We beg you to find someone more integrated between multiple departments than resident Little Rock PrintView expert Scott Banks.

Scott describes himself as a pretty laid-back guy who enjoys chess and reading.  Friendly, dependable, engaged with his duties? Sure. But as the sole person in Arkansas in charge of collecting meters for billings, Scott finds himself in multiple departments at multiple times throughout any given day.

Needless to say, he’s well-integrated.

To integrate means to combine (one thing) with another so that they become a whole. We know that no one department can make the mission work without the others around them. So… we’ve gotta work together, office to office, department to department, and people to people. That’s what Scott does.

“It’s fair to say that I’m frequently in touch with all the other departments,” Scott said. “My willingness to be involved and be helpful with other departments often means that they are willing to do the same for me.”

Keep People Integrated: What it looks like for Scott.

A quick snapshot of Scot’s workload.

Scott Banks works under Russ Hill and is, at this time, or sole person in charge of collecting meters for billings. That includes FMAudit, email, phone, etc. How he interacts with other departments:

• Admin – He works very closely with Kym McGee when it comes to FMAudit. They are constantly on the phone/email getting customers back up and running, troubleshooting, etc. There is also the  obvious getting the meters that we use for billing. He also submits meter readings to the dealers we work with on ITTs.
• Connect Team – He sets up FMAudit installs, when needed, for all of our deliveries so that the Connect Team members can quickly do the installs onsite.
• Sales – Works with sales reps on getting FMAudit data, EA meter details, getting customers set up on FMAudit
• Customers – Collecting meters, reinstalling FMAudit, helping with simple break/fixes when it comes to printing and scanning to email/folder.

Keep People Integrated: An example of why it works.

Scott’s family owns a grocery store that has b3een in the family for three generations now. His father used to tell him frequently: “It’s 10 times harder to gain a new customer than it is to lose an old one… You never just lose one.  Your reputation is everything."

Scot’s ability to bounce back and forth between service, admin, and sales directly impacts the customer experience. A customer might mention in passing that they’ve got lines on their copies. Scott will proactively let  service know. Just recently, when he talked to a customer, they mentioned they were retiring soon. Scot put a bug in the ear of that client’s sales rep to reach out.

“My father’s words have always stuck with me. That’s what appeals to me about Datamax. I really like our shared dedication of helping the customers and making them realize we’re not just a faceless corporation. We are people working together,” Scott said.

Keep People Integrated: 10 Strategies for breaking down traditional office barriers.

Keeping offices and departments integrated is crucial for maintaining efficient communication, collaboration, and overall organizational cohesion. Here are a few strategies to achieve this:

1. Cross-Functional Teams: Create cross-functional teams that consist of members from different departments working together on specific projects or initiatives. This encourages diverse perspectives and knowledge sharing.
2. Regular Meetings: Hold regular departmental and inter-departmental meetings to share updates, progress, and challenges. This keeps everyone informed and aligned with each other's goals.
3. Open Communication Channels: Establish open communication channels such as chat platforms, email lists, or intranet portals that allow employees to easily share information, ask questions, and collaborate across departments.
4. Collaborative Tools: Implement collaborative tools like project management software, document sharing platforms, and video conferencing solutions. These tools facilitate remote collaboration and information sharing.
5. Shared Goals: Ensure that each department's goals are aligned with the overall company objectives. When everyone is working towards the same purpose, it fosters unity and shared focus.
6. Regular Workshops and Training: Organize workshops, training sessions, or lunch-and-learns where employees from different departments can learn from each other's expertise. This promotes continuous learning and knowledge exchange.
7. Rotation Programs: Implement rotation programs where employees have the opportunity to work in different departments temporarily. This helps them gain a broader perspective and better understand how different parts of the organization function.
8. Social Events: Arrange social events like team-building activities, office parties, or casual gatherings. These events create opportunities for employees to interact in a relaxed environment and build personal connections.
9. Leadership Visibility: Encourage leaders to be visible across different departments. This could involve leadership members attending departmental meetings or hosting open-door sessions for employees to discuss concerns.
10. Feedback Mechanisms: Establish mechanisms for employees to provide feedback about cross-departmental processes, communication, and collaboration. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement.