In the past, the dominant approach among headset vendors was profiling use cases and constructing their portfolios accordingly, designing a separate model for each use case. While many vendors still take that approach, for JPL Telecom, things started shifting once Internet of Things came along, driving the headset manufacturer to unlock a host of unfulfilled potentials. 

“IoT should have been the leading technology when it comes to headsets. The fact that it’s a wearable device makes it the ultimate device to use with IoT,” says Morgan de Ruiter, Managing Director EMEA at JPL Telecom. 

“That was the missing link in the industry, until we came up with a modular system for our headsets.” 

Instead of having JPL doing the profiling for them, the modular system allows customers to profile themselves using the different variations of the headset vendor’s core products. 

More Powerful, More Functional Users

Designing adaptable, upgradable headset models allows JPL and to give users a choice, which is a significant differentiator compared to other vendors. 

“If you look at our direct competitors on DECT, they tend to have about five different models, each configurated for a different use case,” de Ruiter explains.  

“We only have one DECT headset – the JPL Explore – but we allow a simple adaptation of the hardware to the specific use case.” 

The JPL Explore comes with a base station containing the traditional desk phone connectors. However, if the situation requires (and nowadays, it often does), users can add USB and Bluetooth connectors to it on-the-fly with minimum effort. 

“With any other brand, they’d have to purchase a different headset. But with us, they can start with the basic model, and if they need USB or Bluetooth later on, all they have to do is open up the base and plug in the relevant module.” 

The modularity of the headsets it a huge benefit for users, both from an investment protection perspective and from a functionality perspective.  

“Take our corded TT3 headset, for example. One of its most useful modular features is an optional desk controller (BL-056-DT) adding a Teams functionality, which easily connects to the BL-056+P Plug and Play headset controller,” de Ruiter shares. 

This allows to bring Teams forward at the click of button, which effectively means that a typical user, working on seven apps simultaneously, doesn’t have to manually search for Teams to start interacting. 

“Many users fluctuate between being traditional call center players and wanting the option to use a soft phone. With this, they don’t have to choose. They can start with the standard controller and upgrade if they like” 

JPL is planning on launching Zoom and Genesys versions of the desk controller in the upcoming future to help extended that functionality even further.  

“This is a main focus of ours – using modularity to help users be more functional and more powerful.” 

Resellers Win, Too

While customers benefit from a significant improvement in cost-efficiency, resellers win, too: the modular system simply allows them more opportunities to upsell. 

“The ability to add bits to an existing headset, upgrading it and extending its functionality further, is effectively a rebuy potential,” explains Jonathan Nuttall, UK Sales Manager at JPL Telecom. 

“It gives the reseller another chance to sell something to the end user. It’s not just ‘buy a cable,’ it’s ‘now you’ve got the cable, do you need Teams?’ With JPL headsets, resellers can upsell with anything from a modular drawer to a new headband and extra ear cushions. That’s quite an attractive deal.” 

“We’re definitely aiming to maintain modularity as a strategy for the long term,” de Ruiter concludes. 

“We’re now working on a new product that’s going to be part of the Element series, where we’re going to bring that even further and create more user-centric focus” 

 



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