ValuAdder Business Valuation Blog

Business valuation is the process of estimating the economic worth of a company. Business people get valuations for a number of reasons, such as mergers and acquisitions, taxation, litigation, and strategic planning. While business valuation relies on a lot of math for analysis, is not an exact science. In fact, it is an area of professional expertise that requires a combination of knowledge, experience, and judgment.

AI bots are software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to perform tasks, such as chatbots, and digital workers. These days AI bots can be found in many business applications. Examples are customer service, marketing, and automation. Is it time for the AI to take over business valuation?  Not quite. AI bots are not a good substitute for professional business appraisers. At least not yet.

Why are business appraisers better than AI bots at creating credible business valuations?

Some points to consider:

Expertise and credentials

Business appraisers are highly skilled professionals with the necessary qualifications and credentials to back up their work. To attain this level of expertise, appraisers go through rigorous training and education. On top of that they follow strict professional standards and ethical guidelines. They stay sharp by updating their skills through ongoing education and peer reviews.

On the other hand, AI bots do not have formal accolades, nor do they have any standards or ethical norms to follow. Human experts improve their craft by serving their clients and earning referrals based on trust and quality of their work. Not so the bots.

Insights vs algorithms

Business appraisers bring a wealth of knowledge and judgment to the table. They use various approaches giving them a broad choice of income, market, and asset-based methods. And for each specific situation, the experts carefully select the right ones.

Before diving into calculations, professionals study the many factors that make each company unique. Then they make assumptions about future business prospects. To do so they take time to understand the finer details of a business: industry trends, economic conditions, business risk, and future growth potential.

In contrast, AI bots rely on predefined algorithms and data. Sure, they can crunch numbers quickly but struggle with subtle points. They may overlook essential facts and make flawed assumptions that lead to inaccurate results.

Human touch

Business appraisers don’t crank out numbers – they deal with people. They work with business owners, managers, investors, lenders, and regulators, and understand their needs and expectations. Beyond dropping a report on the client’s desk,  the experts explain their findings, and provide well reasoned results for their clients.

On the other hand, AI bots lack this human touch. They can’t sense the emotions and tailor their communications to different groups of people. If clients are confused or question the valuation, the bots will be unable to explain their reasoning in a way that humans understand.

The takeaway

In conclusion, skilled business appraisers are better than AI bots at creating credible business valuations. Business valuation is a complex endeavor that calls for a subtle balance of knowledge, experience, and judgment, something the bots cannot fully grasp. Figuring out the value of a company is a high stakes game. When you need a valuation, consider consulting a qualified and experienced business appraiser.