Digital Due Diligence
Case Study
A private equity fund managing over $60 billion in assets had no structured method for evaluating the digital maturity of acquisition targets. In a market where digital capability increasingly determines company value, this was a measurable blind spot in their due diligence process.
Digital assessment was happening informally. Good enough to proceed. They wanted tool or rather method to do it automatically and faster.
Client Assumption
Built a Digital Due Diligence framework from the ground up, structured around three pillars: external presence, internal processes, and digital innovation potential. The framework comprised 174 parameters covering brand, digital channels, tooling, automation, data usage, talent, culture, and R&D capacity. It was designed to apply consistently across company sizes and sectors, enabling direct portfolio benchmarking.
Approach/Solution
A scalable, standardised evaluation framework integrated into the fund's core investment decision process. Digital maturity became a structured input, not a gut-check.
Outcome
Informal evaluation is inconsistent by definition. Without a structured framework, digital risk was being assessed differently across deals, sectors, and team members. There was no benchmark, no shared language, and no repeatable process. Comparisons across portfolio companies were effectively impossible.
Identified Problem
You can't benchmark what you haven't defined. In PE, inconsistent digital assessment isn't just inefficient. It's a risk factor.