How To Leverage AI Technology To Win Your Next M&A Deal

How to leverage AI technology to win your next M&A deal is a valuable skill for company owners. Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and blockchain technology have transformed the business landscape. Using AI, you’ll alleviate the basic hurdles that make mergers a tedious, time-consuming process.

AI and technology are valuable resources that can streamline the entire M&A process, starting with the search for startups. Acquirers can also deploy AI to gather and analyze huge volumes of data and stay updated on changing market trends and metrics.

Whether shaping innovations across the board or driving commercial activities and transactions, AI is dominating every phase and sphere. The finance vertical has particularly benefited from technology since it requires extensive data, speed, and precision for efficient decision-making.

Results of a survey indicate that 92% of companies in the US and 82% in Canada agree that AI has transformed the due diligence process in M&A transactions. At least 69% of executives worldwide deploy algorithms for analyzing data before and after M&A deals.

Read ahead to understand in detail how AI and technology can facilitate and transform M&A deals.

Why Leveraging Technology Gives You an Edge

Mergers and acquisitions are more often than not time-sensitive, and delays can sometimes lead to missed opportunities. AI-driven tools can speed up the analysis of your data and automate tasks. You’ll minimize human errors, adding to accuracy and ensuring higher regulatory compliance.

Due diligence is a critical aspect of selling and purchasing companies, and both–the buyers and sellers–must compile financial information for scrutiny. Valuation procedures need to be precise, and since they are data-driven, processing files is a long and painstaking task.

Investment bankers, analysts, acquirers, and sellers must organize and prep hundreds or thousands of files for review. You can use AI and advanced algorithms to sort through this data and derive results in minutes instead of weeks.

As a result, dealmakers can use their time on more productive and value-added tasks. Just as the internet leveled the playing field, so has AI and machine learning. Information and intelligence are no longer barriers to making and executing transactions that are beneficial for investors and sellers.

Dealmakers are quickly realizing that AI can assist in every phase of the M&A transaction, starting with identifying potential synergies. Leverage AI for aggressive negotiations, building relationships, and integrating assets, whether human resources, intangible assets, infrastructure, or more.

Even after the merger, you can deploy machine learning to monitor and supervise the integration processes. Based on observations, real-time analytics, and insights, you’ll make the necessary changes to ensure that the surviving company functions productively. Let’s dive in to understand more in detail how to leverage AI technology to win your next M&A deal.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Identify the Company’s Needs

A strategic acquisition starts with the acquirer first identifying the gaps in their organization that are creating barriers to growth. These needs could center around essential improvements and eliminating shortfalls. For instance, acquiring skill sets and top-notch talent or an established customer base.

Expanding into new geographical market segments and acquiring proprietary Intellectual Property or IP and intangible assets could be your objectives. You’ll use AI to identify the company’s strengths and weaknesses and work out how to complement them with the right acquisition or merger.

The concerns should feature in your board and executive meetings so all the stakeholders’ interests are aligned. One way to achieve this consensus is to provide all the relevant information using reliable AI tools. Understanding potential risks and value to be gained from the acquisition is critical.

Scouting the Market for Viable Projects to Acquire

The next step in the acquisition process is building a list of targeted companies for purchase. You’ll use AI and machine learning to analyze large volumes of publicly available data. These data can be compiled from sources like patent filings, press releases, customer feedback, and social media.

Don’t overlook the importance of social media. You’ll not only learn more about the latest offerings from competitors but also get an overview of customer engagement. Use AI tools to harvest buyer intelligence, create compelling content, and predict future market trends.

Searching online databases and news sites for financial reports companies publish is an excellent strategy for isolating viable projects. Also, look for technological, other innovations, and exciting product designs in your business vertical. Adding them to your company’s product range could be valuable to improve the brand’s prestige.

More importantly, you’ll scout competitor data and customer purchasing trends to identify the areas where your company is lacking. When looking for talent and skill sets, scour professional sites like LinkedIn and Indeed to search for job searches and applications.

You’ll use machine learning to identify the available assets that meet your organization’s needs. But, at the same time, you’ll bring in human experts to monitor AI findings and verify them as needed.

Keep in mind that in fundraising, storytelling is everything. In this regard, for a winning pitch deck to help you here, take a look at the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel (see it here) that I recently covered. Thiel was the first angel investor in Facebook with a $500K check that turned into more than $1 billion in cash.

Remember to unlock the pitch deck template that is being used by founders around the world to raise millions below.

Staying Updated with Evolving Market Trends

Entrepreneurs looking to exit their startups or buyers looking for strategic acquisitions. Both should know how to leverage AI technology to win your next M&A deal. Know that mergers and acquisitions typically take months to execute, and AI can speed up the process.

Although the optimum time frame for integration is three to six months, negotiations and execution take years. From the time you start to compile a list to the time the deal materializes, a lot can change. Customer buying habits, innovations, government policies, and other risks alter decisions.

For this reason, it’s imperative that you develop a protocol to monitor the screening process. AI lets you minimize the resources you allocate toward consistent monitoring. Using the right platforms, you’ll set up a list of targeted companies and use predictive analytics to calculate metrics.

The scores will help you determine the ideal companies that will fill the gaps and are a perfect fit. Monitoring new developments and assessing updated valuations helps acquirers make decisions quickly. For instance, a company may announce a disruptive product that raises its value overnight.

Constant monitoring will ensure you make an optimum bid and grab the venture before competitors catch on. On the flip side, a targeted company facing litigation will have its value dropping. You can re-evaluate if it’s still a viable deal or if you want to offer a lower price for it.

Use AI Dashboards to Monitor Risks and Value

Essentially, AI dashboards can help you stay on top of potential risks and hidden values. A typical dashboard will display metrics like:

• Financials: Revenue earned, growth and milestones achieved, and successful funding rounds
• Legal issues and regulatory compliance
• Key Performance Indicators
• Customer buying trends and purchasing power
• Upcoming products and offerings
• Innovations and new IP
• Restructured management and board
• Employee dissatisfaction and turnover rates
• Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) that can impact the bottom line

AI-Driven Effective Negotiation

As outlined above, analyzing a company’s financials is quickly done using AI tools. Knowing how to leverage AI technology to win your next M&A deal is not just about historical performance. You’ll use historical data and advanced algorithms to evaluate the long-term potential of the targeted company.

Deploy AI tools and metrics to predict synergies, future scalability and sustainability, and revenue growth. You’ll also get information about the company’s operational efficiencies and if the assets you need will integrate well.

The best benefit is that you can acquire this data without investing man-hours that can be allocated more productively elsewhere. Not only will the AI reports present an in-depth overview of the targeted company’s actual value. But will also help in aggressive negotiations.

Accurate data ensures realistic expectations all around, so you’ll avoid getting into unprofitable deals. Decision-making is more streamlined because of the detailed understanding of the company’s health, possible risks and dealbreakers, and market positioning.

Closing the Deal with AI Capabilities

Finalizing the deal and navigating the signatures and regulatory compliances can be complex and confusing processes. Knowing how to leverage AI technology to win your next M&A is only the starting point. You can also use algorithms to guide you through the legal and contractual steps.

Let’s try a few examples. For instance, using virtual data rooms allows negotiators to exchange data without the risk of hacking and cybersecurity incidents. Tech companies entering into M&A deals can complete formalities remotely using electronic signature capabilities.

Machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) mimic human processes, so you can leverage them to create contract templates. Rely on AI to efficiently calculate the expected costs and risks, and find errors to correct them.

You’ll automatically dispatch the documents to the relevant legal agencies for approval and get a notification when they pass scrutiny. Most importantly, AI conducts the duel diligence to isolate errors in the clauses that can stall the M&A deal. Small mistakes can sometimes translate into losses worth millions.

Whether it is regulatory compliance, efficiency, time and cost-saving, or streamlining complex tasks, algorithms can assist every step of the way.

Communicating and exchanging intelligence is a crucial part of the M&A process. While you can leverage AI, check out these other techniques for sharing information with investors.

Smooth Integration With AI and Machine Learning

Once the M&A deal is final, its success or failure depends on how well the two companies integrate. And AI algorithms can ensure long-term success. Rely on automations to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both companies in terms of security, tech, infrastructure, and data.

Not only can ML help with efficient amalgamation, but it will also flag duplicated and redundant assets that need elimination. Integrating the management and infrastructure smoothly will enable lean operations moving forward.

Managing data migration, human resources, IP and intangible assets, and any other labor-intensive tasks can be outsourced to machines. The most crucial aspect of a successful merger is identifying the synergies. AI can help you close the gap between potential and adopted synergies.

You’ll lower employee attrition and secure valuable talent from leaving the surviving company. AI can flag at-risk workers so the management can take the necessary steps to retain them.

Data collected from various corporate systems help create robust models that assist executives in the decision-making processes. Algorithms ensure clarity in the company’s vision and mission while identifying areas for better optimization. That’s how you’ll achieve long-term success and scalability.

AI Models for Refining Approaches

Refining the company models is a continuous process and needs consistent monitoring and due diligence. Using AI, you can identify areas that need tweaking and make adjustments accordingly for better results.

Bringing two companies together needs a strategic game plan that features accuracy, knowledge, and precision in predicting outcomes. Assessing the infrastructure, evaluating cybersecurity risks, and dealing with potential pitfalls and risks need complex calculations possible with AI.

Most importantly, you can deploy machine learning to quickly pick up new and emerging risks that are impossible to predict during the initial due diligence.

How to Leverage AI Technology to Win Your Next M&A Deal – Is AI a Practical Option?

Yes and no. AI has evolved significantly in the last few decades, and innovations are refining the tools consistently. Artificial Intelligence is faster, better, and more accurate than ever before and will continue to improve. However, we are not there yet.

When deploying AI during M&A transactions, dealmakers should be aware that ML has limitations. The analytical results you acquire are reliant on the data you feed into the machine. Inaccurate, faulty, inconsistent, and biased data will yield incorrect results.

When M&A deals worth billions are being executed, you cannot rely blindly on AI analysis. It is also critical to note that machine learning and natural language processing deliver results without comprehending the context.

Since the outcomes are purely reliant on calculations, you’ll need to use the human touch and interpretation before making crucial decisions. Even so, knowing how to leverage AI technology to win your next M&A deal is a valuable skill.

In conclusion, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Automation, and Natural Language Processing are tools. While you can use them to process data quickly, you’ll make final decisions using human intuition and expertise. At this time, AI is not a substitute but a complement to M&A transactions.

You may find interesting as well our free library of business templates. There, you will find every single template you will need when building and scaling your business completely for free. See it here.