ServiceNow to invest CAD $110 million in Canadian AI
ServiceNow plans to invest CAD $110 million in Canada over several years as it expands its work with public sector organisations on artificial intelligence and digital services.
The US-listed software company said the funding would support new Canadian-hosted infrastructure and a Canada Centre of Excellence. The plan includes about 100 new high-skilled roles based in the country.
ServiceNow said the investment is one of its largest commitments in Canada so far. The move targets federal departments, provincial governments, Crown corporations, major cities and Canadian businesses.
AI-focused infrastructure
The company will build what it describes as AI-ready digital infrastructure in Canada. The infrastructure will sit in local facilities. It will include controls that address data residency, security, privacy and operations.
ServiceNow said its AI Platform will run in this Canadian-hosted environment. Public sector customers will access the platform within Canada's borders.
The company said this environment will support automation of routine work in government. It said it will also support changes in how services are delivered and how agencies manage internal operations.
Centre of Excellence
The Canada Centre of Excellence will form the other main part of the investment. The centre will expand ServiceNow's in-country expertise in AI, cloud and digital transformation.
ServiceNow expects to create about 100 new roles in Canada through the centre. The jobs will focus on working with local customers on ServiceNow deployments and AI-related projects.
Staff at the centre will work with government bodies and businesses that use the ServiceNow platform. They will advise on implementation and on ways organisations can use AI tools in their workflows.
"This is a major investment in Canada's digital future," said Chris Ellison, Group Vice President and General Manager, ServiceNow Canada. "We're deepening our commitment to the Canadian economy - creating high-skilled jobs, expanding our local footprint, and helping the Canadian public sector to modernize how it serves citizens. Our customers are asking for greater efficiency and the ability to scale with AI, and this investment ensures we can continue to deliver exactly that, securely and quickly."
Public sector focus
ServiceNow already works with a broad range of public bodies in Canada. Its customers include federal departments and agencies, provincial governments, Crown corporations and large municipalities.
The company said this existing work laid the foundation for the new investment. It said it plans to build on current projects and extend support as those organisations expand their use of AI.
ServiceNow will work alongside Canadian-based partners on the programs. It said those partnerships will target the priorities of governments that are updating legacy systems and citizen-facing services.
The AI Platform from ServiceNow manages workflows across different systems. It links data and processes from multiple tools and applications inside an organisation.
The company said the operation of this platform inside Canadian data centres will address requirements from government clients. Those requirements include stricter rules around where data is stored and who can access it.
Digital sovereignty theme
Canadian policy-makers and technology suppliers have placed more emphasis on digital sovereignty in recent years. They have focused on issues such as local data processing, national AI expertise and security standards.
"Advancing secure AI adoption and digital sovereignty is essential to building a resilient Canadian economy," said Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. "Collaborations like this show how together public sector and industry can drive trusted innovation that benefits Canadians."
ServiceNow said the new funding marks the next stage in a long-term strategy for the Canadian market. It said it will keep investing in people, technology and local partnerships as public sector needs change and as AI tools spread through government operations.
