Many acquiring companies are undergoing their own digital transformations, but most have not digitized completely. For instance, 57 percent say they have a platform in place to enable new businesses and systems to rapidly integrate, as well as digital expertise to support the integration. Surprisingly, it is often M&A that pushes companies to digitize more broadly; 85 percent of executives surveyed agree or strongly agree M&A activity has forced their company to develop a data strategy. Because of a merger or acquisition, they were forced to look across functions to ensure data compatibility—and a data strategy was born. The more digital is applied to internal M&A processes before deals multiply, the better able organizations are to reap the benefits for digital deals and traditional acquisitions alike. 13 | M&A: FROM ART TO SCIENCE