# Despite Return to Work, Virtual Meetings Will Continue to Disrupt Business as Usual in Finance Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-12-15 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: How Virtual Meetings Are Revolutionising M&A Meta Description: Discover how virtual meetings are revolutionising the financial services industry, transforming dealmaking and communication with stakeholders in finance. URL: https://financedigest.com/despite-return-to-work-virtual-meetings-will-continue-to-disrupt-business-as-usual-in-financehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1368751621-1736814716501-compressed.jpg) _![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/719-1736814716478-compressed.png)_ _By **Mark Loehr,** CEO, OpenExchange_ _Virtual meetings are reshaping the financial services industry—particularly where M&A and investor days are concerned._ Virtual meetings have permanently changed how the finance industry conducts business. The shift away from the “must meet in person” mentality to instead incorporate the ability for people to connect via video from anywhere has not only forever upended how [finance](https://www.financedigest.com/ai-and-social-media-are-revolutionizing-personal-finance-in-2023.html "AI and Social Media Are Revolutionizing Personal Finance in 2023") professionals operate—it has also solidified their commitment to using digital tools to unite with stakeholders, present business, and manage dealmaking. When considering disruptive [technologies in finance](https://www.financedigest.com/2016-the-year-of-technology-financing-the-year-of-business-growth.html "2016 – THE YEAR OF TECHNOLOGY FINANCING, THE YEAR OF BUSINESS GROWTH"), virtual meetings may not have been the first thing that came to mind in the past. But over the past few years—as the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed an [increased reliance](https://www.financedigest.com/banking-and-fintech-convergence-will-increase-reliance-on-it.html "Banking and Fintech Convergence will Increase Reliance on IT") on remote communications and events—virtual meetings have emerged as the perfect example of how firms are embracing digital strategies to keep pace with innovation. The efficiencies, speed, convenience, discretion, and cost-savings of virtual [meetings have led to this format continuing to dominate many work](https://www.financedigest.com/meetings-in-the-metaverse-how-likely-is-this-the-future-of-work.html "Meetings in the metaverse – how likely is this the future of work?") environments. In fact, despite the return-to-office policies at many [financial firms](https://www.financedigest.com/turning-a-blind-eye-wont-work-for-financial-firms-as-the-fca-tightens-its-grip.html "TURNING A BLIND EYE WON’T WORK FOR FINANCIAL FIRMS AS THE FCA TIGHTENS ITS GRIP"), these flexible remote meetings remain a keystone of communication in financial services. In particular, research verifies that when it comes to dealmaking and investor days, virtual meetings are reshaping the [way that financial](https://www.financedigest.com/10-ways-to-make-your-financial-model-easier-to-understand.html "10 Ways to Make Your Financial Model Easier to Understand") professionals work every day, while also affecting the future of finance at large. **The Predominant Way to Transact M&A** Highly secretive merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions [require many meetings](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-collaboration-and-skills-shortage-is-limiting-organisations-ability-to-meet-ifrs-9-requirements.html "Lack of collaboration and skills shortage is limiting organisations’ ability to meet IFRS 9 requirements") and tend to progress quickly.  Since time is of the essence, dealmaking meetings are often difficult to schedule with short lead times and shifting calendars. A 2022 Deloitte [survey](https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/mergers-acqisitions/us-deloitte-2022-mna-trends-report.pdf) of merger and acquisition trends polled 1,300 executives at corporations and private equity investor (PEI) firms. Not surprisingly, a strong majority of respondents [shared that their organizations have developed processes and tools to digitally facilitate multiple deal](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-mid-tier-lenders-shares-rise-in-frankfurt-after-svb-deal.html "U.S. mid-tier lenders shares rise in Frankfurt after SVB deal") elements across the entire M&A lifecycle. The study found that well over half (58%) of respondents expected to manage dealmaking transaction execution virtually in the [next year](https://www.financedigest.com/novartis-to-spin-off-generics-business-sandoz-next-year.html "Novartis to spin off generics business Sandoz next year"), compared to just 19% who planned to do so in person. Deloitte also reported that in addition to transaction execution, a virtual approach is also the preferred and most likely option by far at every other stage of the M&A lifecycle—from due diligence through integration—compared to both [hybrid](https://www.financedigest.com/mg-motor-launches-plug-in-hybrid-option-in-mexico-as-ev-race-heats-up.html "MG Motor launches plug-in hybrid option in Mexico as EV race heats up") and in-person options. As Karima Porter, a principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP, states in Deloitte’s report: “Companies are looking for ways to be more nimble. [Digital tools and assets allow global teams](https://www.financedigest.com/the-digital-voice-appointed-by-raft-of-new-clients-as-its-team-expands-by-270.html "The Digital Voice™ appointed by raft of new clients as its team expands by 270%") to work and collaborate more efficiently, reducing time spent on transaction activities, and ultimately completing engagements in less total time and with fewer resources.” One reason that M&A leaders prefer virtual meetings to in-person or even hybrid approaches is that professionally [managed virtual meetings use tools that incorporate strict controls](https://www.financedigest.com/national-world-launches-new-ad-manager-platform-powered-by-danads-empowering-businesses-to-take-control-of-their-advertising.html "National World launches new ad manager platform, powered by DanAds, empowering businesses to take control of their advertising") with proper use of waiting rooms and breakout sessions. Unlike in-person meetings, which can have [greater security risks](https://www.financedigest.com/brexit-the-risks-to-the-city-and-fintech-have-never-been-greater.html "BREXIT: THE RISKS TO THE CITY AND FINTECH HAVE NEVER BEEN GREATER"), professionally managed virtual meetings help parties ensure that the right people are participating in the meetings at any given time, facilitating leak prevention and ensuring critical information remains secure. It’s essential that all of the right attendees are present and no one who is not part of the deal [process is allowed to join](https://www.financedigest.com/king-charles-to-fly-to-scotland-to-join-sombre-procession-of-queens-coffin.html "King Charles to fly to Scotland to join sombre procession of queen’s coffin"). Another benefit of professionally managed virtual meetings for M&A dealmakers is that they allow these executives to cycle through vital meetings without the burden of  time-consuming travel. [Deals that used to take weeks or months with travel and face-to-face settings can be cut](https://www.financedigest.com/gazprom-gas-cut-tempers-economic-hopes-after-ukraine-grain-deal.html "Gazprom gas cut tempers economic hopes after Ukraine grain deal") down to hours or days by conducting the same meetings virtually.  