This site uses cookies to offer you a better experience. For more information, view our privacy policy.

I Agree Opt Out

  • Get Started
  • Login
  • Get Started
  • English
      • English
      • Français
      • Deutsch
      • 中文
      • 日本語
      • Español
      • Italiano
  • Products
      • Products

        At Datasite, we make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. From marketing and engagement. Through analytics and due diligence. To closing and post-merger integration. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you automate the entire M&A lifecycle.

    • Overview
      • Overview

        Datasite virtual data room suite is the best way to manage any due diligence process and share sensitive data. We make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you and your team automate the entire end-to-end M&A lifecycle.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for You
      • Datasite for You

        The Datasite value is unique to each customer. Tell us a little about yourself, and we’ll propose a solution that drives the greatest ROI for you and/or your client.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Outreach
      • Datasite Outreach

        Whether compiling buyer lists, or executing outreach activities and managing NDAs, Datasite Outreach is your essential resource for the deal marketing process.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Prepare
      • Datasite Prepare

        Datasite Prepare accelerates deal preparation with AI indexing, smart categorization, redaction & VDR integration to bring you into due diligence with a click.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Diligence
      • Datasite Diligence

        Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room (VDR) includes sophisticated analytics, an integrated redaction tool, ironclad security & world-class support with fast setup.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Acquire
      • Datasite Acquire

        Datasite Acquire is dedicated to the needs of the buyside on single or multi-asset purchases.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Restructuring
      • Datasite for Restructuring

        Whether you’re shedding a few assets or engaged in a more complex workout, Datasite can help you complete transactions professionally, securely and efficiently.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for IPOs
      • Datasite for IPOs

        Datasite ensures a secure and agile IPO process management for issuers, advisors, and underwriters. Our data room solutions, support and 25+ years experience, keeps your IPO secure and your team nimble to optimize outcomes.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Buy-Side
      • Datasite for Buy-Side

        Tired of messy, overly-manual sell-side reviews? Luckily, there’s a better way. Find out how top buyers are creating centralized, repeatable processes from the comfort of their own data room using Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Sell-Side
      • Datasite for Sell-Side

        Datasite data room solutions empower dealmakers with the broadest reach to maximize valuations, breakthrough technology to breeze through due diligence, and insights to generate the best deal outcomes.

        Learn more
  • Solutions
      • Solutions

        Whatever your industry. Whether you are in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or perhaps something else. Datasite gives dealmakers around the world the tools they need to succeed across the entire deal lifecycle.

    • Corporate Development
      • Corporate Development

        Corporate development professionals rely on Datasite M&A software for their sensitive transactions. Whatever deal stage, our M&A platform puts you in control.

        Learn more
        • Sell-Side M&A
        • Buy-side M&A
        • Restructuring
        • Fundraising
        • Strategic Repository
      • Sell-Side M&A
      • Buy-side M&A
      • Restructuring
      • Fundraising
      • Strategic Repository
    • Investment Banking
      • Investment Banking

        The premier SaaS solutions for the M&A lifecycle. Working with boutique, middle market, and bulge bracket banks on transactions in over 170 countries.

        Learn more
        • Preparing the Deal
        • Executing the Deal
      • Preparing the Deal
      • Executing the Deal
    • Law Firm
      • Law Firm

        Datasite is the premier legal due diligence solutions provider for M&A practitioners and law firms globally. More than a virtual data room, Datasite allows for automation of legal workflow across the entire deal lifecycle.

        Learn more
        • Preparing for the Deal
        • Managing the Deal
        • Closing the Deal
      • Preparing for the Deal
      • Managing the Deal
      • Closing the Deal
    • Private Equity
      • Private Equity

        Datasite empowers private equity professionals to advance with confidence during every stage of the PE life-cycle & complete transactions with ease.

        Learn more
        • Fundraising
        • Acquisition
        • Restructuring
        • Exit Preparation
        • Deal Marketing
        • Exits
        • File Sharing
      • Fundraising
      • Acquisition
      • Restructuring
      • Exit Preparation
      • Deal Marketing
      • Exits
      • File Sharing
    • Energy & Power
      • Energy & Power

        Whether you’re working on M&A, capital markets, or restructuring – Datasite helps energy & power companies complete transactions faster than ever.

