Applies to: All users with Q&A access
The Q&A feature in Intralinks Dealcentre AI is available to the buyer and seller teams involved in the deal. This feature makes it easy to manage buyer questions and seller responses during a deal.
This article explains how Q&A works in DealCentre AI and what each user can do in DealCentre AI.
Video - Overview of Q&A in DealCentre AI
Watch this video for a high-level overview of the basics and functionality of Q&A, and what to expect when using it. See more details below.
Q&A user roles
In DealCentre AI, each user is assigned a specific Q&A role.
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Q&A Administrators: These users are responsible for configuring Q&A and answering buyer questions. Configuration includes enabling Q&A, assigning question submitters, setting question limits, configuring categories, delegation rules, and approvers for the approval workflow. Q&A administrators can delegate questions to seller subject matter experts (SMEs), collaborate with delegated SMEs on a shared proposed answer, save, review, and edit proposed answers.
If approvers are assigned to categories in Q&A, Q&A administrators can submit proposed answers for approval. After the answer is approved, they can release it to buyers, and close answered questions.
If approvers are not assigned to categories in Q&A, the Q&A administrators review the proposed answer and submits it directly to the buyer.
Deal administrators or third party users can be assigned as Q&A administrators. A Q&A administrator can also be assigned as an approver.
- Question Proposers: Within each buyer group using Q&A, all members can propose questions. These questions can be entered individually or imported in bulk. A question submitter must review and forward the proposed questions to Q&A administrators.
- Question Submitters: Each buyer group using Q&A must have one or more question submitters. Submitters review proposed questions and decide whether to forward them to Q&A administrators.
- Seller - Subject Matter Experts: Q&A administrators can delegate the questions submitted by the buyers to one or more subject matter experts (SMEs). SMEs can be from deal team, seller group, or third party group. SMEs cannot directly respond to the buyers. Instead, they collaborate with Q&A administrators on a shared proposed answer. SMEs can create or edit the proposed answer, save changes, notify collaborators, and submit the proposed answer for approval when the approval workflow is enabled.
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Q&A Approvers: Approvers review proposed answers before they are released to buyers. An approver can approve or reject a proposed answer and provide comments. Approvers can include deal members such as Q&A administrators, deal team group members, third party users, seller administrators, or seller group members.
The Q&A administrator may review the proposed answer and forward it to the buyer group that asked the question.
Note: You can only view the Q&A options available to you based on your role.
Overview of Q&A workflow
Once Q&A is active on your deal:
- Buyer group members can propose questions.
- Question submitters will review and send approved questions to the Q&A administrators.
- Q&A administrators manage and respond to submitted questions. Additionally, Q&A administrators can optionally configure automatic delegation of questions to seller SMEs using category-based rules. Automatic delegation routes new questions to the appropriate SMEs as soon as they are submitted. Q&A administrators can also manually delegate questions at any time.
- Q&A administrators and delegated SMEs can collaborate on a shared proposed answer. They can save changes, notify collaborators, and continue refining the proposed answer until it is ready.
- If approvers are selected for Q&A categories, a Q&A administrator or delegated SME submits the proposed answer for approval. After the proposal answer is approved, the Q&A administrator releases it to the buyer. If the approvers are not selected, the Q&A administrator reviews the proposed answer and submits it directly to the buyer.
- Q&A administrators can delete or close answered questions.
Overview of delegation
Q&A supports both automatic and manual delegation of questions. Delegation controls which users can view and contribute to answers.
Automatic delegation is configured during Q&A setup. Manual delegation can be applied to individual questions at any time.
Delegated users can include seller subject matter experts and third party users.
For more information on categories, delegation rules, access, and notifications, see Q&A categories and delegation.