As M&A Activity Increases in 2025, CIOs Face Rising Pressure to Ensure Seamless IT Integration, Says Info-Tech Research Group

As mergers and acquisitions accelerate in 2025, driven by favorable regulatory changes and a renewed focus on strategic growth, organizations are increasingly seeking opportunities to expand into new markets. In response to this trend, Info-Tech Research Group, a global research and advisory firm, has published new insights to help IT leaders navigate the complexities of M&A integration. The firm's M&A IT playbook provides a data-backed framework to address technology alignment challenges, enabling CIOs to minimize disruption, unlock greater value, and achieve strategic objectives more effectively.

TORONTO, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Driven by regulatory shifts and renewed strategic focus, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are accelerating in 2025 as organizations pursue new markets and competitive growth. However, many businesses still face major challenges when it comes to IT integration during a transition, when misaligned systems, delayed involvement, and a lack of structured processes can disrupt operations and delay strategic outcomes. To support IT leaders in navigating these complexities, Info-Tech Research Group has published Develop an M&A IT Playbook, a comprehensive research resource that offers CIOs and IT leaders practical strategies, tools, and templates to drive successful integration efforts. The data-backed playbook empowers IT to play a critical role in delivering seamless transitions and maximizing the value of M&A initiatives for their organizations.

"Every M&A transaction is different, but they all have one thing in common – they come with inherent uncertainties across all fronts, with the potential to disrupt not only the deal but the whole business," says Manish Jain, Principal Research Director at Info-Tech Research Group. "Developing an M&A IT playbook in advance helps organizations address technology-related risks proactively while maintaining the flexibility needed to adapt to the specific nuances of each deal."

Info-Tech's newly published resource explains that while mergers and acquisitions present significant advantages, the challenges for CIOs are often high. IT leaders are commonly required to work with due diligence reports and integration budgets created by M&A program teams, which frequently underestimate the complexities of IT integration. This misalignment leaves CIOs grappling with planning gaps, managing resource constraints, and striving to achieve seamless integration within tight timelines.

In the playbook, the firm highlights the importance of having a comprehensive M&A IT playbook, including a due diligence checklist, to support CIOs and IT leaders in driving organizational synergies and identifying risks early in the transaction. By leveraging a structured framework, IT leaders can shift their focus from building basic processes to addressing the specific complexities of their organizations. Develop an M&A IT Playbook outlines key components that CIOs and IT leaders should include when developing an M&A IT playbook, including:

1. The Organization's M&A Strategy, Goals, and Profiles: Define the overall M&A strategy, clarify the goals of the transaction, and develop concise profiles of both the acquiring and target organizations. This foundation helps IT align integration efforts with business objectives while understanding the value chain and identifying key M&A streams.
   
   
2. IT's M&A Approach and Governance: Establish a clear IT integration approach and governance model, including lessons learned from previous M&A activities. The resource emphasizes setting a strong foundation for technology stream alignment and defining the organization's integration posture early.
   
   
3. Technology Due Diligence: Conduct thorough technology due diligence, identifying risks and key assumptions that could impact integration. The firm's framework includes the recommendation to use a quantitative scoring model to support informed decision-making during the go-forward evaluation process.
   
   
4. Post-Merger Technology Integration Planning: Build an actionable integration roadmap by identifying top integration initiatives across technology streams. Prioritizing these efforts ensures that IT can deliver a seamless post-merger experience that supports the broader organizational strategy.
   
   
5. M&A Value Assessment and Lessons Learned: Implement a structured post-merger technology review framework to assess integration outcomes. Info-Tech advises that doing this enables organizations to capture valuable lessons learned and continuously improve their M&A integration practices over time.

With mergers and acquisitions expected to remain a key growth strategy across industries this year and for the foreseeable future, Info-Tech emphasizes that IT's role in ensuring seamless integration is more critical than ever.

Info-Tech's M&A IT playbook provides organizations with the tools and structured approaches needed to navigate the complexities of M&A transactions successfully. By proactively preparing IT teams and aligning technology strategies with business objectives, the firm advises that organizations can unlock greater value from their M&A activities and position themselves for long-term success.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Manish Jain, an expert in digital transformation, and access to the complete Develop an M&A IT Playbook blueprint, please contact [email protected].

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About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

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For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group