Q&A for seller - subject matter experts | DealCentre AI

Applies to: Sellers, third party users

Q&A administrators can delegate questions to subject matter experts (SMEs) on the sell side including third party users. The delegation can be done either individually or through groups defined for the deal. These experts support the Q&A workflow by reviewing delegated questions and proposing answers for review by Q&A administrators.

Delegation can be completed manually by a Q&A administrator or automatically based on category rules configured for the deal. The way a question is delegated does not change the actions you can take as an SME.

As a seller - subject matter expert (SME) or a third party user, you can:

• View questions delegated to you by Q&A administrators. 
• Create and edit a shared proposed answer.
• Collaborate with Q&A administrators using comments.
• Link supporting documents to a proposed answer
• View answers proposed by other subject matter experts.
• View follow-up question submitted for the question delegated to you by Q&A administrators.
• View final responses submitted by the Q&A administrator for the questions delegated to you. 
• Receive email and in-app notifications whenever a new question is delegated to you by a Q&A administrator.

Note: If the delegation is modified and you are removed as an SME, you will no longer be able to see the question and responses submitted by the Q&A administrator.

Video - Q&A SME overview

Watch this tutorial to understand how to use Q&A as a subject matter expert who has been delegated questions within DealCentre AI.

How to create or edit a proposed answer as subject matter expert

1. Click the DealCentre AI icon in the upper left corner of the screen to display the deals list.
2. Select the deal you want.
3. Click the Diligence icon on the left side of the screen. The Documents tab should be displayed.
4. Click Q&A. 
5. Click the question with Action Status as Delegated to view it in the right panel on the screen.
6. Select the Internal Collaboration tab in the right panel.
7. Do one of the following:
   • If no proposed answer exists, Click Proposed Answer and enter your response in the answer text box.
   • If a proposed answer already exists, review the draft and click Edit Draft to update it.
8. (Optional.) To link one or more documents to the question, click the link icon.
   • In the Select Documents window, select the check box for the required documents and click Select Document.
   • Click Select Document. The documents are linked with the question.
9. You can save your response by selecting one of the following:
   • Save - Saves your draft without notifying collaborators.
   • Save & Notify All - Saves your draft and notifies all collaborators on the question.
10. (Optional.) Continue collaborating until the proposed answer is ready.
11. Click Submit for Approval to send your proposed answer for review. 
12. In the Submit for Approval window, click Submit to confirm.

After you or another collaborator saves an answer, the Action Status changes from Delegated to Proposed. If an approval workflow is enabled for the deal, the Action Status changes to Pending Approval after you submit it for approval. The answer is locked for editing. The Approver is notified by email and in-app notification for DealCentre AI. If the proposed answer is approved, the Actions Status changes to Approved. If the proposed answer is rejected, the Actions Status changes to Rejected and the draft is unlocked. You can edit the answer and resubmit it for approval.

How to collaborate with Q&A administrators using comments

 Subject matter experts (SMEs) can discuss responses with Q&A administrators using comments.
 This helps you reach consensus on responses before Q&A administrators can submit them to buyers.

1. Click the DealCentre AI icon in the upper left corner of the screen to display the deals list.
2. Select the deal you want.
3. Click the Diligence icon on the left side of the screen. The Documents tab should be displayed.
4. Click Q&A. 
5. Click the question that you want to discuss with the Q&A administrator.
6. Select the Internal Collaboration tab in the right panel.
7. Enter your comment in the Comments text box.
8. (Optional.) To tag specific Q&A administrators or subject matter experts including yourself, use @mention.
9. Click the blue arrow to submit your response. 

Action statuses

Q&A administrators can delegate questions to subject matter experts (SMEs). The Action Status column for the question shows the current stage of a question after it has been delegated.

Delegated: The question is assigned to one or more SMEs to draft a proposed answer.

Follow-up: The buyer submitted a follow-up question to the Q&A administrators after the original question was answered.

Proposed: The SME or the Q&A administrator has saved a proposed answer. This draft is available for collaboration and can be edited by Q&A administrators and delegated SMEs.

Pending for Approval: The SME or Q&A administrator submitted the proposed answer for approval. The draft is locked for editing until an approver approves or rejects it. 

Rejected: The Q&A approver rejected the proposed answer. The draft is unlocked so Q&A administrators and delegated SMEs can update it and resubmit for approval.

Approved: The Q&A approver approved the proposed answer.

Additional information

• Q&A for Buyers