Jumped on a conference call today?
Yes, of course you have.
Face-to-face meetings are SO last year: the pandemic has ensured that.
But, as video conferencing continues to redefine the way the world does business, it’s audio on which we most rely.
After all, whilst cameras can be turned on or off, a video call (conference or otherwise) is nothing without sound.
Many have made do with their devices’ in-built mics and speakers but, with everything suggesting a future permanence to this new way of working, differentiation is now energising the market.
And that means quality really matters – for resellers and end users alike.
“Mobility, audio sharpness, reduction of background noise – these are all factors which greatly influence the overall quality of any call, whether voice or video,” says Jeff May, UK Sales Director at Swedish-based global audio and video collaboration endpoints giant Konftel.
“In the beginning, most people just used whatever kit they were given. Now, people want choice. They want top quality audio and video in every online meeting they attend. We can cope with video going fuzzy by just turning off our cameras. Without audio, nothing works.”
The act of communication has changed beyond recognition; hastened this past 18 months due to the pandemic.
Cloud migration, VOIP, softphone applications, UCaaS: myriad technological advancements have helped support forced behavioural changes that are now driving next gen markets.
As always, opportunities abound.
“Call environments are now hugely varied,” says May.
“Conference calls used to only be made inside designated conference call meeting rooms set up for good acoustics.
“Now calls are made from pretty much anywhere. Jumping into a conference has become the norm. There is a lot more dynamism and spontaneity to the way we utilise conference calling and so we have come to expect so much more from the kit and the functionality.
“Users are far more discerning and will continue to be so going forward. They are also much more aware as to what the options are and the differentiators that exist.
“Those with the best audio and video on a call stand out. Their contribution to the call is accentuated as a result of the way they sound. It’s the way we make the best impression nowadays.
“People are seeing that and they are understanding that it’s no longer the right thing to simply rely on microphones and speakers that are integrated into their devices.”
Mobility and inter-operability are also key drivers.
Konftel’s product range plugs and plays via USB with all devices; enabling user-friendly audio-only, video only or audio+video synchronisation with multiple devices AND multiple comms platforms.
The same cutting-edge ‘OmniSound’ technology powers the entire range (Konftel invented conference calling so their pedigree is assured) and there’s a price point for every organisation between £100-£1,500 depending on specific requirements.
In addition, premium audio kit can be mixed with entry level video kit, and vice versa: clever, award-winning modular design providing the ultimate in style, flexibility and affordability.
“Organisations are busy responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic and its effects on the way we all work,” says May.
“For many that means maintaining a workforce that may be much more remote than it was before and for whom conferencing will always be the new norm.
“It also means many will need to either redesign or re-equip office locations to take account of the same changes. Large conference rooms with vast glass tables, for example, make for really poor acoustics.
“Organisations will look at the financial implications of returning to pre-pandemic ways of working – physical meetings, travel costs, productivity downtime – and compare those with a smarter, more efficient investment in high quality conferencing kit”
For channel resellers, the scope is obvious.
“Konftel delivers great video quality as well as great audio and we’re super-supportive of our partner resellers too,” says May.
“The high-quality audio-to-your-video story is already a compelling one but we can add value by making demo equipment available, providing free technical support to resellers and their customers and attending sales pitches.”
Sounds great..!
