Canadian businesses are slow in adopting tech tools, says Google boss

VANCOUVER – An American transplant leading Google Canada says Canadian businesses are moving “bad slow” in adopting digital technology.

Managing director Sam Sebastian says only half of small and medium businesses in Canada have their own website, while fewer than one in three use cloud computing.

Sebastian, who spent eight years with Google in Chicago, says there’s resistance to change in the business here in Canada.

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But Sebastian urged Canadians to embrace the virtual office infrastructure that has diminished substantially in cost over the past two decades.

He told business leaders in a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade that digital leaders outperform their competitors in every industry.

Sebastian says Canada is well-positioned to become a global digital leader, noting the country has one of the fastest teams on the ice – but the players still need to master the skills.