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Canadian Digital Adoption Program

Get up to $15,000 in government-funding to take your business strategy to the next level.
Small and medium-sized businesses looking to undergo digital transformation can benefit from the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), which has allocated a total of $4 billion in funding. By applying for the Boost Your Business Technology grant, eligible businesses can secure up to $15,000 to engage a government-certified Verta Marketing advisor and defray the expenses associated with devising their digital transformation plan.

Let Your Transformation Journey Begin

Verta Marketing has experienced marketers and advisors in-house– no need to outsource our expertise! When you engage with our services, we will help you implement it without the headaches of outsourcing the requirements of improving your business.

turning your plan into action

Creating a strategic plan and roadmap is just the start; executing it effectively throughout your transformation journey is equally important.
Our team of digital transformation architects can provide continuous assistance to modernize and enhance your business technology. We offer a complete range of solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, including our strong partnerships with industry-leading vendors, as well as exceptional project management expertise.

With Verta Marketing, you will not only receive services but also a committed transformation partner who is invested in your success.

How It Works?

Applying for the CDAP grant is quick and simple.
01

APPLY ONLINE

The CDAP application process is made simple through their DAP Assessment, which can be completed online. Verta Marketing is available to help determine your eligibility and provide support throughout the application process. By leveraging our expertise, we can assist you in completing your application and improving your chances of approval.
02

SELECT ADVISOR

As your selected advisor, we will conduct a comprehensive analysis of your current technology infrastructure, with a particular focus on identifying potential vulnerabilities that can be addressed or opportunities and gaps that can be leveraged through technology. Based on our findings, we will perform a thorough comparison of platforms and provide you with recommendations to position your business for success.
03

GET FUNDING

Our advisors will create a thorough Digital Adoption Plan that addresses your critical business needs while meeting the requirements of the CDAP grant. Once completed, your organization will submit the plan to CDAP for approval, and upon approval, you will receive funding to cover advisory fees.

Verta Marketing has been chosen as an approved consultant for the Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), which provides federal grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to adopt digital technologies and enhance their competitiveness. SMEs that qualify can receive a $15,000 grant to develop their digital strategy, followed by an interest-free loan of up to $100,000, and other resources to support implementation.

Whether your business aims to enhance online marketing, streamline sales processes, engage with customers, connect employees, or gain better insights into business data, Verta Marketing can assist you in achieving your objectives more quickly.
The registration process begins with a digital needs assessment (DNA), which evaluates an SME’s digital strengths and weaknesses across several categories, including strategy, business model, products and services, customer experience, operations, technology, organisation, and cybersecurity. The DNA enables SMEs to gauge their current level of digital maturity. Upon completion, SMEs may proceed to the next stage of the application.
Contact Verta Marketing to discover how they can help your SME apply for the CDAP program and develop your digital transformation roadmap.

Uses For Grant

Website

Update your outdated website, build your e-commerce platform, improve your customer experience

SOCIAL MEDIA

Turn your social media efforts into an engaging experience to generate new leads

PPC & SEO

Maximise your customer’s ability to find your business online by strengthening your SEO and Pay-Per-Click program.

Email

Engage and update your clients on your service & offers with automated email campaigns

CRM

Install a Customer Relationship Management system to manage your sales funnels & better serve your clients.

ONLINE ADVERTISING

Build a plan to level-up your online advertising program to drive more leads & increase sales for your business

PRODUCTIVITY

Update your business intelligence tools to improve the analyzation of your systems & operations

DIGITAL MARKETING PLAN

Leverage the CDAP program by having your advisor build you a full picture digital marketing plan

Qualification & Eligibility

The CDAP program aims to assist numerous small and medium-sized Canadian businesses in improving their digital technology presence. The Government of Canada outlines four mandatory criteria for eligibility.
be a sole proprietorship, or federally or provincially incorporated.

Ownership

be for-profit or a privately-owned business.

