Alberta's Best

Tag: small business

  • How AI Is Transforming Small Alberta Businesses in 2025

    How AI Is Transforming Small Alberta Businesses in 2025

    AI is helping small Alberta businesses save time, capture more leads, and boost sales with 24/7 automation. Discover real adoption trends and practical tools reshaping local business growth.

    AI used to sound like something only tech startups or large energy companies tinkered with. Today, it’s becoming a practical workhorse for small Alberta businesses — helping them capture more leads, answer customers instantly, manage social media, automate admin work, and boost online reputation, often without hiring additional staff.

    The trend is accelerating. StatCan’s latest business survey shows 12.2% of Canadian businesses used AI for production or service delivery in the past year — double the previous year’s rate. Other industry surveys report even higher usage when counting lighter-weight tools like chatbots, automated messaging, and AI assistants.

    And the reason is simple: for small businesses juggling time, staff, and rising costs, AI acts like a 24/7 assistant that never calls in sick.

    Where Alberta Businesses Are Seeing Immediate Impact

    1. 24/7 customer response & lead capture
      Missed calls and slow replies are among the biggest revenue leaks for small companies. Research shows 78% of customers choose the business that responds first (Trustmary), and AI answering tools help ensure small businesses never miss that opportunity.

    AI-powered answering services now:

    Respond instantly to calls, texts, and social messages
    Qualify leads and answer FAQs
    Book appointments automatically
    Route urgent inquiries
    Follow up with people who didn’t convert the first time
    Small Alberta contractors, salons, home services, and wellness businesses are using these tools to convert nighttime and weekend inquiries into paying customers — without extra staff.

    1. AI text messaging & website chat
      Forbes reports a 67% increase in sales for businesses using AI chat automation. Instant webchat → SMS tools help:

    Turn website visitors into real conversations
    Reactivate old leads
    Automate reminders, quotes, and follow-up
    Reduce no-shows with smart appointment confirmations
    This is especially valuable in Alberta’s competitive service sectors, where fast response wins business.

    1. Review management & reputation growth
      With more consumers relying on Google reviews, Alberta businesses are turning to automated review systems that:

    Send follow-up requests at the right time
    Filter negative feedback privately
    Boost 5-star ratings
    Build trust with new customers
    AI helps small service providers build credibility quickly — something that traditionally took years.

    1. Social media done automatically
      Many small business owners find social media overwhelming or time-consuming. AI-powered content systems now:

    Create branded posts
    Schedule content
    Respond to comments
    Engage followers automatically
    Industry data shows this leads to 15–25% higher engagement (Saufter), giving Alberta businesses more visibility without hiring a full social team.

    1. Admin, bookkeeping, and rural expansion
      On the operations side, AI tools are helping Alberta owners:

    Automate invoicing and appointment scheduling
    Predict busy times or inventory trends
    Manage customer databases
    Support rural businesses reaching outside local markets
    This is key as many rural Alberta entrepreneurs rely on digital traffic to stay competitive.

    Why Alberta Businesses Are Embracing AI Now

    Beyond features, the economics make sense. Forbes reports 20–30% cost savings in customer support with AI automation — a big help in a province facing labour shortages and rising wages. And with consumers expecting instant replies, small businesses can compete purely by responding faster than big competitors.

    Final Thought: AI Isn’t Replacing Alberta Entrepreneurs — It’s Empowering Them

    AI is becoming a quiet competitive advantage for Alberta small businesses. Whether it’s a contractor booking jobs at midnight, a café responding to catering inquiries instantly, or a rural tourism operator capturing leads while offline, AI allows owners to focus on people, service, and growth — while automation handles the rest.

    AI works 24/7 so Alberta businesses don’t have to.

  • Building Resilience: Alberta’s Economic Foundations in Late 2025

    Building Resilience: Alberta’s Economic Foundations in Late 2025

    As 2025 draws toward its close, Alberta’s economic story is one of resilience amid uncertainty. While the broader trade landscape remains challenging, Alberta’s economy continues to show a degree of resilience, underpinned by activity in residential construction, steady energy production, and sustained population growth.

    The Current Landscape

    Let’s address the elephant in the room: economic forecasts have been revised. Trade uncertainty and a slowdown in international migration created headwinds, leading ATB Financial to lower its GDP growth forecast from October’s projection of 2.8 per cent growth in 2025 to 2.5 per cent. But context matters—Alberta is still outpacing national growth.

    Year-to-date growth in the Alberta Activity Index remained solid at 2.9%, with gains across all sectors, supported by accelerating manufacturing shipments, wholesale trade, and the rapid pace of housing starts. These aren’t abstract economic indicators—they represent jobs, opportunities, and sustained demand for local businesses.

    Why Alberta Continues to Stand Out

    Natural gas producers are benefiting from the start of LNG Canada and increased demand from AI data centres, while the Trans Mountain Expansion supports energy production. But Alberta’s strength goes beyond traditional energy.

