In a recent survey of 400 US enterprises pre-COVID, professional audio manufacturer Shure revealed that, while 70% of meetings are already virtual and 90% of employees regard them as ‘vital ‘to the success of their organisation, a huge 96% of professionals are frustrated with the format.
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Richard Knott[/caption]
Now, while the economic world continues to embrace the ‘new normal,’ virtual meetings are commonplace and part of an organisation's day-to-day proceedings, resulting in an even greater need for clear, concise audio and hassle-free communication and collaboration.
However, away from the boardrooms of large companies, it’s clear that insufficient investment has been made in video conferencing systems and experiences are beset by stilted audio, background noise and unintelligible speech. The survey emphasised that 81% of virtual meeting attendees regard flawless audio as a key requirement for holding successful meetings.
“Research suggests that the typical larger boardroom meetings with 20 people or more in the room at the same time is unlikely to happen, at least the foreseeable future,” said Richard Knott, Market Development Manager at Shure. “With companies currently cutting back on travel requirements, there will be a far greater need for virtual meetings. And, even when staff return to offices, they will likely be a mix of home and office working.”
This rising trend within organisations will not only increase the number of virtual meetings but also change the characteristics of the new meeting environment. Larger meetings of employees traditionally held in conferencing or boardrooms are likely to shift to meetings involving smaller numbers of people in meeting rooms or collaboration spaces.