Business Type

employ between 1-499 staff members on payroll

Staff

have generations a minimum of $500,000  and maximum of $100 million in annual sales in 1 of the past 3 tax years.

Revenue

Complete the CDAP assessment tool in order to determine your business’ digital maturity & whether you qualify for the Boost Your Business Technology Grant.

How We Help You Secure Your Business Transformation Grant

Our expertise will significantly improve your chances of obtaining the grant, supporting your initiatives to improve customer engagement, connect a geographically dispersed workforce, or gain deeper insights into the drivers of your business. We are confident that we can assist you in achieving your goals more quickly.

Grant Eligibility Assessment

By working with a certified advisor to evaluate the funding requirements and identify the most appropriate program stream for your business, you can significantly increase your chances of securing the grant.

Grant Application Support

Collaborating with a Verta Marketing digital advisor to finalise your application can help you maximise your funding and significantly increase the probability of approval.

Business Needs Assessment

We assess your business operations, existing technology, and strategic direction to determine the areas where digital transformation can bring the most significant benefits, as well as which initiatives to prioritise.

Review Solution Options

Identify platforms and capabilities that align with your budget and business goals and generate a cost/benefit analysis of the most suitable options.

Frequently asked questions

Do you feel prepared to benefit from the Canada Digital Adoption program but are unsure how to begin? Here, we provide clarity into the most frequent areas of uncertainty, the benefits you can receive from the Boost Your Business Technology Grant, and how Verta Marketing can guide you through each phase of the process.

The Government of Canada will reimburse you for up to 90 percent of eligible expenses, up to $15,000. Once your Verta Marketing CDAP advisor has completed the work on your digital adoption plan, you will submit the relevant invoices to receive your grant payment.

To receive reimbursement from the federal government, it is important to submit your digital adoption plan and invoices within nine (9) months of being approved for funding. However, with the help of MNP, you can expedite the process of developing your technology roadmap. Usually, this can be done within a few weeks of signing your engagement contract.

Verta Marketing will provide you with a thorough evaluation of how your business can enhance its operations by utilising contemporary software and platforms, known as your digital adoption plan. The following are the particular outputs you will receive:

  • Your current state analysis
  • Post transformation capability report
  • Summary of proposed digital solutions, including a cost-benefit analysis of your top three choices, and your high-level requirements
  • Near- and long-term digital strategy
  • Implementation roadmap, including timelines, costs, and required capabilities

Verta Marketing has formed a specialised team of transformation advisors who possess ample experience in aiding small and medium-sized businesses in attaining their transformation goals. Your main point of contact will be a senior digital strategist who will collaborate with you to create a personalised and comprehensive transformation plan. They will also seek support from our internal teams as needed to ensure the plan is equipped for implementation.

Absolutely! Although you have the freedom to choose any vendor to implement your plan, once we complete your Digital Adoption plan, we will have a thorough understanding of your business requirements. By engaging our creative team for the execution phase, you can expect a smooth transition from planning to implementation, as we have already gained an intimate awareness of your transformation needs.

Once your digital adoption plan is completed, it will include a detailed roadmap outlining your priorities, including budgets, timelines, and a cost-benefit analysis of relevant strategies and platforms. At this point, our engagement with you from a Canada Digital Adoption Program perspective will be complete. However, this is just the beginning of your overall digital transformation journey.

We are excited to continue working with you during the implementation phase. As we have gained a deep understanding of your transformation needs, our team can help ensure a seamless transition from planning to execution. As a full-service firm, we have the people, expertise, and relationships in place to help you get the best return on your digital investment.

The Canada Digital Adoption Program – Grow Your Business Online will be open to any businesses that meet the following requirements:

  • A for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and cooperatives);
  • A Canadian registered sole-prorietor or incorporated business;
  • A consumer-facing business;
  • A business that can be accessed by customers or provides in-person services to customers;
  • A business with a minimum of one employee, and a maximum of 499 full time equivalent employees 
  • A business which has done at least $500,000 and not more than $100 million in revenue in one (1) of the past three (3) tax years.

