Tools are not the problem in deal sourcing

Many searchers today have access to a great deal of sourcing tools. DealDogs, Axial, Grata, Inven, databases, CRM systems, outreach tools. Yet a lot of searches still move slower than expected. From what I’ve seen, the issue is rarely the tools. It’s time. Many searchers are juggling a full-time role, investor updates, outreach, diligence, and everything else that comes with the search. So even when the tools are there, the pipeline doesn’t move as consistently as it should. The search slows down not because opportunities aren’t there, but because there isn’t enough time to work the process every week. One thing that has helped several searchers we’ve worked with is bringing in a Virtual Assistant team that already understands these tools and the sourcing workflow. That way, research, list building, tracking, and follow-ups keep moving while the searcher focuses on owner conversations and deal evaluation. Curious how others here think about this. Is time the biggest constraint in your sourcing right now, or something else?