The Integration Clock Starts Before the Deal Closes

Most conversations about integration start after signing. The ones that go well started long before that, with a clear read on where two operating cultures will clash and a plan for the first ninety days that isn't just an org chart merge. In one integration, redesigning the revenue model around actual client needs, rather than a purely hours-based structure, expanded margin potential by roughly 20%. Culture friction shows up in the small operational decisions first, long before it shows up in the numbers.