    A broadening of Alberta’s economic base, with recent expansions in sectors such as food processing, petrochemicals, and technology, supports the longer term outlook. This diversification means communities aren’t dependent on a single industry’s fortunes.

    The construction sector tells a compelling story. Housing starts are reaching levels not seen for nearly 20 years, driven by the province’s rapid population increases. Every new home means work for trades, opportunities for suppliers, and customers for home service businesses.

    What This Means for Communities

    Alberta gained 6,187 people through interprovincial migration in the second quarter of 2025, leading the country for twelve straight quarters. These aren’t just statistics—they’re families choosing Alberta, professionals relocating for opportunity, and young people starting their careers in our communities.

    Over the one-year period from April 1, 2024 to April 1, 2025, Alberta’s population gain was 138,136 for a country-leading growth rate of 2.9%, well above the national increase of 1.2%. Alberta accounted for over a quarter of Canada’s total population growth despite having just 12 percent of the nation’s population.

    The Realistic View Forward

    The unemployment rate is expected to remain elevated as employers remain cautious on hiring and more people enter the workforce. This presents both challenge and opportunity. More people means more potential customers, but businesses need to be strategic about growth.

    In 2025, there were 202 businesses nominated for Alberta Business Awards, with 36 finalists and 13 recipients recognized for outstanding achievement in innovation, community impact, and sustainable practices. These success stories share common themes: adaptability, community focus, and resilient business practices.

    Building for Tomorrow

    While the path forward is not without its challenges, solid fundamentals support Alberta’s medium term outlook, namely, abundant natural resources, a skilled and young workforce, and communities committed to supporting local business.

    The businesses that will thrive aren’t necessarily those with the biggest marketing budgets or the flashiest technology. They’re the ones building genuine relationships with their communities, delivering consistent quality, and adapting thoughtfully to changing conditions.

    As we close out 2025 and look toward 2026, Alberta’s economic foundation remains strong. For local businesses willing to stay connected to their communities and navigate change with resilience, the opportunities are real and growing.

    Thank you for being part of the AlbertasBest.ca community. Together, we’re connecting Albertans with the local businesses that make our communities stronger.

  • Navigating 2025: How Alberta Businesses Are Adapting to Change.

    Navigating 2025: How Alberta Businesses Are Adapting to Change.

    The Reality of Running a Business in 2025

    The business landscape in 2025 looks different than anyone predicted just a few years ago. Business technology is evolving faster than ever, with AI-powered tools, community-driven marketing, and sustainability practices becoming essential for Alberta’s entrepreneurs. But behind the trends are real Alberta business owners finding practical ways to serve their communities better.

    Let’s be honest: running a small business has never been easy. While Alberta’s higher growth is driven by home construction and energy production, the broader trade landscape remains challenging, with employers remaining cautious on hiring. Yet Alberta businesses continue to find ways forward.

    The secret? Adaptation without losing identity. A Red Deer restaurant doesn’t need to become a tech company, but using online ordering tools built by Alberta’s own ResponseAI.ca developers helps them serve more customers. A Lethbridge wellness studio doesn’t need to reinvent itself, but smart scheduling software keeps clients happy and reduces no-shows.

    What’s Actually Working

    E-commerce sales are projected to reach $8.1 trillion globally by 2026, and Alberta’s small businesses are well-positioned to tap into this growth through AI-powered tools that create tailored customer experiences. But this doesn’t mean abandoning the personal touch that makes local businesses special.

    Consider the local approach: An Edmonton bookstore hosts author events that bring the community together. A Calgary coffee roaster offers monthly bean subscriptions, creating predictable revenue while building customer loyalty. The average Canadian has 8 recurring subscriptions, and in 2025, the subscription economy is expected to grow significantly.

    Community Connection Matters More Than Ever

    Here’s what the data doesn’t always capture: people moving to Alberta are looking for connection. Participating in local events, sponsoring initiatives, or highlighting Alberta heritage can build trust and loyalty. When a business demonstrates commitment to its community—whether through supporting local causes or simply remembering a customer’s name—it creates something technology can’t replicate.

    Small gestures make a difference. A Grande Prairie business partnering with a local charity. A Canmore shop showcasing products from Alberta makers. An Edmonton service provider sponsoring youth sports. These actions strengthen both business reputation and community fabric.

    Moving Forward in 2026

    Alberta’s GDP is projected to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2025 and 2.3 per cent in 2026, fueled by strong energy sector performance, emerging sectors like technology and petrochemicals, and continued interprovincial migration. This growth creates opportunity, but success requires more than just being in the right place.

    The businesses thriving in 2025 share common traits: they embrace useful technology without losing their human touch, they stay connected to their communities, and they adapt to change while staying true to their values. They understand that every customer interaction matters, every review counts, and every community connection strengthens their foundation.

    As we move deeper into 2025, Alberta’s business landscape will continue evolving. The winners won’t necessarily be the biggest or the most high-tech—they’ll be the ones that best serve their communities while adapting intelligently to change.