Building a team of top talent is one of the greatest challenges facing business leaders. Deloitte’s 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report suggests that talent acquisition is the third most pressing challenge for companies to solve, and PLANT Magazine’s 2017 Outlook survey revealed that five of the greatest challenges businesses face all stem from recruiting…
Despite a strong business environment, Canadian businesses must navigate considerable challenges to grow and drive profit each year. Attracting customers, increasing revenue, developing a skilled workforce, and driving innovation are just some of the areas where businesses feel the most strained. As identified in the Future of Business Survey, led by the Organization for Economic…
The Bank of Canada’s Business Outlook Survey is a quarterly summary of interviews conducted between the bank and approximately 100 senior managers from businesses across Canada. The report’s purpose is to gather the perspectives of business leaders on topics such as demand, capacity pressures, and other economic indicators. Although it is a small sample size,…
How strategic partnerships provide synergistic benefits and access to government funding. When strategizing ways to grow and boost competitiveness, very few companies consider working with external organizations. But whether for short-term projects or long-term relationships, collaborations can build synergistic benefits for all who’re involved and greatly improve the potential for success. Partnering with other businesses…
Canadian automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 automotive suppliers must adapt to changing market conditions and consumer trends. With the tooling and manufacturing industry shifting so dramatically as new innovative technologies are released, remaining up-to-date on top automotive manufacturing trends is the only way to support long-term success. Being proactive in your approach…
Creating a plan for accessing Canadian government funding is a critical component of proper cash flow planning for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although this is one of the most important phases of the government funding process, the variety and complexity of programs requires businesses to have accurate, up-to-date information and resources in order to…
Innovation is critical to the long-term success of agri-food producers and processors. Whether it’s developing a new disease-resistant strain of crop, modifying product ingredients, or redesigning packaging, consistently innovating products or processes will help to remain competitive in an increasingly complex marketplace. Although large agri-food companies can innovate internally, smaller food businesses often lack the…
Can you create an open data retrieval platform that accesses non-standardized data sets? How can the thousands of parameters affecting watercourses be used to help a sport angler? Is there a way to apply machine learning to the process of interpreting satellite imagery? Enterprises are increasingly using open data sets to create or improve their…
If you’re launching a startup or expanding your small business, the ground rules are much the same: you need to be highly visible online, and you must build a brand that people connect with. Instant recognition of a logo and developing global brands can take millions of dollars to achieve, but you can grab a…
Accessing government grants and loans is not an easy process, but it can be made easier and more beneficial by using funding strategies. These strategies, or ‘approaches’ can be used throughout the government funding process, including the planning, writing, submission, and reporting stages. If done properly, these techniques will help optimize the value received from…