E-Business
Unleashing the Power of Cross-Functional Collaboration to Thrive in Modern Business Landscape
By Martin Effiong, Senior Operator Partnerships Executive at Infobip
In the dynamic landscape of contemporary business, team-based work and cross-functional projects are rapidly replacing traditional organisational structures, with an increasing number of leading-edge organisations embracing collaboration-driven models.
Martin Effiong, Senior Operator Partnerships Executive at Infobip
The days of isolated departments working independently are disappearing as companies recognise the benefits of diverse expertise and cross-functional collaboration, leading to greater creativity, innovation, and agility, which ultimately translate to better performance of the organisation as a whole.
As a result, business leaders are compelled to optimise their environments to support teamwork, especially given the growing demand for seamless collaboration and its documented benefits. By forming cross-functional teams – which by their very nature break down departmental barriers, eliminate the silo mentality between departments and leverage collective intelligence – organisations can significantly improve their problem-solving and decision-making processes.
Generally speaking, collaboration-driven organisational models result in increased productivity, agility, enhanced innovation, faster transformation, resource optimisation and a rich idea bank, emanating from diverse perspectives. Essentially, cross-functional collaboration, driven by effective communication and shared goals, empowers organisations to achieve greater productivity, innovation and adaptability.
Enabling corporate culture
Fostering effective cross-functional collaboration requires business leaders to consider several critical factors while acting deliberately to achieve collaboration, such as encouraging open communication among team members to allow for the free flow of ideas and feedback. While a strong and positive corporate culture is key to driving the adoption of collaborative work models, an organisational structure that does not support cross-functional collaborative engagement can actively work against its uptake and adoption.
Therefore, it is imperative for organisations to proactively create an environment that encourages mutual support and collaboration among team members, ultimately elevating job satisfaction and teamwork. By reinforcing a shared purpose among team members, everyone can be aligned towards shared goals and objectives. This alignment not only promotes a sense of commitment but also encourages active participation from team members, ensuring their involvement in various team activities.
From a technology perspective, cloud technologies are key to enabling the successful and effective adoption of collaboration-driven work models. Cloud plays a critical role in revolutionising and empowering the modern workforce by providing the tools, services and connectivity quality that enhances corporate flexibility and security, thus catalysing collaboration.
Cloud-based solutions not only allow businesses to scale effectively on demand and optimise demand management but also enhance collaboration by facilitating remote access to company resources, fostering richer levels of media enabled collaboration among employees. All these attributes of cloud technology result in streamlined remote work processes, easier remote team management and the reduction of time-consuming manual tasks.
The pivotal role of communication platform providers
Providers of cloud-based communication platforms play a pivotal role in assisting business leaders in optimising their environments for effective cross-functional teamwork. They achieve this through a variety of means, spanning from offering cloud-based services like SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions, to delivering data-driven industry insights, trends and forecasts derived from comprehensive analytics and cross-market expertise.
The shift towards cross-functional collaboration has seen leading communication platform providers adapt their solutions to support cross-functional collaboration and evolving business needs through various strategies. For example, by promoting a hybrid approach to solution deployment, communication providers can support cross-functional teams that manage digital communication within organisations with the benefits of cloud-based hosting, as well as ensure compliance for businesses that require local hosting.
Ultimately, the success of cross-functional collaboration within an organisation is largely dependent on an enabling corporate culture, as well as the right choice of collaboration services and solution providers. Organisations should strive to partner with globally connected and reputable providers with a wealth of global market experience knowledge base, best practices, recommendations, and insights to leverage on.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its ICT Department.
This marks a significant stride toward enhancing electoral integrity, efficiency, and innovation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
This decision was reached at the Commission’s regular weekly meeting held in Abuja, following a series of consultations and engagements on the global and continental impact of AI on elections.
In a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC underscored that the growing relevance of AI in electoral matters necessitated a proactive institutional framework to manage both the risks and opportunities it presents.
“Our interactions with electoral bodies across Africa highlighted both the risks of AI—such as fake news and content manipulation—and the vast potential it holds for data-driven decision-making, risk mitigation, automated voter services, and geo-spatial intelligence for logistics,” Olumekun noted.
According to him, the newly created division will centralise the Commission’s AI efforts, ensuring a harmonized approach to deploying intelligent systems that enhance decision-making, improve voter engagement, and boost the credibility of the electoral process.
“The creation of this division puts the Commission at the forefront of institutionalizing AI capabilities in electoral management.
It is also part of our ongoing reforms in areas where administrative action is sufficient to drive change,” he said.
He added that the AI Division will help INEC better coordinate its existing technological investments while providing safeguards against the misuse of AI technologies.
“We are positioning ourselves to maximise the positive impact of AI while mitigating its negative implications. This step strengthens the credibility and transparency of elections in Nigeria,” Olumekun concluded.
The initiative, INEC emphasised, reflects its commitment to embracing innovation in safeguarding democracy and improving electoral services nationwide.
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has unveiled a new Application Programming Interface (API) integration system to allow private firms access company data from the Commission’s database.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), registrar general of CAC, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling said the system would give selected private organizations access to CAC services through technology-based companies, called “super agents.”
“This is a practical step to show that the Commission is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” he said.
Magaji explained that the integration allows the agents to retrieve data from the CAC database for use in specific client requests, outside the standard services provided by the Commission.
“Before now, only a few government agencies had this integration, especially those involved in investigations, anti-money laundering, and terrorism financing. Now, private companies that meet the criteria can also access it,” he said.
He said the system complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth may be restricted.
“This is a call to law firms and companies with the right technology. We’ve started with NIPS because of their credibility. Embassies and banks can now authenticate company records directly through them.”
“There are prescribed fees. We already collect them on our portal, and now customers can also pay through these agents,” he explained.
He named NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE as some of the companies involved.
“OPE and MoneyPoint handle only registrations. But NIPS has moved further into validation and verification,” he said.
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at NIBSS, who represented Premier Oiwoh, managing director, said the service allows secure and efficient data verification.
“This is the result of years of effort to connect our systems with CAC. It will help users verify data within the limits of data protection laws,” she said.
She said the move is a way to lower costs and promote interoperability across the financial sector.
Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior’s said the initiative forms a key part of its ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency, and significantly improving service delivery to the public.
The new digital platform is designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround times and improved user experience.
The platform allows users to apply for and manage business permits, ensuring that both local and foreign businesses operate legally in Nigeria.
It includes an Expatriate Quota System to manage work permits for foreign employees, helping companies hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
The Citizenship Administration and Management System provides a streamlined online process for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related services.
Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are expected to access the platform through the ministry’s website: https://interior.gov.ng , Direct Portal Access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng , or contact candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support and inquiries.
“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement read in part.
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