Data strategy insights for PE-backed companies. Practical guides on data diligence, exit readiness, and portfolio data operations.https://crawfordmcmillan.com/en-ushttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/why-your-portfolio-company-ai-initiative-is-stalling/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/why-your-portfolio-company-ai-initiative-is-stalling/Most PE portfolio company AI initiatives stall not because of the technology, but because of the data underneath. Five root causes and what to do about each one.Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/data-integration-after-add-on-acquisition/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/data-integration-after-add-on-acquisition/A 90-day framework for integrating data after an add-on acquisition. Covers customer master deduplication, chart of accounts harmonization, KPI alignment, and reporting consolidation.Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/the-bifurcation-why-some-companies-exit-at-premium/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/the-bifurcation-why-some-companies-exit-at-premium/PE deal volume hit its lowest since 2017, yet A-assets still close fast at premium multiples. Five characteristics separate companies that sell from those that stall in diligence.Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/reverse-due-diligence-audit-your-data/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/reverse-due-diligence-audit-your-data/Five areas to self-audit before a buyer gets into your data room. A practical framework for running reverse due diligence on your own data, with specific questions and 2-week fixes.Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/what-operating-partners-get-wrong-about-data-governance/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/what-operating-partners-get-wrong-about-data-governance/65% of PE firms struggle to reflect value creation in exit EBITDA. Three governance mistakes explain most of the gap, and all three are fixable.Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/ai-readiness-starts-with-data-readiness/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/ai-readiness-starts-with-data-readiness/80% of PE firms deployed AI by late 2024, but only 20% have operationalized use cases. The gap is data quality. Here is the framework for getting the foundation right.Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/one-page-data-value-creation-plan/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/one-page-data-value-creation-plan/Most value creation plans have a vague line for data. Here is a concrete one-page framework that turns the data component into a real operating plan.Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/why-record-multiples-make-data-your-edge/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/why-record-multiples-make-data-your-edge/EBITDA multiples hit 11.8x. Financial engineering alone cannot deliver returns at these prices. Data is the operational lever that separates winners from the rest.Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/post-acquisition-data-playbook/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/post-acquisition-data-playbook/What to do with data in the first 100 days after acquiring a company. A phased playbook for operating partners and portfolio company leaders.Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/data-diligence-diy-vs-help/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/data-diligence-diy-vs-help/When to handle data diligence preparation yourself and when to bring in outside help. An honest comparison of cost, timeline, and outcomes.Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/qoe-data-problems/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/qoe-data-problems/QoE reports expose data infrastructure failures most teams never see coming. Here's why numbers break, what triggers adjustments, and how to fix it early.Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/fix-data-before-diligence-timeline/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/fix-data-before-diligence-timeline/Realistic timelines for fixing data before diligence. The 12-month ideal, 6-month sprint, and 3-month emergency paths with specific deliverables at each phase.Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/data-problems-cost-half-turn/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/data-problems-cost-half-turn/An anonymized case study showing how data issues led to QoE adjustments, buyer repricing, and a $20M valuation haircut on a mid-market PE exit.Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/pe-exit-data-checklist/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/pe-exit-data-checklist/The data readiness checklist PE-backed teams miss before an exit. Covers financial, operational, and customer data with timelines and real benchmarks.Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/48-hour-diligence-test/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/48-hour-diligence-test/Ten questions your team should answer in 48 hours or less. A practical readiness test for PE-backed companies approaching an exit.Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/7-data-red-flags-kill-deals/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/7-data-red-flags-kill-deals/Seven specific data problems that make buyers walk away or reprice. What each red flag signals, why it matters, and how to fix it before diligence starts.Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/complete-data-diligence-guide/https://crawfordmcmillan.com/blog/complete-data-diligence-guide/What buyers actually look for in data diligence. 15 questions, what good answers look like, common red flags, and how to prepare before the clock starts.Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT