Real Deals asks Palladium's Meelimari Arro, due diligence lead, why digital is more than just your website, how Palladium found their due diligence niche, what they've learned and how to keep up with digitally-savvy competitors.
Digital is a broad term. What does it mean to private equity?
Firstly, digital isn’t a thing, it’s everything. Digital has fundamentally changed the interaction between individuals and organisations. This, in turn, has shifted our behaviour and the expectations customers have. To adapt, businesses need to change their thinking from linear to exponential; from audience as a channel to community; from product to platform; from customer transaction to customer relationship and value beyond the transaction; from push to pull; from consumer to co-creator. Failing to take advantage of new technologies and not noticing how digital has changed society and the economy leaves businesses vulnerable to disruption. For private equity investors, digital is high on their agenda, but they often don’t have a method or the expertise to assess digital in due diligence.
Digital has fundamentally changed the interaction between individuals and organisations. This, in turn, has shifted our behaviour and the expectations customers have.
– Meelimari Arro, Due Diligence Lead, Palladium Group
