Centre for AI Skills & Business Adoption

Build AI-ready people. Turn AI into business results.

The AIC Centre for AI Skills & Business Adoption helps Canadian SMEs and employers do two things well: get their people AI-ready, and put AI to work where it actually moves the business, without the hype and without the risk.

AI adoption support for Canadian small and medium businesses
Sound familiar?

The problems we hear every week.

"My competitors are talking about AI and I don't know if they're bluffing."

"My staff are already using AI tools, with no policy and no training."

"We tried a tool. Nobody used it. We cancelled it."

"I hear there's government support but I have no time to figure it out."

What we run

Two programmes. One outcome: AI that works for your business.

Adopting AI well takes two things, capable people and a disciplined path to deployment. The Centre runs a programme for each. Most organisations do both; you can start with either.

Programme 01 · People & skills

AIC AI Workforce Readiness Programme

Build an AI-ready workforce. Role-based training that gives owners, managers, and staff the confidence and judgement to use AI safely in real work, paired with clear responsible-use rules.

  • AI literacy and role-based skills for leaders, managers, and employees
  • Responsible-use policy, guardrails, and human-oversight rules
  • Hands-on practice on your own tasks, tools, and documents
  • AIC Certificate of Completion for every participant

Outcome: a confident, AI-capable team with safe, consistent ways of working.

Explore the programme →
Programme 02 · Business adoption

AIC AI Adoption Accelerator

Move from AI interest to deployed impact. We find where AI pays off, redesign the workflow, run a pilot, and measure the result, with funding-pathway support along the way.

  • AI Readiness Review and a shortlist of high-value use cases
  • Workflow redesign and responsible AI implementation
  • Pilots with measurement, ROI tracking, and iteration
  • Guidance on government grants and funding (LIFT, BC Employer Training Grant)

Outcome: prioritised use cases moved into governed, measurable production.

Start with a readiness review →
How they fit together

Two steps, one journey to AI that works.

01

AI Workforce Readiness Programme

Get your people AI-ready, role-based skills, responsible-use policy, and an AIC Certificate of Completion for every participant.

02

AI Adoption Accelerator

Turn those skills into deployed results, an AI Readiness Diagnostic, a shortlist of high-value use cases, workflow implementation, and measured ROI.

The AIC path

From AI curiosity to measurable impact, in five steps.

A simple, low-risk pathway built for organisations that need business results, not a science project. Our programmes help your team move from AI interest to practical adoption with clear priorities, training, implementation support, and measurable outcomes.

The AIC AI adoption pathway for SMEs: Assess, Train, Implement, Measure, and Optimize, moving from your team today to measurable impact.
Built for your sector

Six sector tracks, real workflows.

Education & Training

Student & staff services

Inquiry response, admissions support, and AI literacy, proven in production with our education partners.

Healthcare Administration

Less paperwork, safely

Intake, reminders, and routing that reduce administrative burden with human oversight.

Professional Services

AI-augmented client work

Drafting, research, and follow-up workflows that protect quality and confidentiality.

Retail & Customer Service

Coverage that scales

Faster responses and 24/7 coverage without growing headcount.

Property Management

Routine work, automated

Tenant inquiries, maintenance routing, and showing bookings handled consistently.

Manufacturing & Operations

Operational efficiency

Documentation, scheduling, and reporting workflows streamlined responsibly.

Quick answers

Common questions.

How can a small business in Canada start using AI?

Start with an assessment, not a tool. AIC's AI Readiness Review identifies your highest-value opportunities, the training your team needs, and possible funding pathways under Canada's AI for All strategy, before you spend on technology.

Is AI adoption support available outside Vancouver?

Yes. AIC delivers training and adoption support in person across BC's Lower Mainland and virtually for organisations anywhere in Canada.

Will AI replace my staff?

Our approach augments people, not replaces them. We automate repetitive, high-volume work so your team can focus on judgment, relationships, and growth, with human oversight built in.

Not sure where to start?

Book a Free Enterprise AI Adoption Consultation See funding & grants