Additionally, the logistics of scheduling meetings is hugely simplified since the travel component is eliminated.  Stuffed calendars are more easily accommodated and admins are no longer scrambling to minimize the ripples caused by delayed flights, heavy traffic or even household illness. **Investor Days** Investor days have a different objective and format than M&A meetings—they are inclusive, single-day events that are usually planned and scripted far in advance to allow a company to tell their story to investors, analysts, and prospective investors.  Investor days are broad affairs, and a primary marker of success is the quality and quantity of attendance. Traditionally, investor days have been expected to be held in-person. Yet today and for the foreseeable future, professionally managed virtual meetings are enhancing investor days, shifting them from in-person to virtual [settings as needed](https://www.financedigest.com/setting-up-a-business-in-the-uk-heres-what-you-need-to-know.html "Setting up a business in the UK? Here’s what you need to know.") or preferred. As with transaction execution, virtual [investor days offer many benefits for organizations and participants alike](https://www.financedigest.com/digbeth-is-simply-divine-to-young-urbanites-and-investors-alike.html "Digbeth is simply Divine to young urbanites and investors alike"). First and foremost, the virtual format enables broader accessibility, allowing people to join from across the globe—again without having to worry about [travel or other logistical costs and restrictions](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-to-restrict-travel-rules-for-russians-split-on-how-far-to-go.html "EU to restrict travel rules for Russians, split on how far to go"). It’s also much simpler to record virtual investor days compared to their in-person counterparts, and easier to make them available [online for anyone unable to attend the sessions live](https://www.financedigest.com/the-high-street-is-dead-long-live-online-shopping.html "The high street is dead – long live online shopping! "). Furthermore, going virtual for [investor days offers the opportunity](https://www.financedigest.com/the-vc-opportunity-breaking-down-barriers-for-private-investors.html "The VC opportunity: breaking down barriers for private investors ") for participants to leverage expanded options by making it possible to do things that can be difficult in an in-person setting, such as: - Taking a factory tour - Visiting a laboratory - Showing the inside of a new retail store concept Finally, professionally managed virtual meetings can increase attendees’ attention, since this format allows for enhanced storytelling and puts a wealth of tools and knowledge at participants’ fingertips. Polls, data transfer, and seamless, high-quality presentations are just a few of the enhancements that [companies can use to augment the investor-day experience](https://www.financedigest.com/poor-user-experience-plaguing-wealth-management-firms-warns-radical-company.html "Poor user experience plaguing wealth management firms, warns Radical Company") and ensure that people tune in. These types of virtual tools empower executives to deliver their [company narratives in more engaging](https://www.financedigest.com/different-employee-engagement-outcomes-for-u-s-and-canadian-companies-amidst-continued-economic-growth-pressures.html "DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT OUTCOMES FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN COMPANIES AMIDST CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH Pressures") fashion, while keeping stakeholders more informed and confident. **The** [Future of Finance Is Virtual](https://www.financedigest.com/the-rise-of-virtual-agents-the-future-banking-experience.html "The rise of virtual agents: the future banking experience") [Business hasn’t been “as usual” in quite some time](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-new-year-is-the-best-time-to-start-your-dream-tech-business.html "Why the New Year is the best time to start your dream tech business"), and for those in finance who expected things to go “back to normal,” there’s news: the industry will never go back to the way things were before. Virtual meeting [technology is a key reason behind](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-generative-ai-the-technology-behind-openais-chatgpt.html "What is Generative AI, the technology behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT?") this rapid evolution, and serves as a behind-the-scenes disruptor in the world of finance, modifying the way industry professionals conduct business and increasing the speed at which they’re able to initiate and close critical deals. According to the research firm Gartner, virtual is here to stay, with the shift away from in-person meetings that started during the pandemic “expected to continue.” Gartner predicts that by 2024, [in-person meetings will drop](https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-08-23-gartner-survey-reveals-44-percent-rise-in-workers-use-of-collaboration-tools-since-2019#:~:text=Gartner%20predicts%20that%20by%202024,work%20and%20changing%20workforce%20demographics.) from 60% of enterprise meetings to 25%, largely due to remote work and changing workplace demographics. As finance becomes more and more digital, the [way finance](https://www.financedigest.com/3-key-ways-you-can-transition-from-finance-to-fintech.html "3 key ways you can transition from finance to fintech") professionals work will evolve in a similar fashion. [Financial institutions](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-financial-institutions-make-the-most-of-data-for-their-business.html "HOW CAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS MAKE THE MOST OF DATA FOR THEIR BUSINESS?  ") and corporations that incorporate virtual meetings into their overall strategy can build communities and strengthen their brand proposition to relevant audiences. Going forward, virtual meetings and [events will continue to influence how the industry conducts business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-bring-business-and-charities-together-through-events.html "How To Bring Business And Charities Together Through Events"), educating the next generation of financial services leaders who will draw on the vast repositories of content created from these digital experiences. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---