Bob Root of Southfield Capital on Scaling Services Businesses and Building Data Moats

Bob Root, Transformation Partner at Southfield Capital, discusses how to find and accelerate growth in services businesses that have been underserved by technology. Learn how deal teams evaluate growth options before close, choosing between regional expansion and adjacent-service extensions based on what a management team can realistically execute, and why trust with the existing workforce determines whether a transformation thesis lands.

Hear how AI can expand a company's proprietary data advantage rather than just automating tasks—illustrated through a real portfolio company example. Learn why this data moat concept gets scoped into diligence before a deal closes, and how a services business can use it to differentiate on cost, speed or service beyond its original market.