        Learn more
    • Financial Institutions
      • Financial Institutions

        Datasite supports the entire M&A lifecycle helping Financial Institutions to transact with confidence and act quickly while keenly managing risks & regulations.

        Learn more
    • Healthcare & Life Sciences
      • Healthcare & Life Sciences

        Whether you’re looking at a licensing, listing or M&A, achieve your objective quickly and keep sensitive data secure with Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Industrials
      • Industrials

        From manufacturing to transportation to defense, we understand the needs of your sub-sector. Datasite can help you keep your sensitive information secure.

        Learn more
    • Technology, Media & Telecom
      • Technology, Media & Telecom

        Learn about the solutions available for making better, more secure technology deals happen with Datasite Diligence virtual data rooms.

        Learn more
  • Insights
  • Community
      • Community

        Stay up to date with the latest developments and innovation in M&A. Network with fellow dealmakers and global thought-leaders. Datasite is your platform to contribute, to confer, to collaborate. Our aim is to put you at the center of everything.

    • Events & Webinars
      • Events & Webinars

        Stay up to date with the latest developments and innovation in M&A. Join us at one of our live events, and learn something new.

        Learn more
    • Dealmaker's Circle
      • Dealmaker's Circle

        Help identify the technology needs of dealmakers across the M&A industry. Sign up for the Dealmaker's Circle and shape the future.

        Learn more
  • Company
      • Company

        We are Datasite. Creators of momentum, eliminators of doubt and builders of tomorrow. The leading SaaS provider for the M&A industry. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

    • About
      • About

        The best people. And the best technology – a SaaS platform that works across the M&A lifecycle. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

        Learn more
    • Careers
      • Careers

        Ready for the next big challenge? Grow your career, and join our experienced global team, transforming the world of M&A software.

        Learn more
    • News
      • News

        Keep up with our latest media coverage and press releases. And get the breaking news on our technology, partnerships, awards and people.

        Learn more
    • FAQs
      • FAQs

        Questions about Datasite, M&A, or Data Rooms? We have the answers for you.

        Learn more
    • Success Stories
      • Success Stories

        Datasite, the maker of Datasite Diligence virtual data room platform, helping dealmakers in more than 170 countries (and every industry) close more deals, faster. See our success stories.

        Learn more
  • Contact
      • Contact

        Reach out to Datasite, wherever you are in the world, and we’ll get you moving closer to your goals. Get the world-class support you need, anytime, anywhere. We’re available 24/7/365, in up to 18 languages.

    • Sales
      • Sales

        Speak to our authoritative sales team, wherever you are in the world, and we’ll get you started with a dataroom in no time.

        Learn more
    • Support
      • Support

        Get the world-class support you need, anytime, anywhere. We’re available 24/7/365, in up to 18 languages.

        Learn more
November 13, 2020

Needle in a Haystack: Speeding Up Legal Due Diligence Responsibly

By Steve J. Tie Shue, Senior Director - Product Marketing

Thirty days. More than half of sell-side M&A legal advisors report having thirty days or less to complete due diligence. This often feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack within an impossible timeline. Understandable since missing target dates or – even worse – delivering inaccurate or half-baked recommendations to clients can negatively impact a lawyer’s reputation well beyond a specific transaction. Dealmakers can reduce anxiety and bolster deal team confidence by choosing VDRs with three crucial capabilities. Each proving beneficial to the buy-side and sell-side alike.

1. Experience the twofold data room benefits of AI/ML organization tools

The virtues of a well-organized data room likely deserve a dissertation. However, for purposes of this blog, I’ll focus on the immediate benefits to legal advisors – it significantly reduces work times. AI/ML-enabled platforms allow for better-organized VDRs that help dealmakers work faster whether they are tasked with setting up a data room or reviewing documents within it.

For example, the one-two punch of AI indexing and smart categories in Datasite Diligence has been shown to reduce work times by up to 40%. These features automatically suggest categorization and placement of files to project admins upon upload – a particularly compelling proposition for the more junior members of a deal team. Once the data room is share-ready, end-users tasked with reviewing files benefit from greater consistency in organization and filing logic.

