PREMIUM Project 2026-2027: Deloitte

The Project:

Will AI replace the deal advisor?

When companies buy, merge with or sell off (parts of) their business (mergers & acquisitions, or M&A), technology is almost always central to the deal. Our Tech M&A team in Amsterdam helps clients with the technology side of these deals, across every industry, from consumer and manufacturing to banking and the technology sector.

That means answering questions like:
Before the deal: Is the company's technology reliable, secure, and ready to grow? What will it cost to fix or replace?
When a business is sold off: How do you separate its systems and data from the parent company without disrupting daily operations?
When two companies come together: How do you combine their systems and teams so the deal actually delivers what it promised?

The challenge
AI may change much more than how efficient we work. It could change who we compete with, what clients are willing to pay advisors for, and what kind of talent we need. Software companies and AI tools may start doing work that used to need advisors. Clients may build their own analysis teams instead of hiring outside help. Much of the work junior consultants do today could be automated. 
At the same time, clients may need experienced people who can make sound judgements, understand complex technology and guide a deal from start to finish more than ever.
So, what should a Tech M&A advisory team look like in five to ten years?

What you could explore

• Which parts of our work will AI take over, and which will become more valuable?
• Who are our future competitors, and what are they offering?
• What will clients still want from human advisors, and why?
• How should we hire, train and grow future talent (coming from university) when the traditional "learn by doing the basics" path is disappearing?
   

What's in it for you?
You will get a real strategic question that a professional services firm is facing right now, direct access to experienced deal advisors, and a close look at how a fast-moving industry thinks about its own future.

The Client:

At Deloitte, our Purpose is to make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, and society. This is the lens for which our global strategy is set. It unites Deloitte professionals across geographies, businesses, and skills. It makes us better at what we do and how we do it. It enables us to deliver on our promises to stakeholders, while creating the lasting impact we seek.
Harnessing the talent of over 470,000 people located across more than 150 countries and territories, our size and scale puts us in a unique position to help change the world for the better—by bringing together the services we provide, the societal investments we make, and the collaborations we advance through our ecosystems.

Our Shared Values are at the core of each decision we make, how we act, and how we impact those we serve where it matters most.

• Lead the way: We are not only leading the profession but also reinventing it for the future. We are also committed to creating opportunity and leading the way to a more sustainable world.
• Serve with integrity: By acting ethically and with integrity, we have earned the trust of clients, regulators, and the public. Upholding that trust is our single most important responsibility.
• Take care of each other: We look out for one another and prioritize respect, fairness, development, and well-being.
• Foster inclusion: We are at our best when we foster an inclusive culture and embrace diversity in all forms. We know this attracts top talent, enables innovation, and helps deliver well-rounded client solutions.
• Collaborate for measurable impact: We approach our work with a collaborative mindset, teaming across businesses, geographies, and skills to deliver tangible, measurable, attributable impact.