Reinventing M&A with Generative AI
Key Findings:
- Digital Core Foundation: The digital core remains crucial for M&A success, serving as the foundation for total enterprise reinvention and competitive advantage.
- Current Challenges: Despite the importance of technology, 68% of executives report that more than half of their transactions fail to meet synergy targets within committed timeframes.
- Reinvention Imperative: Executives rank strategy and M&A as the third most critical function to reinvent over the next two years, driven by the need to adapt to accelerating technological change.
- Generative AI Adoption: 82% of organizations view generative AI as a key lever for reinvention, with 64% expecting it to revolutionize M&A deal processes more than other recent technological advancements.
Current State:
- Disruption and Pace: The rate of change affecting businesses has risen by 183% since 2019, with technology being the primary driver of disruption.
- Readiness: Only 27% of executives believe their organizations are ready to scale up generative AI.
Benefits of Generative AI:
- Ease of Use: Nearly 90% of executives use generative AI at least once per week, with 25% citing daily usage.
- Dynamic Capabilities: Generative AI introduces advanced capabilities such as automated document analysis, natural language processing, and decision support.
- Broader Applications: Beyond current uses like creating text, images, and video, generative AI can enhance quantitative analysis for M&A.
Applications in M&A:
- Pre-Deal Stages: Currently, most dealmakers focus on using generative AI for pre-deal activities like company research, due diligence, and valuation.
- Post-Deal Stages: Opportunities exist for automating standardized tasks and leveraging data augmentation for tasks like designing transition service agreements (TSAs) and integrating systems and infrastructures.
Barriers to Adoption:
- Data and Technology Maturity: 59% of executives cite weak or immature data and technology as a primary barrier.
- Business Value Uncertainty: 50% find it unclear how generative AI will provide a return on investment.
- Talent Scarcity: 48% identify a lack of adequate skill sets.
- Strategy Execution: 49% struggle with clarity on where to focus and the inability to execute a formal strategy.
Future Outlook:
- Balanced Approach: To effectively integrate generative AI, executives must develop a formal strategy that addresses talent, technology maturity, and business value validation.
- Holistic Reimagining: By focusing on both pre-deal and post-deal stages, dealmakers can unlock greater value and transform their M&A functions comprehensively.
Overall, the integration of generative AI offers significant potential to enhance M&A processes, provided that organizations address the key challenges and develop a strategic approach.