2. Make in-app redaction a non-negotiable for all data rooms

Redaction is essential for sell-side advisors. It needs to get done – and eventually in the deal lifecycle it may need to be undone. Luckily, using in-app redaction capabilities to mark and unmark terms exist. This advancement in VDR technology not only speeds up the process of redaction, it also bolsters confidence in the depth of the review.

Use of Redaction AI in Datasite Diligence shrinks timelines by as much as 80% compared to manual processes. It does so through a combination of pattern recognition as well as allowing users to bulk redact and categorize for redaction reasons.

3. Avoid “gotcha” moments in legal due diligence with OCR search

Even well-organized VDRs have their limits in helping to effectively work through legal due diligence – particularly when hundreds or thousands of documents are at play. Check with any veteran corporate lawyer or paralegal. They’ll readily share experiences of blurry-eyed, late-nights spent painstakingly reviewing files one-by-one because a deal room’s search capabilities didn’t extend to PDFs, images, or scanned documents. Enter optical character recognition (OCR) search capabilities – making it possible to convert different file formats into editable and searchable data. Invaluable for legal teams who live in perpetual fear of missed T&Cs. This isn’t exactly new technology and it’s startling to see the number of data room decision makers seemingly reinforcing a status quo of using platforms without OCR to manage deals – regardless of size.

Thirty days. That’s an ambitious timeline to complete due diligence. However, the right VDR will deliver the capabilities and confidence needed to meet target deadlines without compromising accuracy or integrity during your legal review.

Click here to schedule a time to learn more about Datasite Diligence.

Datasite for Law Firms

Best-in-class, award-winning customer experience on every deal.

Learn more

Legal Dealmakers Market Report

Key insights on workflow challenges and solutions from 450+ legal advisors.

Download now

Tweets by Datasite Global

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Us
  • Products
      • Products

        At Datasite, we make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. From marketing and engagement. Through analytics and due diligence. To closing and post-merger integration. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you automate the entire M&A lifecycle.

    • Overview
      • Overview

        Datasite virtual data room suite is the best way to manage any due diligence process and share sensitive data. We make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you and your team automate the entire end-to-end M&A lifecycle.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for You
      • Datasite for You

        The Datasite value is unique to each customer. Tell us a little about yourself, and we’ll propose a solution that drives the greatest ROI for you and/or your client.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Outreach
      • Datasite Outreach

        Whether compiling buyer lists, or executing outreach activities and managing NDAs, Datasite Outreach is your essential resource for the deal marketing process.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Prepare
      • Datasite Prepare

        Datasite Prepare accelerates deal preparation with AI indexing, smart categorization, redaction & VDR integration to bring you into due diligence with a click.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Diligence
      • Datasite Diligence

        Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room (VDR) includes sophisticated analytics, an integrated redaction tool, ironclad security & world-class support with fast setup.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Acquire
      • Datasite Acquire

        Datasite Acquire is dedicated to the needs of the buyside on single or multi-asset purchases.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Restructuring
      • Datasite for Restructuring

        Whether you’re shedding a few assets or engaged in a more complex workout, Datasite can help you complete transactions professionally, securely and efficiently.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for IPOs
      • Datasite for IPOs

        Datasite ensures a secure and agile IPO process management for issuers, advisors, and underwriters. Our data room solutions, support and 25+ years experience, keeps your IPO secure and your team nimble to optimize outcomes.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Buy-Side
      • Datasite for Buy-Side

        Tired of messy, overly-manual sell-side reviews? Luckily, there’s a better way. Find out how top buyers are creating centralized, repeatable processes from the comfort of their own data room using Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Sell-Side
      • Datasite for Sell-Side

        Datasite data room solutions empower dealmakers with the broadest reach to maximize valuations, breakthrough technology to breeze through due diligence, and insights to generate the best deal outcomes.

        Learn more
  • Solutions
      • Solutions

        Whatever your industry. Whether you are in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or perhaps something else. Datasite gives dealmakers around the world the tools they need to succeed across the entire deal lifecycle.

    • Corporate Development
      • Corporate Development

        Corporate development professionals rely on Datasite M&A software for their sensitive transactions. Whatever deal stage, our M&A platform puts you in control.

        Learn more
    • Investment Banking
      • Investment Banking

        The premier SaaS solutions for the M&A lifecycle. Working with boutique, middle market, and bulge bracket banks on transactions in over 170 countries.

