In the ever-evolving landscape of hybrid work, the importance of effective communication and collaboration has become more evident than ever. As we find ourselves in a new year, an old question remains: “Who holds the key to success in hybrid meetings?” Is it remote workers, their in-office counterparts, or perhaps the executive leadership team? While the answer isn’t quite black and white, a recent IDC* InfoBrief sponsored by Shure, “The Hidden Influencer: Rethinking Audio Could Impact Your Organization Today, Tomorrow, and Forever”, suggests the most important influencer isn’t a person at all – it’s audio.
For organisations looking for a competitive edge, it’s important to consider what others are doing that might be contributing to their productivity and ultimate success. IDC research found that 72% of financially thriving companies are using dedicated audio equipment. While it’s not necessarily causation, it’s an interesting correlation for organisations to keep in mind when looking for a competitive advantage and deciding what technology to invest in to boost productivity levels.
Another key consideration is that audio is evidently more important than video in the hybrid world. Not only would meetings be impossible without audio, but a significantly higher number of hybrid workers (81% vs. 19%) agreed that better audio quality improved their virtual meeting experience more than better image quality. Not being able to hear meeting participants properly or not being heard while speaking can be frustrating, decrease engagement, lead to poor decision making and lower productivity levels. Ensuring premium audio quality for all meeting participants is key to breaking this circle of frustration.
All in all, better audio quality has the power to improve productivity by enabling meeting equity, which makes employees feel valued whether they are chiming in from the office or remotely. 90% of respondents agree that better audio helps achieve more meaningful and productive work, making it a crucial factor for organisations to consider when looking for a competitive edge.
REMOTE SHIFT
Although it’s been a few years since the initial shift to remote and hybrid work, many companies are still grappling with how to create a healthy company culture under the circumstances. Whether it’s implementing an unlimited PTO policy or providing free lunches on in-office days, the reality is that most of these initiatives aren’t sustainable because they don’t address the major pain points of hybrid work. According to the report, 60% of respondents say it’s difficult to find a natural discussion flow in hybrid meetings, making it clear that there’s still a disconnect. To help recreate the natural flow of face-to-face conversations, having high-quality technology solutions, including pristine audio, is key. This will improve the hybrid meeting experience and the feeling of connection on a daily basis.
Realising and acting on the importance of audio can also help improve employee wellbeing, staff retention, and organisational image, which are all key performance indicators of a strong company culture. IDC’s research found that, for organisations investing in audio, 90% of employees view it as an investment in their future at the company and it improves the way they view the organisation, encouraging them to stick around. Furthermore, 73% of respondents say it makes them feel valued, appreciated, and more capable, making it clear that addressing pain points like poor audio has a positive impact on company culture in the long term.
Success in today’s dynamic global economy is often a result of organisations’ ability to be agile, flexible, and resilient. To achieve these skills, organisations must consider how audio plays a role. According to IDC, 49% of respondents say audio quality improves decision making, making it a critical component of organisational success by enabling people to interact across hybrid ecosystems.
Decisions can’t be made without collaboration, and collaboration in a hybrid environment can’t happen without audio. By prioritising audio and investing in high-quality meeting technology to improve collaboration, organisations will be one step closer towards achieving optimised decision making and unmatched competitive advantage.
As we continue to navigate the hybrid landscape of 2024 and beyond, organisations must take these findings into account when considering their meeting technology investments. With 99% of organisations committing to a hybrid working model for internal and external collaboration, there’s no question that hybrid is here to stay. Now is the time for organisations to rethink audio and transform their hybrid meeting experiences for the better.
**IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Shure, The Hidden Influencer: Rethinking Audio Could Impact Your Organization Today, Tomorrow, and Forever, doc #EUR150735523, July 2023
