Wild vanilla orchids can’t produce beans without the help of Mexican Melipona bees. In this mutually beneficial partnership, bees transfer pollen as they buzz from flower to flower. The bees enjoy the orchid’s aromatic nectar, and the orchids receive the cross-pollination that they need to thrive. Their teamwork produces a product that we rely on to flavor everything from ice cream to chocolate chip cookies.
Consider this an example of successful collaboration. Each partner brings their own unique skill set, and together they create something beautiful. Ecommerce companies can achieve similar success with effective cross-functional collaboration. Working together helps teams share expertise and create the best possible outcomes. Read more about the benefits of cross-functional collaboration and learn how to encourage communication between departments.
What is cross-functional collaboration?
Cross-functional collaboration is the practice of partnering with coworkers outside of your department to complete a task or project. This type of collaboration can prevent redundancy because it reduces the risk of two departments working on the same task independently. It also ensures that teams focus on realistic solutions. For example, without a solid communication strategy, a design team could spend weeks creating a landing page that engineering can’t find a way to implement.
The benefits of cross-functional collaboration are clear, but it’s not always simple in practice. At companies with a hierarchical structure, individual contributors typically only report to their managers. They may not know coworkers on other teams and might feel that reaching out directly skirts the chain of command. If it’s unclear who they should partner with, staff may choose to focus on their own deadlines instead of checking in with other departments.
What does effective cross-functional collaboration do?
- Encourages creative problem solving
- Helps minimize wasted efforts
- Fosters community
- Increases efficiency
Cross-functional collaboration efforts can facilitate innovation and bolster team alignment. When done well, it also:
Encourages creative problem solving
Cross-functional collaboration helps employees see the challenges that other departments face. This communication can spark ideas. A study conducted by the nonprofit research firm MDRC looked at cross-functional collaboration in higher education and found that cross-functional teams are better equipped to solve large-scale, institutional problems.
In ecommerce companies, teams may be able to work together to find innovative solutions to each other’s challenges. For example, let’s say the marketing team is working to increase average order value. To get customers to add related products to their cart, they might seek help from the engineering team to build recommended product carousels that pop up when customers add something to their carts.
Helps minimize wasted efforts
Consider this scenario: An ecommerce company selling imported candy notices that salt licorice isn’t performing well. To boost sales, the content team starts working on a series of videos to educate consumers about the product’s unique flavor profile and significance in Scandinavian cultures. They’re about to publish the content when they learn that the product team is in the process of offboarding this item. The videos that they made are no longer relevant.
Cross-functional communication could have prevented this wasted effort. When teams share updates, it reduces the risk that two departments are working to solve the same problem with conflicting solutions. Instead, cross-functional teams can focus on projects that complement each other.
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Fosters community
Cross-functional communication eliminates silos. Siloed departments have limited contact with other teams. When this occurs, team members naturally focus on their own goals. This can lead to misunderstandings and frustration. For example, if the marketing and sales teams are focused on increasing revenue, they could grow frustrated by the engineering team’s refusal to place multiple product features on the homepage. In a company with good communication, the engineering team would share that they’ve been instructed to decrease homepage load time, and adding additional features would undermine the team's goals. The departments could then work together to find a balance that helps both teams reach their goals.
Connecting with other departments helps employees see the bigger picture. Cross-functional partnerships remind employees that they’re all working toward the same ultimate goal: a successful, well-run company. A Harvard Business Review study indicates that a strong sense of community can also increase employee satisfaction and help companies achieve better project outcomes. According to their research, personal relationships increase employees’ motivation to succeed.
Increases efficiency
Initiatives like new product launches, email marketing campaigns, and sales all require work from multiple teams. With a launch, for example, the product team selects or designs the item, the engineering team builds a new website page, and the marketing team supplies assets like product photos and page copy. Cross-functional collaboration helps teams work together smoothly and deliver projects on time. To speed up a launch, the product team could share facts about the new offering as soon as they select it. This would enable the marketing team to start drafting copy while the engineering team is building the new page. By the time the product is in stock, all assets will be ready to go live.
Effective cross-team collaboration strategies
- Establish cross-functional teams
- Hold check-in meetings
- Use a shared communication platform
- Set shared goals
- Share institutional knowledge
- Provide a clear org chart
- Develop a cross-functional workflow
Cross-departmental collaboration may be important, but it’s not always easy. These are some of the ways that team leaders can facilitate cross-functional collaboration in an ecommerce setting:
Establish cross-functional teams
Communication can break down when employees don’t know who else is working on their project, so consider assembling dedicated teams for cross-functional projects. Assembling a task force will remove obstacles by designating a clear point of contact for each relevant team.
Hold check-in meetings
Ask project leaders to bring cross-functional team members together for regular check-ins. This helps establish a baseline of strong communication and ensures that different teams are on the same page. Even if departments aren’t actively working on the same tasks, sharing updates promotes understanding and can help teams prepare for future collaborations.
Use a shared communication platform
Using an intra-office communication platform—such as Slack, Google Chat, or Microsoft Teams—can encourage cross-team collaboration efforts by making it easier for colleagues to reach out casually and quickly. Establishing dedicated group chats for specific projects creates a space where employees can see updates from various departments regularly, which is especially beneficial for remote teams.
Set shared goals
Set high-level goals and specific key performance indicators to encourage interdepartmental collaboration. Assigning shared goals can help employees see the benefits of collaboration. This approach reduces the risk of departments prioritizing their own needs over larger progress.
Share institutional knowledge
Internal documentation, such as a list of key terms or an archive of completed projects, can help team members understand how other departments work. Knowledge sharing can prevent communication breakdowns that arise from confusion. When team members don’t understand another department’s references or abbreviations, they may feel discouraged and miss the opportunity to collaborate.
Provide a clear org chart
An organizational chart, or org chart, is a simple way to encourage communication. Providing a clear list of employees in each department, along with their job titles, can help teams identify the best cross-functional partners.
Develop a cross-functional workflow
Call attention to cross-functional projects that require input from multiple teams and make a plan for collaboration. Partner with department heads or project managers to develop a streamlined work process for passing tasks between teams. Consider using collaborative tools, such as a project management platform, to track assignments as they move through different departments. Project management tools (like Monday.com or Airtable) provide a quick way for cross-functional partners to check on a task's status.
Cross-functional collaboration FAQ
What is cross-functional collaboration?
Cross-functional collaboration occurs when teammates from different departments work together to complete projects or tasks. Establishing solid communication between teams helps companies focus on big-picture goals and promotes operational efficiency.
What is an example of cross-functional teamwork?
Ecommerce companies rely on cross-functional teamwork to manage large projects and everyday operations. If a customer is having a problem logging into their online account, for example, the solution could require input from both the customer service and IT teams. A customer service manager would communicate with the customer to understand the problem, and an IT employee would work with them to resolve any related back-end issues.
How do I foster cross-functional collaboration?
Team leaders can improve cross-functional collaboration by establishing clear communication channels between departments. This can involve clarifying points of contact between department leads, implementing regular team meetings, or onboarding a shared project management software to create transparency.
