Google’s Big Impact on Canada’s Small Businesses
Discover the tools and best practices businesses are using to generate growth
If a great idea is at the core of every great business, what does it take to turn something great into something extraordinary? For small businesses in Canada, adopting digital technologies has unlocked extraordinary potential in areas including growth, productivity and more. Google Canada commissioned independent consultancy Public First* to explore and quantify how its products helped workers, businesses, content creators and consumers in 2021. Public First estimates that in 2021, Google Search, Google Play, YouTube, Google Cloud and Google Advertising tools helped provide $37B of economic activity for Canadian businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators and developers—equivalent to 1.5 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Google Canada’s 2021 Economic Impact Report reveals that the benefits of digital tools don’t end there. From the innovative tech startup on the brink of digital transformation to the online retailer laying roots in the market, small businesses are increasingly positioning Google as a trusted asset to the success of their brands.
“Before COVID-19, making the transition to digital was aspirational,” says Sabrina Geremia, vice president and country manager at Google Canada. “When the pandemic upended all of our lives, digital became essential. Now it’s foundational, helping Canadian businesses of all sizes build resilience and unlock value.” Google Canada’s 2021 Economic Impact Report reveals that the benefits of digital tools such as Google Search and Google Ads don’t end with economic activity. “One of the biggest opportunities our digital tools have presented is that businesses are now looking beyond our Canadian borders to find opportunities to grow their presence internationally and reach customers in new markets around the world,” she adds. According to research conducted by Public First, it is estimated that Google Search and Google Ads are supporting $1.7 billion in exports for the Canadian economy.