Turn information into value.

Data is no longer just a by-product of operations – it’s a potential lever for valuation, diligence, and growth.

In the Irish mid-market, data systems are often underinvested, or overly dependent on people, not process. Yet buyers increasingly expect clean, integrated systems that support real-time insight, scalability, and resilience.

A well-managed digital backbone doesn’t just streamline due diligence. It signals readiness, enhances commercial confidence – and can drive higher multiples.

Why data now sits at the centre of value

Recent experience shows that data-led businesses increasingly command stronger valuations, move to deal completion faster and face fewer price adjustments.

Whether you’re a tech-enabled service business, a multi-site operator, or a B2B manufacturer, what matters is:

The quality, completeness and accessibility of your data.
The degree of insight it enables, not just what’s recorded.
How well your systems can scale with growth or integration.

Data readiness isn’t about having the latest systems — it’s about having the right insight, at the right time, to run your business better. That operational discipline is what ultimately builds value.

Five areas where data maturity drives impact

1. Data quality and accuracy
Missing, duplicate or inconsistent records erode buyer confidence. Many buyers will test your CRM, ERP, billing, and management reporting systems. A focus on data hygiene — even three months out, pays dividends.

2. Operational and commercial insight
The ability to measure KPIs, customer behaviour, and margin drivers is no longer optional. Buyers value businesses that can break down performance by product / SKU, channel, customer, or geography. If you can’t measure it, you can’t price it and neither can they.

3. System architecture
Mid-market corporates often run hybrid setups with legacy technology, spreadsheets, and point solutions. That may work day-to-day, but in a transaction, integration complexity plus risk equals potential discount. Streamlining systems and centralising control before diligence reduces this drag.

4. Cybersecurity and data compliance
Buyers will want to see that customer data is protected, compliant (especially under GDPR), and appropriately access controlled. Weak policies or poor IT practices can be a red flag – particularly for cross-border acquirers or regulated sector buyers.

5. Reporting agility
If your team faces challenges running monthly reports quickly and consistently, it will show. Buyers expect speed and clarity during diligence, and delays in reporting are often read a possible sign of deeper operational fragility.