Why silos happen (even in well-run businesses)
No one plans for misalignment — it creeps in.
Workarounds become process. Local habits turn into unwritten rules. And before long, every team is working in its own version of reality.
Most of the time, it’s not malicious. It’s practical. Different teams optimise for what matters to them — speed, control, savings, autonomy.
But when everyone plays their own game, the business loses momentum.
Especially in the backend.
The silent cost of working in silos
Misalignment isn’t always visible — but it’s always felt.
It shows up in the delays no one flagged.
In the redundant orders placed from different teams.
In the week wasted chasing down an invoice or redoing a delivery.
Over time, this friction compounds.
You don’t just lose money — you lose time, focus, and the ability to move fast when it matters.
Because when every function is working in isolation, no one is steering the full picture.
What operational alignment actually looks like
Alignment doesn’t mean turning every team into a clone.
It means giving each one enough shared structure to collaborate — and enough clarity to act without stepping on each other.
In practice, that looks like:
- A shared view of backend spend
- Common definitions of success across procurement, operations, and finance
- One version of the data, with consistent access and understanding
- Processes that are flexible at the edge, but solid at the core
Alignment is less about rules and more about rhythm.
The kind where every team moves independently — but in sync.
How to start creating alignment (without causing a revolt)
You don’t need a reorganisation. You need a reset.
Start small. Find the areas of backend friction that everyone agrees are painful — like sourcing consumables, supplier sprawl, or inconsistent ordering.
Then:
- Map out what’s happening today, without judgment
- Involve the people doing the work in defining the fix
- Build a shared playbook that teams actually want to follow
- Standardise the tools or dashboards where they create clarity — not control
- Anchor the shift in outcomes, not instructions
Change sticks when it’s built around what people need, not what leadership wants to enforce.
This isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about momentum.
When backend operations are aligned, decisions move faster.
Problems get solved earlier.
Teams stop firefighting and start focusing forward — on innovation, growth, and customer experience.
That’s the power of alignment.
Not as a goal, but as the unlock that makes everything else easier.
Because the best supply chains don’t run on dashboards.
They run on direction.
