Remote working has long been touted as the way of the future. Following the novel coronavirus pandemic, the concept has become reality and Jabra leads the way with innovative engineering products.
The tech company, which specialises in audio and video equipment, is one of the few businesses thriving during the pandemic.
Jabra Managing Director David Piggott tells The CEO Magazine how the business has been pivoting its solutions to ensure the ever-changing needs of workers are met.
“Jabra has always known that remote working would take off, however, this was accelerated with the pandemic,” David says. “Our research and development team ensures that we’re always one step ahead, providing innovative and futureproof solutions when they’re needed most.”
Jabra, which was acquired by GN Audio in 2000, is one of the world’s leading audio brands.
Having been the first to lay telegraph cables connecting Europe to Asia; the first to create ultra-noise-cancelling microphones; and the first to create an in-ear heartrate monitor in a pair of sports earbuds, the visionary company understands what it takes to explore the unknown.
Its pioneering spirit is what has strongly equipped Jabra to navigate the uncertainty of the current pandemic – by its very nature, the company offers intuitive and adaptive solutions.
“We may be a cutting-edge technology company with extremely gifted researchers and scientists, but we fundamentally believe that technology is only relevant when addressing true needs for human beings,” David says.
As millions around the world continue work remotely, it’s the products by Jabra that assist with exceptional productivity output – perhaps also opening the possibility of remote work in the long-term.
“One of the barriers to remote working is the perception that the outlay is huge and it’s easier to just have it all under one roof, but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” David says. “Give your employees the tech they need to succeed, and they’ll be equipped for success – regardless of location.”
From researching clusters and disciplines to the researchers and scientists collaborating on new concepts, Jabra consistently develops and brings products to market that were once believed impossible.
Continuing its legacy of producing ingenious hardware, Jabra allows workers to embrace its products specifically engineered to solve everyday pain points.
State-of-the-art equipment includes the new Evolve2 series noise-cancelling headsets, which are ideal for those working in open, shared or even public spaces.
“For organisations, remote working allows for increased digitisation and real estate cost savings,” he says. “Organisations will invest more money in technology and infrastructure that enables efficient and reliable remote working – and they’d be wise to do so.
“Those who have not adopted technology for their workers to function beyond the traditional office environment will face more challenges than those who have embraced change.”
In Australia alone, around 30% of the workforce could work from home – equating to 4 million workers, according to The Australia Institute Centre for Future Work. It’s a figure that is expected to climb as remote working becomes increasingly normal.
“While daunting at first, I think this new way of working is efficient, productive, enjoyable and good for work–life balance,” David says. “However, for remote working to be successful, organisations must invest in technology infrastructure and collaboration tools that support this new way of working.”
The current pandemic has accelerated digital transformation, leaving the company to tackle the question of how to enhance productivity in virtual settings, as opposed to traditional offices.
“Give your employees the tech they need to succeed, and they’ll be equipped for success – regardless of location.” – David Piggott
One of the innovative productivity-increasing products is the Evolve2 range, which has been designed to overcome workplace challenges by allowing people to increase their concentration, collaboration and flexibility.
“By blocking out more noise, providing better voice clarity, bringing distributed teams together, giving people the power to work from anywhere, and monitoring data to enable intelligent decision making, the Evolve2 is the new standard to elevate office productivity to new heights,” David explains. “It is, in effect, the only headset you will ever need and has become a new class of product – the only headset to bind them all.
“It’s the coming together of the consumer device and the enterprise device in a single package.”
At the start of the pandemic, offices across the globe were dismantled and dispersed throughout people’s homes, therefore creating a significant upswing in the use of tech.
“We have seen an enormous spike in the demand for headsets over these past months – so much so, that as an industry, we are struggling to keep up with demand,” the executive says.
Ultimate success in 2020 comes down to investing in the right technology. From equipping employees with highspeed mobile data, an electronic device (phone, tablet, laptop), premium headset and collaboration software, David believes people can achieve positive results anywhere on Earth.
“Good office technology has always been important but since the office has seen a shift, it’s important to focus on digital transformation,” he says. “The headset I use is certified by Microsoft to work in open spaces, which means I can hear and be heard whether I’m in my office, my car, working from home or at a cafe. This is the type of mobility that every organisation should strive to achieve for their business.
“Efficient and quality IT infrastructure is at the core of all successful business continuity plans. It enables agile thinking and lets businesses plan accordingly.”
The industry boom has also resulted in an increase in AI use, allowing for further futureproofing of careers. For executives willing to embrace the IT sector, it can result in positive business growth.
“The adoption of technology like collaboration software and enterprise headsets will futureproof careers by enabling workers to remain connected even while working remotely,” David explains. “Virtual collaboration tools are at the core of keeping people working, regardless of where they may find themselves.
“Additionally, IT will enable business leaders to evaluate performance and identify gaps in performance. This insight will help them plan strategically to achieve positive business results.”
And digital transformation isn’t just for big enterprises. The Jabra executive explained to The CEO Magazine that IT expansion is a wise investment for all companies, with limitless potential for success.
“It’s all about an organisation’s mentality – wanting to continuously innovate and pivot in an effort to provide the best for their people and achieve the best business outcome,” David says. “A collaborative leadership team, and one that trust their team, will go further as they are willing to take risks and work together as a team to achieve a single vision.
“No doubt the office will still have a role to play however, it will look very different in the future.”
