Using the word ‘silo’ to describe a business problem may seem odd given it’s an agricultural term but it works, and here’s why.
On a farm, a silo has a very specific purpose: to store grain or silage securely, sealed off from everything else, keeping its contents isolated.
In business, unfortunately, the same thing often happens with information. Departments build their own ‘silos’ – sales stores data in one system, finance in another, HR somewhere else entirely. It results in information being locked away instead of being shared.
And just like trying to plan a journey when everyone’s holding a different map, organisations lose time, repeat work, and often head in conflicting directions.
Why silos are bad for business
Silos rarely happen deliberately. They grow over time as departments adopt their own tools and processes, and each team finds its own way to capture and manage that data.
The problem is that none of these systems talk to each other, and so different versions of the truth emerge.
The Power Platform effect
Breaking down silos doesn’t mean ripping out everything that works. It’s about creating a shared foundation so that data flows across the business, instead of being trapped in departmental pockets.
This is where Microsoft’s Power Platform comes in:
- Dataverse, its shared data model, ensures information is stored consistently and made available organisation-wide.
- It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365, Dynamics, and hundreds of third-party apps.
- And its low-code tools mean both IT and business users can build solutions on the same foundation — removing the divide between “builders” and “end-users.”
The result is a single source of truth: one reliable, real-time set of data that every department can trust.
From silos to shared systems: client success stories
At HG Technology, we’ve seen first-hand how businesses benefit when silos come down. A few client examples include:
- Alternative Bridging Company’s CRM system – Built on the Power Platform, this isn’t just a tool for sales. It’s used company-wide, giving everyone from marketing to finance access to the same customer insights.
- Alpha Real Capital’s SharePoint – A centralised and secure hub for documents, used across all departments, replacing scattered storage and outdated email chains.
- Cement wholesaler Breedon Hope’s inspection software – Already rolled out across three or four departments, with more to follow, proving how one solution can evolve to meet the needs of multiple teams.
Whether it’s customer data, document management, or inspection processes, the technology flexes to the needs of the business — and it’s capable of scaling with growth.
More than efficiency: a culture shift
But technology is only half the story. When silos come down, something else happens because teams begin to view data as a shared asset rather than departmental property.
That cultural shift – from isolated units to a connected organisation – is where the real transformation happens.
It’s about enabling faster decisions, improving forecasting, and creating a culture where collaboration thrives.
If your organisation is still stuck in silos and wrestling with the fall out, maybe it’s time to rethink the map? At HG Technology, we help businesses see clearly, replacing complexity with clarity by turning disconnected data into connected intelligence.
You’ll find full case studies on our website or get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation.
