Shure recently commissioned market firm IDC* to conduct a global study to reveal the challenges organisations are facing in hybrid work and how high-quality audio is the ‘invisible influencer’ that helps them optimise daily communication, client experiences and team satisfaction.
According to this research, fewer than 10% of organisations have adopted a standardised approach for meeting room audio technology across their businesses. This leaves workers dealing with inconsistent experience levels, as well-equipped rooms provide rich interactions, but poorly equipped locations deprive them of high-quality audio. Mature organisations are increasingly setting minimum standards for meeting room audio technology as they recognise the importance of providing consistent, good experiences to workers.
The IDC global study also revealed that 72% of financially thriving organisations are currently using professional audio equipment and 28% are planning to invest in high-quality technology. For organisations looking to stand out from the competition, audio is increasingly seen as a differentiator, both for user satisfaction and for making workplaces attractive for employees and customers alike.
With more than 50% of survey respondents pushing for a return to the office, 98% said they recognise the importance of hybrid meetings and 99% say they enable hybrid working model for internal and external collaboration, showing clearly that this model is here to stay.
In this hybrid working environment, it’s clear that audio’s role in terms of successful collaboration, productivity and decision-making will continue to be vital: 90% of respondents said that audio quality enables and encourages meeting equity with 73% saying good audio makes them feel valued, appreciated and more capable. In fact, 94% of respondents believe that technology investments can help recreate the natural flow of face-to-face meetings, contributing to team motivation.
