EPOS says that high-quality audio solutions are decisive for well-being, efficiency and professional appearance of hybrid workers. 61% of end users say the right technology solutions make them better and more professional.
Technology is at the heart of the new standard in professionalism required for hybrid working. According to the latest “Insight into Sound Experiences” report from global audio brand EPOS, business leaders and employees are looking for audio and video solutions that allow them to maintain quality while benefiting from a mix of remote and office work. In the past year, many professionals have begun to work completely differently.
EPOS: ‘Even with hybrid working now a reality, professional end-users are still losing over half an hour a week due to poor audio – there is even an increase from 2020, despite the growing popularity of working from home. While hybrid working promises more flexibility for both individuals and businesses, the changes needed to make the working method optimal remain an issue and audio technology is a primary factor’.
Employees see hybrid working as the future
There is general agreement that hybrid work offers new opportunities. However, there is a difference between the expectations of policymakers and those of employees about the nature of post-pandemic work. Over half (53%) of policymakers worldwide expect that most people will simply work from the office. Among employees, only 26% think this way. In contrast, 36% of employees think they will work from home more often than before the pandemic. Only 30% of policymakers assume this, according to the EPOS report. We read further: ‘Employees’ work attitudes have changed significantly in the past year. The transition to hybrid forms of working therefore offers great opportunities for the business world. Companies that approach their future thoughtfully and strategically, and take into account the views of their people, have the greatest chance of success and attract the greatest talent. Organizations may choose to invest in high-quality audio solutions that meet the demands of mobile working. And those that do so are already taking a lead on the competition in the post-pandemic world’.
With high-quality audio, employees function better
‘Missing important customer information or asking people to repeat things during virtual meetings can damage relationships with customers and make bringing in new business difficult. In a hybrid environment, poor audio is more damaging to business than an unpolished shoe or a limp handshake: 60% of decision-makers think better audio helps them retain customers, while 71% believe fewer pitches will be missed in the future,’ the EPOS report figures Investing in audio offers solace, according to the study: ‘Companies that turn to the right audio technology now have an advantage: they are more efficient, professional and decisive in improving the customer experience. EPOS discovered that 64% of end users believe that high-quality audio solutions enable them to capture crucial information better, while 61% believe that the right solutions make them appear more professional’.
Wellbeing
EPOS: ‘The well-being of employees is closely related to this and is decisive for the success of any organization. Technology that is intended for the quiet environment of an office often does not work in a home office setup. Consequently, many employees struggle to maintain their work schedule when away from the office. This is mainly due to poor audio. 26% of employees feel frustrated, edgy or irritated, and 19% experience moments of stress’.
Recognize the risk, prepare for the opportunity
The importance of high-quality audio to the success of hybrid organizations cannot be overstated, according to EPOS: ‘83% of decision makers report that poor audio experiences have caused problems in the past 12 months, with 20% reporting that dissatisfied customers resulted. 15% of respondents reported that audio problems even caused a financial hardship, as a deal or contract fell through. And 17% reported financial loss due to improper fulfillment of a contract’.
Importance
Also the logical conclusion that ‘poor audio has a negative impact on customer relations, productivity and employee satisfaction. Globally, decision-makers recognize the importance of using the right audio technology and are investing in high-quality solutions. 86% say they are considering purchasing new audio equipment next year. By doing just that now, decision-makers can immediately address the audio problems in their organization and mitigate the risks in the longer term’ read the EPOS epistle.
Seize the opportunity
“Companies should seize this opportunity,” says Jeppe Dalberg-Larsen, president at EPOS. “They can take concrete steps to bridge the gap between working in the office and working from home – starting by ensuring that everyone has a clear say. When over 80% of decision makers say that bad audio causes problems – and that these lead to dissatisfied customers and direct loss of revenue – we can no longer ignore such problems. With more than a third of all employees worldwide now wanting to work remotely (from home), we need to provide them with the technology that will allow them to fully develop while working. This is the only way we can stay ahead of the hybrid model and set a new standard of professionalism. In doing so, the clarity of what we say is – rightly – the key to success.”