        Learn more
    • Law Firm
      • Law Firm

        Datasite is the premier legal due diligence solutions provider for M&A practitioners and law firms globally. More than a virtual data room, Datasite allows for automation of legal workflow across the entire deal lifecycle.

        Learn more
    • Private Equity
      • Private Equity

        Datasite empowers private equity professionals to advance with confidence during every stage of the PE life-cycle & complete transactions with ease.

        Learn more
    • Energy & Power
      • Energy & Power

        Whether you’re working on M&A, capital markets, or restructuring – Datasite helps energy & power companies complete transactions faster than ever.

        Learn more
    • Financial Institutions
      • Financial Institutions

        Datasite supports the entire M&A lifecycle helping Financial Institutions to transact with confidence and act quickly while keenly managing risks & regulations.

        Learn more
    • Healthcare & Life Sciences
      • Healthcare & Life Sciences

        Whether you’re looking at a licensing, listing or M&A, achieve your objective quickly and keep sensitive data secure with Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Industrials
      • Industrials

        From manufacturing to transportation to defense, we understand the needs of your sub-sector. Datasite can help you keep your sensitive information secure.

        Learn more
    • Technology, Media & Telecom
      • Technology, Media & Telecom

        Learn about the solutions available for making better, more secure technology deals happen with Datasite Diligence virtual data rooms.

        Learn more
  • Insights
  • Community
      • Community

        Stay up to date with the latest developments and innovation in M&A. Network with fellow dealmakers and global thought-leaders. Datasite is your platform to contribute, to confer, to collaborate. Our aim is to put you at the center of everything.

    • Events & Webinars
      • Events & Webinars

        Stay up to date with the latest developments and innovation in M&A. Join us at one of our live events, and learn something new.

        Learn more
    • Dealmaker's Circle
      • Dealmaker's Circle

        Help identify the technology needs of dealmakers across the M&A industry. Sign up for the Dealmaker's Circle and shape the future.

        Learn more
  • Company
      • Company

        We are Datasite. Creators of momentum, eliminators of doubt and builders of tomorrow. The leading SaaS provider for the M&A industry. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

    • About
      • About

        The best people. And the best technology – a SaaS platform that works across the M&A lifecycle. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

        Learn more
    • Careers
      • Careers

        Ready for the next big challenge? Grow your career, and join our experienced global team, transforming the world of M&A software.

        Learn more
    • News
      • News

        Keep up with our latest media coverage and press releases. And get the breaking news on our technology, partnerships, awards and people.

        Learn more
    • FAQs
      • FAQs

        Questions about Datasite, M&A, or Data Rooms? We have the answers for you.

        Learn more
    • Success Stories
      • Success Stories

        Datasite, the maker of Datasite Diligence virtual data room platform, helping dealmakers in more than 170 countries (and every industry) close more deals, faster. See our success stories.

        Learn more
  • Contact
      • Contact

        Reach out to Datasite, wherever you are in the world, and we’ll get you moving closer to your goals. Get the world-class support you need, anytime, anywhere. We’re available 24/7/365, in up to 18 languages.

    • Sales
      • Sales

        Speak to our authoritative sales team, wherever you are in the world, and we’ll get you started with a dataroom in no time.

        Learn more
    • Support
      • Support

        Get the world-class support you need, anytime, anywhere. We’re available 24/7/365, in up to 18 languages.

        Learn more
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Twitter

© 2021 Datasite All rights reserved

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Notice
  • Services Agreement
  • Suppliers
  • Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy

Datasite provides secure software solutions for managing the full spectrum of financial transactions — including M&A, restructuring & administration, and capital raising. Our intuitive platform offers ironclad security enabling file sharing and collaboration within and across organizations. More than a virtual data room (VDR), Datasite supports advisors and their clients across the entire deal lifecycle with secure collaborative software that shortens timelines for buy-side and sell-side teams from deal sourcing and deal preparation to post-merger integration (PMI) while meeting regulatory compliance — including GDPR and CCPA requirements. As the premiere virtual data room for M&A due diligence globally, Datasite is consistently recognized for breakthrough technologies like our AI/ML-enabled capabilities and automated redaction tools. Beyond due diligence, Datasite provides transaction and document management solutions for investment banks, corporate development, private equity, and law firms across industries.