Elly Yates-Roberts |
Accelerated by the pandemic, the way we work is constantly evolving.
Throughout 2021, we saw a dramatic increase in organisations allowing their employees to work from anywhere. The days of solely communicating with colleagues, partners and customers in person are a thing of the past. Now, people are communicating via phone, video and applications such as Microsoft Teams.
Here at EPOS, we pride ourselves on having more than 115 years of audio expertise. With a rich history, we are not a new industry player – up until 2020 we were known as Sennheiser Communications, a company established in 2003 as a joint venture between audio specialist Sennheiser and the world-leading hearing healthcare group, Demant. In 2020, the two companies decided to conclude the joint venture and evolve the business segments into different set-ups. What is known as EPOS today was established from the former enterprise solutions and gaming business units. On the enterprise solutions side of the business, we have made it our mission to unleash human potential by perfecting the audio experience.
As our communication continues to take place virtually, businesses will need to make sure their employees are equipped with technology designed to keep up. And while high quality audio is key, finding success in the hybrid working model is about more than just having the right headsets. Rather, it is about having an entire ecosystem of devices, including both audio and video solutions, to enable today’s professionals to thrive in the hybrid world.
In order to thrive, organisations will need to invest in technology that people on both sides of the conversation (the speaker and listener), can have confidence in. Our Understanding Sound Experiences, 2021 report found that 88 per cent of decision makers say that bad audio has caused their company issues in the past 12 months, but 77 per cent of those decision makers also think that the right technology can alleviate the problems. This underscores the need for businesses to equip their employees with the right technology. In doing this, their employees can focus their full attention on the content of the conversation and engaging with those involved.
At EPOS, we recognise that being able to read facial expressions and body language improves our ability to gauge people’s reactions to our ideas and allows conversations to flow more smoothly. In late 2021, we took our first steps into the video collaboration space with the introduction of the EXPAND Vision 3T – a video bar certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android. This simple and intuitive device was designed specifically for focus and small meeting rooms of up to seven participants. As we head into 2022, customers can expect to see some new additions to EPOS’s video and collaboration offerings. Between EPOS headsets and video solutions, today’s workers will be able to hear and see more clearly as they collaborate with partners and colleagues around the world.
Today’s business professionals need the best of the best when it comes to audio and video solutions. That’s why we partner with major industry leading software and hardware providers to ensure proven end-to-end compatibility and a seamless plug-and-play experience. We also provide a software ecosystem that enables digital transformation and seamless communication anywhere, anytime and on any device. At EPOS, we are committed to equipping businesses and their employees with the audio and video solutions needed to thrive in the hybrid workplace.
Hybrid work is here to stay, but there is still something to be said for the human connection people get from face-to-face interactions. This means that replicating a natural experience in the virtual world is more important than ever – a feat which can only be achieved by investing in the right technology.
John Ho is a strategic alliance manager at EPOS
This article was originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of Technology Record. To get future issues delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for a free subscription.