Silos restrict the free flow of information across an organization and reduce collaboration between its teams. The effects speak for themselves: A 2017 eConsultancy survey of marketers found 40 percent of respondents thought each department in their respective agencies had its own agenda, compared to only 29 percent who reported following collaborative processes. Almost one-third (30 percent) also said they designed and measured customer experience on a channel-by-channel basis, a direct result of siloed workflows that lead to time-consuming and duplicative work.

Granted, bringing everyone together, regardless of role or location, was long challenging due to the technical limitations and usability issues of collaboration tools. Not anymore. With Cisco Webex Meetings for video conferencing and messaging, it’s never been easier to start a meeting anytime, anywhere.

The logic of breaking down workplace silos 

Even a seemingly efficient silo can hurt an organization because of how it isolates decision-making processes and places particular pressure on remote and mobile teams, which may feel cut off from everyone else. Company communication, responsiveness to change and general capacity to finish projects on time and under budget are all reduced when silos dominate. Entire movements, such as DevOps in software development, have arisen to eliminate these silos – and for good reason.

More specifically, businesses with fewer silos can better support geographically dispersed teams and ensure everyone is on the same page. Video conferencing software helps break down barriers with crystal-clear video and audio quality that make it feel like everyone’s in the same room, even if individuals are thousands of miles apart. Plus, built-in features like calling, messaging, and file sharing through Cisco Webex collect feedback in one place, becoming that literal “same page” we just talked about.

High expectations for video conferencing solutions

While video conferencing is pivotal to improved collaboration, attempting to rely on just any old video platform won’t do. Consumers now have numerous options for video chat bundled with other applications such as instant messaging and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calling. In deciding between them, users set the bar high for usability, security, context and service quality.

As a result, inconsistent video and call quality are no longer acceptable. Today’s video conferencing solutions have to go much further than ones like the holographic conferencing system featured in the HBO show Silicon Valley, which promised a lifelike video experience but couldn’t deliver it for more than a few seconds before crashing. In contrast, Webex Meetings is a tool you can trust in the office or on the go. Its consistency enables high-quality connections that bring teams together.

Productivity gains in a post-silo organization

Removing silos provides a major lift to productivity, security, and overall team engagement. Instead of working in isolation without access to the full picture, everyone gets a literal clear view of what colleagues and customers are doing. Focusing on each meeting’s agenda items also becomes much more straightforward without the distractions and multitasking very common with traditional conference calls.

Webex Meetings is a one-stop shop for real-time collaboration. Its multi-layered security and integrations with other key applications make it perfect for breaking down silos and unlocking productivity. Learn more about how video conferencing and collaboration software can remake your virtual meetings.

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