Employees collaborate with colleagues in different workspaces more than ever, with video calls now an established part of everyday communication – but whatever technology is used requires clear audio for it to be as effective as possible.
In modern workplaces, professionals are using digital tools and platforms to communicate, share and co-create with colleagues, clients and partners like never before.
Jessica Harrison, UK sales director at headset and speakerphone manufacturer EPOS, says clear audio remains the most important part of the collaboration mix in an ever-evolving technology world.
“Today’s workforces are reliant on these digital tools and platforms to enable successful communication, including clear calls where both sides of the conversation can be heard,” she says. “Video collaboration tools have gained popularity very quickly, where high picture quality is paramount. But it could be argued audio is even more important though, as if you can’t be heard then the communication is over.
“Every interaction matters more than ever, whether on a video call, standard call or collaborating with a colleague. Customer and staff expectations continue to rise where everyone must remain as professional as possible. Voice pickup is the number one factor with high-quality microphones at the heart of this process. Voice authenticity is crucial for effective and effortless conversations.”
Jessica continues, “For more than 115 years we’ve been recognising why consistent audio matters – today even more than ever. ‘The Power of Audio’ is much more than just a buzzword, it’s an inherent part of our DNA.”
Revealing research
A wide-ranging EPOS study and scientific whitepaper entitled The Effects of Industry Leading Voice Pickup on Conversation Quality and Efficiency, highlights the importance of voice.
It revealed with microphone noise reduction on, conversation dynamics such as turn-taking and pauses were part of a much more natural collaborative experience.
Measured benefits for study participants of microphone noise reduction were:
🙉 21% reduction in listening effort: participants reported a significant reduction in listening effort when the noise-reducing voice pickup was activated
🙉 18% reduction in concentration difficulty: participants reported a reduction in the difficulty they experienced while trying to focus on the conversation, helping them to engage more easily in the discussion
🙉 9% increase in conversation efficiency: participants can better understand and predict the end of their partner’s turn speaking while simultaneously planning their own response.
“In addition, our acclaimed BrainAdapt advantage encompasses a group of pioneering technologies that work together to significantly improve cognitive performance,” Jessica says.
“Did you know that while we hear with our ears, we listen with our brain? At EPOS we put this principle at the heart of our product design process – an approach we call EPOS BrainAdapt.
“This group of technologies work together to improve cognitive performance, minimising the amount of energy it takes your brain to process sound – leading to less brain fatigue due to less concentration and effort.”
It’s clear in today’s world what matters most is effective communication and being heard crisply and clearly with minimum effort, according to Jessica.
“How important is your message? Users need to hear and respond in a natural way through microphones and speakers,” she says. “Equally important is comfort so users can wear devices, even all day, if necessary, without even realising. Often headsets are used on video calls with a camera. They need to be discreet, seamless and stylish in design. But overall consistent audio will firmly remain one of the most important parts of modern business communication.”
Return to the office
With more people returning to the office on a regular basis, this inevitably creates more noise and annoying distractions. Jessica feels a headset has become a vital tool in blocking out unwanted interference but keeping workers connected with their colleagues.
“Hybrid ANC ensures the best of both worlds, where users can still hear some background sound, as it’s very important not to block out everything and leave them feeling isolated and trapped from the outside world,” she says. “They might need to hear a fire alarm being triggered or respond to a question being asked by a colleague, for example.”
From industry-wide conversations with distributors, resellers and their end users, EPOS has identified how noise disruption and distraction is the number one problem. These concerns have been endorsed by an exclusive EPOS online customer survey, which revealed what matters most:
⚡ Minimising distractions – 34%
⚡ Microphone performance – 31%
⚡ Active Noise Cancellation to keep focus – 21%
⚡ Managing noise levels – 14%.
“As more teams return to shared spaces, the rhythm of work changes,” says Jessica. “Conversations are closer and background noise and general random distractions inevitably fluctuate. Minimising these problems matter most.
“The findings point to a simple truth. In open offices, focus is fragile and being heard matters more than ever. Clarity and concentration have become daily problems, not occasional annoyances. Companies need to prioritise a great audio experience to make workers more productive, engaged and their days run smoother.
“A headset is now an essential business ‘friend’ for millions of people around the world – and the quality of their equipment really matters to optimise performance, wherever they are working and how they collaborate.”
