In modern workplaces, professionals are using digital tools and platforms to communicate, share, and co-create with colleagues, clients, and partners like never before.
Robert Moore, Sales Director (Americas) at headset and speakerphone manufacturer EPOS, says clear audio remains the most important part of the collaboration mix in an ever-evolving technology landscape.
“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. Video collaboration tools have gained popularity very quickly, especially in settings where high picture quality is paramount. But it could be argued that 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 has to remain as professional as possible.”
He continued: “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.
“For more than 115 years, we’ve been recognizing 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 that 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,” Moore emphasized.
“Did you know that while we hear with our ears, we listen with our brains? At EPOS, we put this principle at the heart of our product design process – an approach we call EPOS BrainAdapt.
“This group of technologies works together to improve cognitive performance, minimizing 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 that what matters most is effective communication and being heard crisply and clearly with minimum effort, according to Moore.
“How important is your message? Users need to hear and respond in a natural way through microphones and speakers. 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.”
The return to the office
With more people returning to offices regularly, this inevitably creates more noise and annoying distractions. Moore feels a headset has become a vital tool in blocking out unwanted interference, but still keeping workers connected with their colleagues.
He highlighted: “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. 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 that noise disruption and distraction are the number one problem. These concerns have been endorsed by an exclusive EPOS online customer survey, which revealed what matters most:
- Minimizing distractions – 34%
- Microphone performance – 31%
- Active Noise Cancellation to keep focus – 21%
- Managing noise levels – 14%
Moore concluded: “As more teams return to shared spaces, the rhythm of work changes. Conversations are closer, and background noise and general random distractions inevitably fluctuate. Minimizing these problems matters 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 prioritize a great audio experience to make workers more productive, engaged, and their days run more smoothly.
“A headset is now an essential business ‘friend’ for millions of people around the world – and the quality of their equipment really matters to optimize performance, wherever they are working and how they collaborate.”
About EPOS
EPOS designs, manufactures, and sells high-end audio solutions for business professionals around the world. Building on decades of psychoacoustic research on how the brain perceives sound, EPOS designs audio solutions that provide the best conditions for the brain so you and the people you communicate with can achieve more with less brain energy spent. With headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, EPOS is based on more than 115 years of audio expertise and operates in a global market with offices and partners in more than 60 countries.
Find more information at www.eposaudio.com.
See also: EPOS Secures ISO 27001 Certification
