Canada's LIFT Program: Which AI Workflow to Finance?

Start with a repeated task that costs time or loses profitable work. Measure it, compare a few options and test the smallest useful change. Choosing a project comes before choosing a loan. Passing a project checklist is not approval to borrow.

Last verified: 2026-09-23. Attainment is not affiliated with BDC or the Government of Canada.

What job should this page help you do?

Use this guide to choose an AI project worth testing. It does not decide whether you qualify for a loan or whether borrowing fits your business.

For a clinic, the problem might be delayed replies. For a home-services firm, it might be quotes that never get a follow-up. For a multi-location operator, it might be reports staff build by hand. These are examples to assess, not claims that a tool can already handle your process.

BDC's LIFT program combines financing and advisory support. Its digital and AI path requires a BDC plan. Confirm current requirements directly with BDC. For the separate debt decision, read is the BDC LIFT loan worth it?

How do you shortlist a useful AI project?

Compare the cost, frequency, result and payback of each task. These four checks help you shortlist work, not approve a loan or promise a return.

We call these checks the Workflow Funding Test. The name describes a project screen, not a lending test. A strong answer means there is a case to examine. An unknown answer means you need more evidence before you choose.

1. Cost: What does the task cost now? Separate staff time from cash expenses and lost profit.
2. Frequency: How often does it happen? Include busy periods, quiet periods and unusual cases.
3. Result: What measurable change would count as success? Name who will check it.
4. Payback: Could realistic benefits cover setup and ongoing costs? Include a weaker-result case.

How do different projects compare?

Compare a few specific tasks using the same checks. A small, clear process can be a better first test than a larger project with unproven savings.

What evidence should you collect?

Record how the task works today and what it costs. Use that baseline to judge a test, rather than comparing results with a guessed starting point.

• How many cases arrive and how many need human judgment?
• How long does each step take, including fixes and repeat work?
• Which cases lead to collected revenue, and what does delivery cost?
• Which systems hold the facts, and can you use them with permission?
• Who handles errors and checks the final result?

Use a sample that reflects the real mix of work. Keep personal data out of a general business case. If you lack a reliable starting point, make measurement the first task rather than filling the gaps with industry averages.

How do you test without betting on the full project?

Limit the first test to one task with a named owner and clear stop rules. Compare results with current work before deciding whether to expand.

1. Choose one team, task or type of request.
2. Set a success measure and a check for mistakes.
3. Confirm data access and each software action before relying on it.
4. Keep a staff fallback for failures and unclear cases.
5. Count setup, staff review, support and rework in the result.

Do not call every new booking an added sale. Some people would have booked anyway. Check completed work and profit after delivery costs. Likewise, time freed may improve service without reducing payroll. Keep those benefits separate from cash available for repayments.

What is the next step?

Choose one process to measure, then scope a small test. Review funding only after the project, its costs and the remaining unknowns are clear.

The AI Funding and Workflow Fit Checker can help organize an initial screen. It is not a lender decision or a return forecast. To discuss the work, talk to our team. Attainment does not guarantee financing or results.

About the author

David Cyrus, MBA, is the founder of Attainment, a diagnostic-first growth and operating-systems firm. He holds an MBA in Digital Business Models from Macquarie University and a BSc in Human Biology and Psychology from the University of Toronto, and writes about how businesses turn AI adoption into systems that pay back.

Frequently asked questions

Which AI workflow should I assess first?

Start with a repeated task whose cost you can measure and whose result staff can check. Compare setup effort, data access, ongoing cost and what happens when the system is wrong. Do not choose by promised savings alone.

Does passing the Workflow Funding Test mean I should borrow?

No. The test helps shortlist projects for further review. It does not establish loan eligibility, affordability or likely returns. Assess funding separately with BDC and your finance adviser.

Who is eligible for LIFT AI financing?

BDC lists a required advisory plan and at least $1 million in annual revenue for the digital and AI path. Financial health, industry and project details also affect eligibility. Confirm your case with BDC.

What if we do not know our current costs?

Measure a sample of the work before estimating savings. Record time spent, errors and results. If the work varies, include busy and quiet periods rather than treating one day as typical.

Does Attainment arrange LIFT loans?

No. Attainment is not affiliated with BDC and does not arrange, approve or guarantee financing. We can help scope an AI automation project. The lender decides the loan.