The Canada Digital Adoption Program CDAP: Eligibility and How to Apply

How and Why Your SMB Should Take Advantage of CDAP Funding

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing digital technology and online marketing tools to help your small business reach more customers is more important than ever. Often though, figuring out how to implement these tools and come up with the money to fund these projects can be a challenge. This is where the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) comes in. For those who are unfamiliar, CDAP is a federal government program designed to help small-medium Canadian business owners enhance their business digitally. 

If you are a small business owner looking to apply for CDAP but unsure how to apply and if you even meet the criteria, keep reading. 

What is the Canada Digital Adoption Program?

CDAP is a Canadian federal government grant program. The program provides funding to certain types of businesses to help them grow by working with a government-approved CDAP advisor who will help them implement a digital adoption plan. 

A digital adoption plan is a roadmap for how your business will use technology to achieve the following goals:

• Develop or grow its online presence
• Boost e-commerce sales
• Bring business operations online
• And more

Some things that can be included in your digital adoption plan include:

• Creating a new eCommerce website
• Implementing digital marketing tools (SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, and more)
• Services from a CDAP advisor to help implement the digital adoption plan
• New IT equipment, software, and technology
• Updating your existing IT equipment, software, and technology
• Training and onboarding staff

The Different CDAP Streams

CDAP has two different streams within the program that you can apply for. They are:

• The Grow Business Online Stream, which provides recipients with micro-grants of up to $2,400. These microgrants are meant to help your business explore eCommerce opportunities and adopt digital technologies.
• The Boost Your Business Technology Stream, which covers 90% of the cost of working with a digital adoption advisor, up to $15,000.

Who is Eligible For CDAP?

CDAP is not super strict when it comes to eligibility requirements, which is great news for small-to-medium-sized businesses across Canada.

If your business meets the following criteria, congratulations! You are eligible to apply for CDAP funding.

Your business must:

• Be a for-profit business
• Your business is incorporated provincially or federally. If you are a sole proprietor, you must be a Canadian resident to qualify.
• Your business employs between 1-499 full time employees
• Your business has a $500,000 to $100 million revenue in 1 of the past 3 years.
• Maintain its digital adoption strategy for at least six months (for Stream 1)
• Take part in follow-up surveys and agree to share data about the results of the CDAP experience, and have your name published as a grant recipient.

If any of the following criteria apply to your business, it will not be eligible for CDAP funding:

• Your business is a corporate chain, franchise, or registered charity
• Your business is a multi-level marketing company, or you are a representative of one
• Your business is a brokerage such as a real estate brokerage, investment advisory firm, insurance brokerage, etc.
• Your business is an online reseller or drop-shipper
• Your business is a wholesaler or distributor 

Reasons to Apply For CDAP Funding

If you are unsure about applying for CDAP, we encourage you to learn more about the numerous advantages that this kind of funding can offer. 

To help you with this, we’ve listed some of the most significant benefits of using CDAP funding to implement a digital adoption plan:

• Creating an eCommerce store helps your business generate more sales
• Utilizing digital marketing tools helps your business reach new customers and drive customers to your products/services
• Working with a CDAP advisor gives you access to expert guidance and coaching
• Focusing on eCommerce sales will help reduce operating costs

Considering the fact that CDAP funding comes with zero strings, you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

Still unsure about applying because you don’t know if you would meet the criteria for CDAP? Not to worry. We’ll go over this below.

How to Apply for the Canada Digital Adoption Program

Applying for CDAP is fairly simple. While your CDAP advisor can help you complete this process, we have also listed the steps below.

1. Make Sure You Meet All Program Requirements

   Research the CDAP eligibility requirements before submitting your application to ensure you won’t be rejected. 

2. Submit Your Application

   When submitting your CDAP application, make sure you follow the correct process for the stream you are applying for.

3. Wait For Your Application to be Reviewed

   Once submitted, your application will be reviewed to determine whether it was completed properly and if you meet the eligibility requirements. If your application does not meet one or both criteria, you will be notified in writing. If it does meet these criteria, it will go through a more in-depth screening process. 

4. Start Working With Your CDAP Advisor

   Once you are approved for CDAP funding, the fun part begins – you can get to work on your digital adoption plan with your CDAP advisor and implement the advisor’s recommendations.

Apply for CDAP Today

Consultus Digital is an official CDAP advisor and has been approved by the federal government to work with CDAP funding recipients and help them make the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Our team of eCommerce and digital marketing experts will work one on one with you to help design a digital adoption plan that includes state-of-the-art technologies and digital marketing strategies to help take your business to the next level.

Contact us today to learn more about the CDAP application process and eligibility criteria.