When a company is acquiring a smaller firm and setting up a new IT system to consolidate data and assets, the primary aspect to consider when evaluating enterprise platforms is compatibility and integration with the existing IT systems of both the acquiring and acquired companies. This ensures a smooth transition, seamless data flow, and interoperability between systems, which is critical to avoid operational disruptions and redundancy during consolidation

. While other factors such as scalability, security, ease of use, cost, and vendor support are important, compatibility and integration take precedence because they directly impact the success of merging disparate systems and data into a unified platform

. Ensuring the new platform can effectively integrate legacy systems and support consolidated workflows is essential for operational continuity and achieving the benefits of the acquisition.