Are you keeping up with industry changes fast enough? Or are you being left behind? It’s no secret that technology is disrupting industries from manufacturing to telecommunications to retail.
“…The risk of being left behind because of technological disruption and change is driving companies to make acquisitions faster,” Steven Davidoff Solomon writes in Dealbook.
For many firms, acquisitions are the only way to obtain a new technology or product and remain a competitive player in the marketplace.
Technology firms are notorious for acquiring startups or smaller firms to gain the latest talent and cutting-edge products. For example, Facebook acquired new technology when it bought potential rivals Instagram and WhatsApp. At the same time it bolstered its position against Google.
Another sector that’s facing great disruption is the financial industry. Most think of traditional brick and mortar banks, suits and ties, credit cards, debit cards, etc. The reality is FinTech (financial technology) is reshaping the industry. PayPal, Venmo and Apple Pay are growing in popularity and traditional banks need to keep up or risk losing consumers. Traditional big banks are acquiring, rather than building, FinTech capabilities. JPMorgan Chase has formed a joint venture with On Deck, an online lending platform for small businesses.
The advantage of acquisitions, especially in a swiftly changing environment, is the ability to gain a new technology or product rapidly and in some cases immediately. A well-executed acquisition brings you a “ready-made” solution where once the deal closes you have access to new technology, new technology that your customers need. On the other hand, building your own solution can take more time, but in today’s fast-paced environment, by the time you develop your own solution, the market may have moved on. In addition, you’ll likely face some teething problems or setbacks as you begin to develop a solution.
If there’s a technology or product that your company needs to stay relevant today or in the next five to ten years, I recommend you consider acquisition as an option. A carefully planned, strategic acquisition can help you stay up-to-date and relevant in your industry.
