Key Takeaways from the PSMJ AEC M&A Summit
The recent PSMJ AEC M&A Summit brought together leaders across the architecture, engineering, and construction industry to discuss one of the biggest forces shaping the sector today: mergers and acquisitions.
Across two days of panels, keynotes, and peer conversations, the discussions covered everything from private equity investment trends to post-merger integration challenges and the evolving role of technology in scaling firms.
While the summit focused heavily on the mechanics of deals, one theme surfaced repeatedly in conversations with attendees: technology and operational infrastructure are becoming just as important as the transactions themselves.
Below are several key takeaways from the event and what they signal for AEC firms looking to grow through acquisition.
Proposal Platforms Are Underutilized Across the Industry
One of the most interesting observations from conversations at the event was how many firms are using proposal platforms primarily as basic search repositories rather than strategic tools.
In many cases, these systems function more like static libraries of past proposals rather than platforms that actively support pursuit strategy, collaboration, and proposal development. As a result, adoption across teams tends to be inconsistent and the strategic value of the system remains limited.
This highlights a broader issue: technology investments only deliver value when they align with how teams actually work.
ikaun approaches this differently. Instead of acting as a passive repository, the platform structures expertise data—people, projects, and capabilities—into a centralized system that actively supports pursuit workflows. With AI-assisted proposal generation, automated resumes and project sheets, and governed data management, teams can move from searching for content to building strategic submissions faster and more effectively.
Generic Systems Struggle to Support Real Pursuit Workflows
Another common theme raised during discussions is that many technology platforms fail because they are too generic.
AEC firms operate with highly specific pursuit workflows that involve business development leaders, proposal managers, subject matter experts, and marketing teams working together under tight deadlines. Systems that do not reflect these realities often feel disconnected from daily operations.
When tools are not designed around real workflows, adoption inevitably suffers.
This is where purpose-built platforms make a difference. ikaun is designed specifically for the AEC industry and supports the full lifecycle of a pursuit—from managing experience data to generating compliant proposal materials. By aligning technology with how pursuit teams actually operate, firms can drive stronger adoption and deliver measurable impact.
Integration Challenges Continue After Acquisitions
M&A activity continues to accelerate across the AEC industry, but integration remains one of the most difficult parts of the process.
After an acquisition, firms frequently face challenges such as:
- aging technology stacks
- inconsistent processes between organizations
- fragmented data across offices and systems
These issues make it difficult to align teams and scale effectively after a transaction closes.
Many firms are discovering that without a centralized knowledge layer, integrating expertise and operational processes becomes increasingly complex as organizations grow.
ikaun helps address this challenge by serving as a connective layer across systems, consolidating people, project, and experience data into a single, governed knowledge base. This allows firms to quickly unify institutional knowledge across newly combined organizations and maintain consistency in how they pursue new opportunities.
Building Software Internally Is Harder Than It Appears
Artificial intelligence has dramatically lowered the barrier to creating software tools, and many firms are exploring whether they should build internal platforms rather than purchase external solutions.
However, conversations at the summit highlighted an important reality: while AI makes development easier, building enterprise-grade systems that support complex operational workflows remains extremely difficult.
AEC firms must manage:
- complex proposal workflows
- structured expertise data
- compliance and governance requirements
- collaboration across distributed teams
Developing software that supports all of these requirements internally often proves far more challenging than expected.
Purpose-built platforms like ikaun allow firms to adopt proven infrastructure designed specifically for pursuit management—combining AI-powered capabilities with structured knowledge management to support how AEC firms actually operate.
Turning Knowledge Into a Competitive Advantage
One thing became clear throughout the PSMJ Summit: the firms that will succeed in the next phase of industry consolidation are those that can scale their knowledge as effectively as they scale their headcount.
As organizations grow through acquisition, the ability to capture expertise, connect information across teams, and streamline pursuit workflows becomes a strategic advantage.
ikaun helps AEC firms do exactly that—transforming institutional knowledge into a centralized, AI-powered platform that enables teams to work faster, collaborate more effectively, and pursue opportunities with confidence.
Learn More
Explore how ikaun helps AEC firms modernize pursuit and proposal operations — or connect with Brian Powell to see how your team can turn data, expertise, and AI into a measurable competitive advantage.