Ravi Kumar
Every sphere and sector in the world keeps receiving a great touch of technology and digitalization of which M&A is not left out. Today, making transactions and any other forms of business deals have been made faster and much easier with the adoption and use of advanced technology. Fields such as Building, Construction, Moulding and even retailing are all integrating technologies into their operations, how much more the financial and business sector has to do with lots of documents during due diligence and transactions.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) is one such business form that has experienced a great deal of innovation as a result of the top technology trends that are being employed into its running. These technologies have been beneficial to a large extent in reducing human stress as well as ensuring efficiency in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A). Nonetheless, the vast benefits of these top technologies do not in any way rule out the need for human resources during M&A.
Some of the top technology software that has been helpful to M&A include M&A Virtual Data Room (VDR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, HealthTech, Digital Marketing, and others.
#1. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI), otherwise regarded as machine intelligence refers to the intelligence that is employed by machines rather by the available human resources. The AI software has had a great acceptance in carrying out Mergers and Acquisitions. It is a fact that having to sort out thousands and even millions of contracts involved in Mergers and Acquisitions could prove to be tedious and end up taking a large chunk of the time. More so, the numbers of the deal team needed for such processes would be quite many. This is exactly a perfect point when artificial intelligence software should come in.
A top technology trend such as AI is an innovation that should be adopted into Mergers and Acquisitions for both effectiveness and efficiency. With this software, cogent and confidential documents can be easily stored and preserved. More importantly, artificial intelligence software is very useful for identifying, searching out and extracting vital documents speedily in no time. Also, reviewing the numerous M&A contracts generated can be easily done in a few weeks or lesser using the top, trending and innovative technology such as AI.
These technologies make it possible for difficult and complicated tasks to be easily carried out. Having a competent deal team of great minds is essential for M&A, no doubt. Yet, the adoption and implementation of cognitive technologies allow for more accuracy thus reducing the proneness of humans to error or tiring out. Because of the vast number of documents that M&A generates, there is the possibility of the deal team being human overlooking certain vital data content or information relating to the Mergers or Acquisitions. This is not the case with technology such as Artificial Intelligence.
#2. Automotive Tech
The automotive sector is one of those areas where there have been a huge innovation and Mergers and Acquisitions operations because of the top technology trends that are being adopted. Several autonomous vehicles that can drive themselves are being created by big companies such as Uber, Tesla, and Waymo. The massive contest among these big automotive industries has led to them going after the smaller companies in mergers and acquisitions to get possession of both their technologies and their tech teams. Also, other areas of automotive are enjoying the benefits of technology in terms of connected car technology such as AI-operated connected cars.
#3. Digital Marketing
Marketers and other agencies involved in disseminating information about brands have also started to make use of the high technologies for Digital marketing. Making adverts and campaigns have also been enhanced by the advent of these technologies and their incorporation into marketing products and services to customers and potential clients. Such technological skills as Machine learning and Artificial intelligence are being used on mobile devices which have created a platform and an effective channel for any business or brand to reach their customers with vital messages. With these technologies, businesses can reach specific and targeted clients online.
The bigger companies in the world of digital marketing want to retain their spot by being ahead of others in the game. This has prompted them to merge with or acquire the ownership of smaller digital marketing companies that are deemed fit to be up-to-date with the trend of technology in M&A and digital marketing.
#4. SaaS and Enterprise Application Software
SaaS is one of the trending technological business software that has proven recently to help businesses preserve their data content much more effectively. With SaaS and other enterprise application software, documents relating to Mergers and acquisitions are safely stored on the cloud. Salesforce, DealRoom, SAP are some of the companies producing such software that allows for virtual data storage rather than in a physical data room. SAP being a bigger company acquired Qualtrics, a startup business that is specialized in designing survey software. This acquisition was done in a bid to offer better services than their contemporaries.
#5. Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT) is a high-level technology software that has indeed reshaped the field of mergers and acquisitions. It is a system that works with Unique Identifiers (UIDs) which are devices with the capability to send and receive data over a network without human interaction. The application makes use of technological skills in carrying out tasks thereby easing the human effort and intelligence. It helps at all stages and processes of M&A.
Conclusion
With all these technologies and many more, the M&A sector is set to be taken by a surprise. There is a whole lot to watch out for as regards innovative mergers and acquisitions enhanced by AI, IoT and others.
