114 V I EWPO I NT Businesses must invest in audio technology to be able to deliver fully hybrid meetings that are productive for all participants J OE DE BOL D : E POS Enabling inclusive meetings The future of hybrid work is continuing to take shape as an increasing number of meetings are hosted virtually. According to a white paper from audio solution provider EPOS and research firm Ipsos, titled The Future of Meeting Rooms in the Post-COVID World, today’s employees now spend an average of over seven hours a week in virtual meetings. This represents an increase of two hours per week in 2021. With more businesses looking to take advantage of the time and cost benefits of meeting virtually rather than in-person, ensuring that the quality of those meetings is of the utmost importance. And while high-quality audio is key, finding success in the hybrid working model is about more than just investing in the right headsets. Rather, it’s about having an entire ecosystem of devices – including both audio and video solutions – to enable today’s professionals to thrive in the hybrid world. To do this, organisations will need to invest in technology that both the speaker and listener can have confidence in. Our research has shown that 88 per cent of decision makers say that bad audio has caused their company issues, but 77 per cent of those decision makers also think that the right technology can alleviate those problems. This underscores the need for businesses to equip their employees with the right technology so that they can focus their full attention on the content of the conversation and engaging with those involved. As we adjust to a new way of working, we find ourselves constantly moving in and out of cluttered sound environments – both at home and at work. Our brains struggle to process the sounds coming from headsets and speakers, as well as people in the room. Such sound environments result in cognitive overload, leading to concentration loss, tiredness and stress. At EPOS, we understand that we hear with our ears, but we listen with our brains. So, “Finding success in the hybrid working model is about more than just headsets”
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