The most difficult part of mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) begins after the documents have been signed. The success of M&A depends on how quickly and effectively business systems, employees, company cultures and key business processes can be integrated. The synergies that companies plan to achieve from M&A will take longer to be realized or be less than planned, if the key business systems and processes are not integrated successfully on a timely basis.

For CFOs the most common pain points in M&A arise from difficulties in integrating business systems. If business systems are not integrated quickly and effectively, a number of serious problems can develop quickly.

INFORMATION RELIABILITY

Difficulties in integrating business systems can result in unreliable information needed by internal and external users.

It is very difficult to manage a successful business integration without reliable information. It is like flying blind through a storm. Without reliable information and KPIs to steer by, success is more dependent on good luck than business decisions. Unreliable information can also cause internal users to lose faith in the business systems, and resort to developing off-line work arounds to get the information they need. It can take a long time to restore faith in the business systems when this happens.

CFOs have to answer to external users such as creditors, shareholders and public accountants when information from business systems is unreliable. Credit agreements, reports to shareholders, audit opinions and other critical business matters can be negatively impacted by unreliable information. The credibility of the CFO and management can be affected, and it can be a long time before trust is restored.

TIMELINESS OF INFORMATION

The timeliness of information depends on the successful integration of business systems. Information that is so old that it is no longer useful, even if it is reliable, is of little value in trying to manage a business and integrate M&A.

External reporting requirements to creditors, shareholders, public accountants and other important business constituents can also be adversely affected by information that is not timely.

CFOs can avoid the pain points caused by consolidation of multiple business systems with proactive steps such as:

  • Review systems to be integrated and develop plan to integrate as far in advance as possible.
  • Identify and map critical business processes and systems to focus on key areas.
  • Decide on how to handle charts of accounts, part number systems, data files and other critical parts of business systems.
  • Clean up data files to avoid problems if files are integrated.
  • Identify a software partner that has the software and expertise to help with data consolidation from multiple business systems.

Software for data consolidation from multiple business systems is available from Lockstep Collect, a leader in cloud-based and premises-based software solutions, with the experience and expertise to help you successfully integrate M&A.

If you would like to learn more about how you can benefit from software for data consolidation from multiple business systems, please contact Lockstep Collect at www.lockstep.io.