*Recipients must commit to maintain digital adoption strategy for six months post-intervention.

*A business will be required to consent to participate in follow-up surveys, having their information shared with the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada), and having the name of their business published as a recipient of funding.

The following types of small businesses are ineligible:

  • Corporate chains, franchises or registered charities
  • Representatives of multi-level marketing companies
  • Real estate brokerages
  • Non-profit organisations

Yes. You may apply for each company individually, provided each is a separate legal entity and meets the eligibility criteria.

You must apply for the grant directly. However, our team can guide you through the process, review your application, provide feedback to maximise your likelihood of success. and answer any questions you have.

Verta Marketing offers free assistance in submitting your grant application. However, if you opt to choose us as your digital advisor after the approval of your application, we will charge your business a fee to develop your Digital Adoption Plan. The good news is that the CDAP program will reimburse 90% of our fees, up to $15,000, to cover these activities. Therefore, no matter what the final cost is for us to create your plan, once you receive the reimbursement, you will only need to pay 10% of the amount out of your pocket (with a maximum of $1,666).

The Boost Your Business Technology grant is designed to evaluate your digital maturity and identify opportunities to enhance your competitiveness through digital transformation. Therefore, the eligible costs are limited to expenses associated with developing your digital adoption plan, such as advisor fees, commissions, and charges. Additionally, federal and provincial sales taxes associated with the advisor fees are also covered under the grant.

No. The Boost Your Business Technology grant is intended to assess your digital maturity and opportunities to increase your competitiveness through digital transformation. Eligible costs are limited to those involved with creating your digital adoption plan.

As part of the Boost Your Business Technology track, businesses may be eligible for a wage subsidy of $7,300 to hire either a current student or recent graduate as part of a digital transformation or adoption initiative. The same eligibility criteria and process to access funds apply. Typically, this option would be most advantageous during the implementation phase, after a digital adoption strategy has been developed.

To register for the CDAP grant, eligible SMEs must complete an online Digital Needs Assessment (DNA) to evaluate their business and digital strengths and weaknesses across various parameters, including strategy, business model, products and services, customer experience, operations, technology, organization, and cybersecurity. The DNA will provide SMEs with their current perceived overall level of digital maturity, allowing them to proceed with their application.

SMEs that have successfully completed the DNA and are eligible for the grant will receive pre-approval for up to 90% of the cost of their Digital Adoption Plan, with a maximum evaluation of $15,000. They can access the Digital Advisor Marketplace, an online platform of qualified digital advisors to select a suitable advisor to create their plan. SMEs can contact multiple digital advisors and are advised to share their DNA results and business objectives when reaching out.

Before beginning work, the SME and digital advisor must agree on the terms of work, including objectives, timing, and associated costs. Once the SME has selected the right digital advisor for their business, they will sign an agreement to develop a Digital Adoption Plan.

Together, the SME and digital advisor will create a plan that meets the CDAP requirements. Upon completion, the SME will upload their completed plan and invoice to the CDAP portal. Once accepted, the grant will be issued to the SME.

With their Digital Adoption Plan in hand, SMEs can access a zero-interest loan from the BDC and a subsidised youth work placement to implement their plan and adopt new digital tools for their business.

  • Product/branded videos for e-commerce companies
  • Email and social media videos for home construction companies
  • Whiteboard and explainer videos for B2B companies

Leave the difficult strategy planning to our team of experts. We will work with your ideas to make your vision a reality.

When the Canadian Adoption Program was launched in March of 2022, it was scheduled to support Small and Mid Sized Enterprises (SMEs) for 4 years. However, all grants are first come, first served and can be changed or removed at any time. Reach out to get started, and secure your $15,000 digital adoption grant ASAP and access to a 0% loan of up to $100,000.

FILL THIS FORM FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION TO JUMPSTART YOUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY.

Get Started

We have a dedicated team ready to assist you in accessing and maximising CDAP funding. Contact us today to learn more about the program, your eligibility, and the potential for your transformation.