Lightspeed partners with Digital Main Street to help SMBs

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Apr 3, 2021

Cloud-based e-commerce technology company Lightspeed is teaming up with TABIA’s Digital Main Street (DMS) with an aim to provide small and medium-sized businesses in Ontario, Canada with access to the tools they need to thrive.

The partnership will be managed through ShopHere, a DMS programme, first launched last year amid the Covid-19 crisis with the City of Toronto to help build and optimize online stores for Toronto’s independent businesses and artists.

Lightspeed said it is also committed to supporting the other Digital Main Street programs and support offerings, to help as many SMBs grow through the adoption of digital tools and technologies as possible.

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“With DMS, Lightspeed will have a greater opportunity to help SMBs access and benefit from our omnichannel solutions,” said Peter Dougherty, vice-president of partnerships at Lightspeed. “We remain focused on driving innovation and delivering those democratizing tools, so that we can all come back to a stronger, healthier and more diverse post-pandemic economy.”

John Kiru, executive director of the Toronto association of business improvement areas and founder of DMS, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Lightspeed to our group of partners in support of Digital Main Street. Now more than ever small business owners across the country need to continue embracing the concept of Digital Transformation not only as part of their recovery but also to thrive in the ever changing consumer landscape. Bringing Lightspeed on board with their focus on omnichannel will be a welcomed addition and support resource for our business community.”

Last march, Lightspeed, which went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2019 and most recently debuted on the New York Stock Exchange, launched several initiatives to support its local retail customers who have been affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the initiatives, Lightspeed offered its e-commerce platform to all retail customers for free, as well as its services: Lightspeed Delivery and Lightspeed Loyalty. 

The ShopHere program is open to businesses registered in Ontario, and which have fewer than 10 full time employees (or fewer than 25 employees if they are a cafe, restaurant, or bar). Additionally, businesses cannot be part of a corporate chain or franchise.