BAASS Insights Technology Blog

Canadian mid-market companies are entering 2026 facing slower growth, persistent cost pressures, and ongoing economic uncertainty. While forecasts provide valuable insight, they no longer provide certainty. Finance and executive leaders are under pressure to move beyond analysis and turn strategy into measurable operational results.

For CFOs, 2026 isn’t a distant milestone, it’s arapidly approaching horizon that demands proactive strategy. After years ofeconomic disruption triggered by inflation, fluctuating interest rates, andshifting labour costs, finance leaders are no longer focused solely on reactivecost control. They’re transforming their financial systems and decision-makingframeworks to build resilience, drive strategic insights, and future-prooftheir organizations.

In this situation, real-world learning and peercollaboration become critical. That’s why events like BAASS Connect 2026, an in-person business technology and strategy conference, are more than justnetworking opportunities, they are strategic accelerators for CFOs and financeleaders across Canadian industries.

In the competitive landscape of today’s business environment, organizations are continually seeking ways to optimize their operations and improve user engagement. The newly introduced embedded AI-powered tool within Sage CRM is poised to transform user interactions by providing context-aware assistance and guidance for everyday tasks. This innovative solution stands to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and elevate overall user experience, making it an essential asset for businesses of all sizes.

As Canadian organizations look ahead, the Canada economic outlook 2026 is driving a major shift in how leaders plan and make decisions. Slower growth, persistent cost pressure, and continued volatility are no longer temporary challenges. They are defining the operating environment for businesses across Canada and across industries. 

As Canadian businesses enter 2026, the conversation within finance teams has shifted. The focus is no longer on aggressive expansion at any cost. Instead, CFOs, controllers, and finance leaders across the mid-market and upper mid-market are asking harder, more disciplined questions:

How do we protect margins if growth slows?
How do we plan with confidence when uncertainty feels constant?
And how do we make smarter decisions without adding risk?

As organizations close the books on another year, year-end planning becomes more than a financial task. It is a strategic opportunity to assess whether your business technology strategy is truly supporting growth, efficiency, and long-term resilience. With a full year of financial and operational data available, leaders can make clearer, more confident decisions about their technology investments. 

Year-end closing is one of the most important financial processes Canadian businesses handle each year. It’s your opportunity to finalize your books, correct errors, comply with CRA guidelines, and prepare your organisation for a fresh start in the new fiscal period. But without a structured checklist, the year-end rush can quickly lead to mistakes, compliance risks, or delays in reporting.

This blog provides a practical, step-by-step Sage year-end closing checklist that ensures accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. Whether you're a CFO, controller, bookkeeper, or finance manager, this is your roadmap to a clean and well-prepared year-end close.

As we approach 2026, businesses are bracing for another year of economic volatility and uncertainty. Rising inflation, ongoing supply chain disruptions, talent shortages, and fluctuating interest rates continue to create an environment where uncertainty is the norm—not the exception. In this kind of landscape, relying on traditional forecasting methods is no longer enough. Organizations need a more dynamic way to prepare for what’s ahead through scenario planning for businesses. 

This is where scenario-based planning techniques become essential. By exploring multiple “what-if” situations, organizations can identify potential risks and make confident data-driven decisions before experiencing disruptions. Instead of reacting to change, scenario planning empowers leaders to proactively shape their strategy, protect cash flow, and strengthen overall business resilience strategies and business continuity planning. 

At BAASS Business Solutions, we support organizations in building this level of preparedness through advanced financial modeling, predictive analytics for business, and integrated tools like Sage ERP financial planning and cash flow forecasting tools. In this blog, we’ll explore how businesses gain the visibility and strategic insight needed to navigate uncertainty and turn 2026 into a year of agility, stability, and opportunity.