Most blogs throw out answers. This time, I’m asking questions—because let’s be honest, M&A integration isn’t broken, but it’s definitely not working as well as it should. There are a few recurring friction points I see during tech due diligence that feel ripe for innovation—or at the very least, a rethink.
If you’re in the world of post-deal execution, ops, or transformation, I’d love your take.
Here’s where I think we’ve got cracks showing:
1. Alignment Across Workstreams Is Still… Clunky
Despite the project plans, dashboards, and “alignment meetings,” integration teams still burn time syncing across departments. Mobile-first tools are lagging, and too much is locked in static documents or desktop dashboards.
Why aren’t we using AI agents to run point between workstreams, identify blockers, and push real-time updates? And if video is the default collaboration medium, why hasn’t it evolved beyond faces in boxes and screen shares?
There’s a lot of tech, but not enough actual communication acceleration.
2. We Talk About People… But Don’t Design for Them
Everyone nods to “culture” in M&A decks, but how often do we really dig in before the deal closes?
What if team-wide psych profiles became standard during due diligence—not just for founders or execs, but for functional leads too? You’d spot potential friction zones, hidden influencers, and misaligned operating styles early.
Treating people like real human systems—not just assets to onboard—shouldn’t be radical, but somehow, it still is.
3. We’re Still Reactive When We Could Be Predictive
Why are we still surprised when integration stalls three months in?
We already collect oceans of data in DD. Why not feed that into predictive models that flag integration risks early? For example, “This team is likely to churn if X happens,” or “Your finance and data stack won’t scale past month 6.”
We can predict churn in SaaS users—why not in acquired teams or processes?
Over to You
What needs fixing in M&A integration? What tools, mindsets, or systems would you redesign from scratch?
Drop your thoughts in the comments or message me directly. The best ideas tend to come from the edges—not the echo chamber.
Let’s build better.
