2 minute read
Flawless audio as a key component
Chris Morley, market development manager, integrated systems at Shure, discusses the need for perfect audio in the modern hybrid office
The hybrid workplace is a flexible model that adapts to a remote and on-site business strategy. There are numerous benefits to this style of working practice, for both employers and staff, but there are challenges.
One of those challenges was highlighted by a Shurecommissioned Frost & Sullivan report which highlighted the need for flawless audio as a key component of the modern meeting environment.
Pre-pandemic virtual meetings were often fraught with technical disruptions that created frustration, unnecessary delay or, in worst case scenarios, those meetings being cancelled. As organisations continue to invest in the technology now available, and embrace the hybrid work ethic, there is now no need – and no room – for technical disruption and unprofessional collaborations.
BEST PRACTICE
A simple ‘best practice’ approach to videoconferencing can be all that’s required for highly productive, collaborative meetings, both in the physical and virtual/work from home (WFH) meeting environment, and there are a number of ways to achieve this. But to appreciate the benefits, we must first understand the challenges that AV and IT leaders experience on a daily basis.
Almost all respondents interviewed for the report (98 per cent) believed future meetings will include remote participants. With this in mind, a home-working standard is a key requirement for those participating in meetings remotely. Having a list of approved products, such as noise cancelling headphones, a high-quality USB microphone and camera will make meetings more effective and productive.
Picking the right tools for the job is an important part of the transition from an office to WFH environment. Consideration should also be given to the acoustic properties of the room in which meetings will take place. Specialist acoustic treatments placed within a space will vastly improve the overall noise ambience of a room, along with software which can be used to suppress any unwanted noise.
While some employees have embraced the WFH trend, others have felt a sense of isolation away from the standard office environment, reflected in the report statistic revealing that 89 per cent of respondents felt VC helped them feel connected with colleagues and the business in general.
Flawless audio is pivotal in this sense for collaboration and engagement. Being able to express an opinion or make important decisions with others effectively is crucial and means that less time is spent asking others to repeat themselves, and more time getting on with the task in hand.
More and more organisations are implementing a hybrid working environment. Thinking beyond video as the only form of communication – and realising how important an effective audio ecosystem is too – will be crucial to future business success.
Download the F&S research '7 Steps To Improve Meetings In The New Work Era' by visiting https://effortless.shure.com/contenthub/categories/all-topics/frost-sullivan-analyst-research/.
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