Technological Tools For Moving the Deal Along.

As merging organizations search for ways to perform more thorough due

diligence and speed up integration, while keeping costs under control, they are increasingly turning to newly devised technology to assist them throughout the m&a process. Decision-support tools, project and program management capabilities, and communication hubs are among the m&a-focused technologies that help organizations move quickly and thoroughly through the numerous phases of the deal, including due diligence and postmerger integration. These tools assist in solving critical problems and help to greatly enhance return on investment and the ultimate success of a deal.

Technological innovation has streamlined the m&a process through such innovations as web-based management sites and virtual data rooms on the pre-closing side and systems for harmonizing personnel and other information on the postmerger integration side.

Web-based m&a management sites provide a common platform through which companies can immediately access and analyze crucial information from disparate sources, allowing deal teams to navigate through complex processes with clear-cut priorities. Applications like the Hewitt TransAction Manager, for example, reflect best practices from the world's most acquisitive organizations, providing access to a full range of proven tools and processes …