Alterna - Small Business Month 2025: How AI is leveling the playing field

Small Business Month 2025: How AI is leveling the playing field

By Alterna Team

October 01, 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just for tech giants anymore. Today, Canadian small businesses can access affordable AI tools that simplify tasks like bookkeeping, marketing, customer service, and decision-making. This blog explores how AI is shaping the business landscape and points to resources and programs that can help entrepreneurs learn more and decide what is right for them.

October is Small Business Month, a time to celebrate the drive, creativity, and resilience of entrepreneurs across Canada. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, representing nearly 98 percent of all Canadian businesses and employing about two-thirds of the private-sector workforce.¹Their success does not just matter locally; it fuels Canada’s economic strength as a whole.

This year, the conversation is dominated by one theme: artificial intelligence (AI) and the way it is reshaping how we work and grow.

AI and the Economic Revolution

The phrase “the economic revolution is here" ²has never felt truer, and AI is at the centre of that conversation. Across industries, AI is changing how businesses operate, connect with customers, and plan for the future.

For small businesses, this shift is not about replacing people. It is about giving owners and teams tools that remove friction, speed up everyday processes, and expand capacity. Tasks that once required big budgets or large teams, such as advanced analytics or personalized marketing, are now within reach.

According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), 97% of small and medium-sized businesses that already use AI report clear benefits such as lower operating costs, better customer service, improved sales, and more efficient operations. ³ This suggests that even early exploration of AI can help strengthen resilience in a competitive market.

Today’s tools are increasingly user-friendly and cost-effective, which means this digital shift is no longer limited to large corporations. In fact, according to BDC, 27% of Canadian entrepreneurs are already using AI in some form, often without even realizing it, through everyday software they employ for accounting, customer service or marketing.⁴What AI Means for Small Business

For many entrepreneurs, AI can feel abstract. At its core, it is simply about working smarter. Instead of adding more hours or more staff, small businesses can use AI to manage repetitive administrative work, uncover patterns in data, and support better decision-making.

Importantly, AI does not replace the human touch that small businesses are known for. Rather, it frees up time so owners and staff can focus on what they do best – building relationships, strengthening their community presence, and delivering the personal service that keeps customers coming back.

Practical Examples of AI in Action

AI is already built into many of the tools small businesses use. Here are four areas where it is making a real difference.

Marketing and Content

Creating marketing content is a constant challenge. AI-powered writing assistants can draft blogs, ad copy, or customer emails in minutes, giving business owners a head start. Smart editing tools can polish tone and clarity automatically. For visibility, AI-driven SEO platforms analyze search patterns and suggest terms so your website reaches the right audience. Together, these capabilities expand what small teams can accomplish in-house.
Operations
Behind the scenes, AI is simplifying daily management. Modern bookkeeping software uses AI to automatically categorize expenses and extract data from receipts. Workflow automation tools connect your everyday apps so data flows seamlessly between them. Smart scheduling systems predict availability and eliminate the back-and-forth of booking appointments.
Customer Experience
Customers expect fast, helpful responses – even outside of business hours. AI can help small teams meet those expectations through intelligent chatbots that provide instant responses to common inquiries. More advanced systems can personalize conversations and route qualified prospects directly to your sales team. On social media, automated response tools keep customers engaged without adding pressure to employees
Decision Making
AI also helps entrepreneurs make sense of their data. Business intelligence platforms turn sales and customer information into clear, actionable dashboards. Analytics tools provide insights across operations. For retailers, AI can forecast demand and even generate product descriptions, helping businesses anticipate customer needs and adapt quickly.

How Alterna Supports Entrepreneurs

Exploring new technology can feel daunting when you are focused on running your business each day. This is where having the right partner makes a difference.

At Alterna, our focus has always been on helping small businesses thrive. We do this not only with banking services, but also with financial advice and support that make it easier to take the next step.

Here are some of the ways we stand beside entrepreneurs in our communities:

Advice and Solutions – Guidance from business advisors who understand the challenges small businesses face.
Business Bundle – Everyday banking services packaged to save time and money.

Business Accelerator Loan Program – Offered in partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada, to support growth and innovation.
Community Microfinance Program – Designed to give startups and early-stage businesses access to the capital they need, along with access to supports to help them succeed.

At the end of the day, AI is only one part of a bigger story. Canadian small businesses are building stronger communities, creating jobs, and shaping the future, and Alterna is here with financial advice and support to back them every step of the way.

Conclusion

This Small Business Month, take time to celebrate how far you’ve come and imagine what is possible with the tools now available. AI may be part of today’s conversation, but it is your creativity, hard work, and commitment to community that truly drives success. AI does not replace the human touch – it simply gives you more bandwidth and sharper insight for what matters most.

Alterna is proud to stand with Canadian entrepreneurs. Whether you need financial advice or financing to help you take the next step, we’re here to support your journey.

We would love to talk about how Alterna can help your business thrive. Contact us today.

1. Fraser Institute. Small Business in Canada: A Reality Check. July 30, 2025.

2. BDC Small Business Week - October 19 to 25, 2025 | BDC.ca

3. New BDC study reveals 27% of Canadian entrepreneurs don’t know they’re using artificial intelligence (AI) | BDC.ca

4. New BDC study reveals 27% of Canadian entrepreneurs don’t know they’re using artificial intelligence (AI) | BDC.ca