interested in finding that alignment.”

With the conclusion of CDAP, our Digital Adoption Accelerator is here to help businesses continue their transformation journey. Our personalized services ensure that you can achieve your digital adoption goals in a way that aligns with their strategic objectives.