As per this article, Cognizant is planning to acquire another Salesforce platform consulting firm, Saasforce. Mergers and acquisitions can be done really well, and they can be done very poorly. I'm optimistic about this partnership, they seem like a great fit. Here's the deal breakdown.
Cognizant
For the acquisition team, Cognizant feels business is business, and that is what this acquisition is. It isn't an exciting acquisition for innovation. It is just what needs to be done, nothing more.
For the rest of the company, they're excited about the additional revenue they can get as a result of this buy. Although, they should remind themselves that the deal needs to be finalized before they start counting their chickens - and that will take several months of negotiation. Some may even already be excited about having new colleagues to work with and learn from.
SaaSfocus
SaaSfocus is stressed and there is frantic energy about this acquisition. It can be stressful thinking about how they will fit into the new organization.
Of course, there is always the stress of trying to make sure you are financially valued fairly as well.
Salesforce
Salesforce is of course excited about this partnership. They are happy that more customers will be able to reap the benefits of their platform. They do their best to think in a more customer-focused way even though in their industry it can sometimes be hard not to think in terms of technology and business/making money terms. They do try their best and it is good to appreciate their focus on being more heart-centered.
Partnership Dynamic
While SaaSfocus is quite frazzled at this time, if this deal closes (and it most likely will) they will be able to relax and it will make a good partnership. It can be easy to let the mind find its way to imagining worst-case scenarios until a decision is final. Once final, the mind has fewer options to imagine and can start to see potential in the situation.
This will be an easy integration. In general, the acquired company needs time to feel at home and welcome. That will be the case here as well. But that will not be because of something Cognizant does. Feeling unwelcomed is more in the mind of Saasfocus. If Saasfocus could relax, this could be an easy transition.
Yes, people will be let go, but not to the extent they might imagine. The best course of action for everyone, but especially Saasfocus, is to try to relax and keep morale up. The end outcome will be the same either way, so they might as well let themselves find some peace.
Salesforce is, again, excited about this deal and will be happy to provide any assistance needed to help make this as smooth, easy and positive as possible.