As companies pursue the acquisition of other organizations for their digital prowess, a second layer to the digital deal conundrum reveals itself. It is not enough just to acquire or merge with digital savvy. Companies must then spread that digital savvy across the broader organization. To make digital acquisitions a success and have them contribute to scaling new business opportunities, digitizing the value chain, or providing digital products and services, companies need to transform their M&A approach. Because a digital deal is different— from size, scope and valuation, to playbook and integration. The true victors in M&A will be those who apply digital technologies to their own processes, giving them a competitive advantage from strategy to playbook, for both digital and traditional deals. Accenture Strategy research indicates that the disruption and differentiation that digital technology can create will place it at the center of acquisition strategy for the foreseeable future. In mid-2017, Accenture Strategy surveyed 1,100 C-Suite executives representing 13 industries in seven countries. We explored strategic areas and opportunities where companies are harnessing technology to increase business value. 3 | M&A: FROM ART TO SCIENCE