Elly Yates-Roberts |
According to EPOS research, disruption to audio and video collaboration is costing businesses when it comes to productivity.
In fact, the average end user loses 31 minutes per week due to poor sound quality on voice calls. Instead of moving on to the next task, workers are forced to spend unnecessary time following up on conversations they have already had.
Here at EPOS, we believe that individuals and teams can achieve more, perform better and increase productivity with sound excellence. Owned by the Demant Group, we have built our brand on 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’s known as EPOS today is formerly the Enterprise Solutions and Gaming business units. On the Enterprise Solutions side of the business, we’ve made it our mission to unleash human potential by perfecting the audio experience.
In today’s business landscape, where hybrid and remote working practices continue to become more commonplace, the right audio equipment and collaboration tools are more critical than ever. Think back to the last conference call you joined, or the last time a customer, partner or colleague called you. Did you clearly hear everything that was said? If not, you’re not alone. In fact, “What?” is one of the most expensive words in business today.
And while the world of hybrid work has provided a new-found sense of flexibility, 95 per cent of today’s modern workers admit that their concentration and efficiency at work has suffered due to sound issues. Respondents cite disruption caused by loud colleagues (50 per cent) as the most commonly raised issue. What’s more is that in addition to the extra time spent on work and the associated business cost, there is also an emotional impact for end users. Research found that 35 per cent of respondents feel frustration due to bad audio, 25 per cent experience moments of stress and 15 per cent even feel embarrassment or lack of confidence.
With bad audio experiences causing harm to both organisations and the individuals, businesses need to consider how to equip their employees with the tools needed to succeed. We apply world-leading research, through our collaboration with our parent company Demant and Oticon, on how the brain perceives sound. Based on this insight, we design our audio processing with the specific aim to reduce the cognitive load in the brain. From there, our solutions are crafted with high-quality materials that are built to last and comfortable to wear for long periods of time by providing the perfect balance between excellent audio, contemporary design and maximum comfort.
But when considering audio solutions, it’s important to know that “what?” is a two-way street. The ability to have the other party understand what we are saying is at least as important as us understanding what they are saying. And that is also the difference between a premium headset versus headphones. Specifically designed for business, headsets typically include a microphone. Anyone can shout at their laptops or the speaker on their desks, so sound clarity both ways is what creates the ideal audio experience.
Given the numerous issues that bad audio can create for business, it is not surprising that there is an appetite for change, and we at EPOS are ready to help. We are dedicated to providing customers with professional-grade audio devices that go deeper than audio quality alone. The IT world has finally discovered that the “bring your own device” mentality results in dissatisfaction for both the employee and those they are interacting with. So, just as no IT department would allow employees to use their own PCs on a corporate network, why should devices such as audio equipment be any different?
Today’s business professionals need the best of the best when it comes to audio 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 helping you break up with bad audio by equipping businesses and their employees with the audio solutions – from headsets to speakerphones – needed to thrive in the hybrid workplace. By taking swift action and investing in high quality audio solutions, organisations can finally put “what?” out of business.
John Ho is strategic alliance manager for Americas at EPOS
This article was originally published in the Winter 21/22 issue of Technology Record. To get future issues delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for a free subscription.