Noise is a nuisance.
It distracts us and interrupts our concentration.
During a conversation, it can throw us off course or, worse still, cause us to mis-hear or misunderstand.
In a business setting, those conversations - when occurring in voice or video calls - can have a lot riding on them. Customer interactions with contact centre agents, for example. Or virtual meetings with clients and colleagues.
In all those cases, noisy backgrounds can be more than just an annoyance: they can sometimes cause a conversation to be stilted or strained. And when that happens, the resultant reduction in call quality can negatively impact on everyone’s desired outcomes.
The fix? Audio and video conferencing solutions with the smarts to ensure complete clarity.
“Noisy environments create stress and increase cognitive load for those who work in them - we have developed an algorithm that is able to filter out literally everything apart from the spoken word,” says Andreas Orebo Wenzel, Global Leader of Engage AI at leading audio and video solutions provider Jabra, whose ‘ClearSpeech’ upgrade to its award-nominated Engage AI software-as-a-service solution brings 360° crystal clear audio to its headsets, microphones, and speakers.
“Suppressing background noise enables the brain to work less hard and aids people’s productivity. That means a more pleasant experience for those on both sides of any conversation.”
Indeed, in today’s always-on, mobile-first world, customers reach out at times and in locations which can challenge the quality of any voice interaction. And, in turn, those tasked with fielding those calls may be at home, in a coffee shop, or on the move as opposed to sat at a desk in a traditional call center. Those uncontrolled environments can be subject to all kinds of problematic background noise, such as wind, traffic noise, and peripheral voices.
Research carried out by Jabra shows that three quarters of workers it interviewed experienced tiredness as a result of working in a loud environment. Three quarters also said conversations with callers were negatively impacted by background noise. And three quarters said clear, high-quality audio enhanced their ability to focus.
