The transformations that have happened in the lives of working professionals over the past 18 months have depended on a range of technologies. How we work together, connect with each other, collaborate, share, and get things done – all of this has changed beyond recognition, and the market has exploded and differentiated to fit demand.
The one common factor that every UCC experience depends on, however, is good quality sound
EPOS’s recently released Sound Experiences 2021 reports highlighted that the average end user loses 31 minutes per week, due to poor audio quality on calls, and 15% of them had lost a key piece of work or communication resulting in direct financial loss.
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From misunderstandings to repetition to failure to connect at all, the price of bad audio can be devastating. Background noise, asking for repetition, glitches and interference – all of these also shatter the illusion of virtual closeness which online meeting tools carefully cultivate, having more subtle impact on the collaboration experience, when choppy audio reminds us they’re not really there – exacerbating feelings of disconnection, stress, and isolation.
When everything is optimised, sound helps humanise the online collaboration, overcoming the stilted struggles of video meetings, and bringing our colleagues to life as rounded actors: nuanced, complex, and in context. Voice is the glue which connects teams and builds relationships, enabling us to hear what is said, unsaid, intended, and implied. As the EPOS report put it:
“Audio technology is at the heart of this revolution. By acknowledging the powerful role of audio, we can ensure a total focus on the substance of what we say – and make that the professional standard we all aspire to.”
New ways of working demand new technology
For many unexpected participants in the great remote revolution of 2020, maintaining the same professional standards, as well as positive mindset, while working at home, has been challenging. Part of this can be attributed to the use of technology built for in-office settings, with more controllable environments – and due to the emotional impact of poor audio technology, 26% of employees have felt frustrated, irritated, or annoyed, with 19% experiencing moments of stress.
As we transition to a hybrid setup in a gradually unlocking world, the acoustic environment becomes even more unpredictable. And while audio-only meetings enable us to focus on the spoken content more closely without the distraction and eye strain of ‘zoom fatigue’, it’s vital that participants have the right audio technology to participate effectively. One person with feedback, background noise, or poor connectivity, degrades the experience for everyone on the call.
So it’s not surprising that EPOS’ research found that decision makers are planning to invest in audio quality. 86% of decision makers are considering purchasing new audio equipment in the next 12 months – providing headphones, headsets, or personal speakerphones to 32% more employees than before.
As the report concluded:
“By acting now, decision makers can address immediate audio issues in their organization and mitigate the risks they pose to the business and employees in the long term. Using high-quality audio to create an optimal working set-up for all employees – regardless of their location – will empower everyone to contribute to a new and better way of working.”
You can learn more about the research, and EPOS audio solutions, at https://www.eposaudio.com/en/us/enterprise/insights/white-papers/audio-for-hybrid-future
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