From AI Adoption to Connected Deal Workflows: The Future of M&A

Connecting AI across the M&A lifecycle

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how dealmakers source opportunities, conduct due diligence, and manage transactions. While adoption is accelerating, the next phase of innovation will focus on connecting technology across the entire deal lifecycle.

At NextGen M&A New York 2026, held on October 22, Patrick Waite, SVP, Strategy & M&A at Datasite, joined industry leaders for a panel on The Role of Technology in Due Diligence and the M&A Process.

Moderated by Rob Cant, Co-Founder & CEO of NextGen M&A, the discussion brought together industry leaders, including:

• Patrick Waite, SVP, Strategy & M&A, Datasite
• Alistair Wye, Director of Innovation & AI, White & Case
• Maroje Guertl, Partner, Altius Reach

The discussion explored how AI is reshaping transaction workflows, the importance of secure information management, and how organizations can move beyond individual productivity gains to achieve more meaningful business outcomes.

Moving from isolated tools to connected workflows

AI is already helping M&A professionals analyze information, automate repetitive tasks, and accelerate decision-making. However, much of today's adoption remains concentrated within individual workflows rather than integrated across the full transaction process.

Waite highlighted that while many firms are actively using AI, the most advanced organizations are beginning to build proprietary systems that connect workflows across the deal lifecycle.

These systems can bring together deal sourcing, virtual data room activity, portfolio monitoring, and institutional knowledge, helping investment teams manage information more efficiently and collaborate across functions.

Although the structural elements of M&A transactions may not change immediately, greater connectivity between systems presents an opportunity to streamline execution and improve decision-making.

The next stage of AI adoption will be less about introducing additional tools and more about building processes around the technology itself.

Balancing innovation with secure deal execution

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in M&A workflows, maintaining control over sensitive transaction information is increasingly important.

The discussion highlighted the risks associated with using general-purpose AI tools without appropriate governance, particularly when working with confidential information subject to nondisclosure agreements and regulatory requirements.

Waite emphasized Datasite's role in providing secure, trusted infrastructure where buyers, sellers, and advisors can collaborate throughout a transaction.

He also discussed Datasite Connect, an offering designed to enable customers to access and analyze AI-enabled virtual data room content through the AI platforms they already use.

This approach supports more flexible, repeatable workflows while maintaining data room security, governance, and auditability.

As dealmaking becomes increasingly AI-driven, organizations will need to balance innovation with the controls necessary to protect confidential information and maintain trust throughout the transaction process.

Measuring the real value of AI

While AI can deliver significant efficiency gains, determining its overall return on investment remains a challenge.

The discussion explored how firms are evaluating AI based on productivity, quality of analysis, transaction capacity, and the evolving costs of running AI-powered systems.

Waite shared a practical example from his own experience using AI for financial analysis, explaining how tasks that previously required eight to twelve hours can now be completed in approximately 30 minutes to an hour.

For lean corporate development teams, these efficiencies can create valuable capacity to focus on strategic priorities and higher-level decision-making.

However, measuring the full impact of AI requires looking beyond individual time savings. Organizations must also consider the accuracy of output, the value of additional insights, and whether increased productivity ultimately leads to better business outcomes.

As AI capabilities and pricing models continue to evolve, firms will need to remain deliberate about where they invest and how they measure success.

The evolving role of human expertise

As AI takes on more execution-oriented work, the responsibilities of M&A professionals are also changing.

Rather than spending significant time on repetitive document review, data extraction, and analysis, professionals may increasingly focus on directing AI-powered workflows, verifying outputs, and applying judgment to complex decisions.

This shift creates new expectations around delegation, supervision, and professional development.

Organizations will need to ensure that employees have the skills to manage AI effectively while maintaining the expertise necessary to evaluate its work.

The discussion also reinforced the importance of preserving institutional knowledge and integrating it into technology-enabled processes.

Ultimately, successful AI adoption will depend on how effectively organizations combine automation with human experience, collaboration, and oversight.

What’s next?

The discussion at NextGen M&A New York reinforced that the next phase of AI innovation in dealmaking will focus on connectivity, security, and measurable outcomes.

From integrating workflows across the deal lifecycle to accelerating financial analysis and enabling more informed decisions, AI presents significant opportunities for M&A professionals.

As Waite emphasized, Datasite's focus is on evolving alongside these technologies while continuing to provide the secure infrastructure that supports complex transactions.

Organizations that successfully connect their systems, establish appropriate governance, and balance automation with human expertise will be better positioned to capture the benefits of AI-driven dealmaking.

Learn how Datasite can help transform your next deal.