Choosing the right unified communications platform for your organisation is an important decision and with so many VoIP and UC platforms to choose from, it’s important to deploy the right system to meet your business goals and requirements.
However, once you’ve decided on the platform that you’re going to use there are still some important decisions to make. If you’re going to enjoy and make the most of your new communications investment, then the next decisions you will make are vital.
The business communications environment is changing, traditional telephony is being replaced by UC where audio is just one element of the way we communicate. Video calling, instant chat and virtual meetings mean that we can converse with our colleagues and customers in a number of different ways.
The events of 2020 and the COVID pandemic have seen many of us forced to work remotely for a period of time and adapt to using technology that has been available for some time, but many had decided not to adopt. However, since the initial lockdown period in the UK many of us have become very familiar with video calling and since the lockdown ended many businesses have decided not to return to their old way of working. Many have seen that offering their staff the tools to work flexibly has a very positive effect on productivity.
As a result the sales of flexible working tools such as UC have rocketed and many business owners and management teams have decided to invest in the tools to allow their teams to work where they want to and when they want to.
As the owner of a business that specialises in smart communication platforms, it seems to me that many business owners have the right vision but don’t manage to execute the right communications solution because they cut corners right at the end.
Why invest in new IP phones that take up vital desk space and age quickly when you can turn a laptop, PC, tablet or Mac into your desk extension? There really is no logical argument to using a desk phone, only habit has extended the life of the trusty old telephone, but the writing is on the wall and IP phone sales are falling.
As the mass migration from telephony to UC picks up its pace in 2020, many businesses are making the erroneous decision to replace high quality and costly IP phones with cheap Bluetooth ear buds purchased from Amazon or eBay! This is like spending tens of thousands of pounds on a high-end car and then trying to run it on vegetable oil.
I’ve been on countless virtual meetings that have been made difficult by one or two of the participants using cheap headphones or simply using their laptop microphone and speakers instead. The difference a good quality corded or cordless headset makes to holding a clear conversation via audio or video is huge.
Think of a headset like you would a desk phone, it is something you plan to invest in now that will provide a reliable service for a number of years. A good cordless headset will set you back at least £120 to £200 but will allow your team to make a professional impression when they are communicating with clients and business contacts. If you really can’t swallow that amount of investment on your hardware, then a corded headset will provide similar audio quality for between £50 and £100 but will take some of the ‘flexibility’ out of flexible working.
Here are a few of the best sellers and recommended cordless and corded headsets that we provide at Bluecube. Speak to our team to get some professional advice on getting this part of your digital transformation right and step into the world of unified communications armed with the best tools.
Plantronics CS510 Cordless Headset £168.00 +VAT
One-ear cordless CS510 model for desk phones
Long talk time and 120m range
Very comfortable: headband and large ear pad
Recommended for call centres and heavy call handling
Noise cancelling microphone
Plantronics CS520 Cordless Headset £199.00 +VAT
Two-ear cordless model for desk phones
Long talk time and 100m range
Ideal for concentrating in noisy environments
Very comfortable: headband and large ear pads
Noise cancelling microphone Easy to install
Sennheiser D 10 USB Cordless PC Headset £137.00 +VAT
Sennheiser D 10 USB cordless PC headset
Sennheiser Voice Clarity & noise-cancelling microphone
2 wearing styles – headband and earhook
50% charge in 20 minutes
Easy plug-and-play USB installation
Status indicators for battery level & talk time
Jabra Evolve2 65 Stereo MS Teams Certified UC Bluetooth Headset £135.00 +VAT
PC Connectivity: USB-A (via Jabra Link 380 Dongle) and Bluetooth
Certified for use with Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business
Dual Bluetooth technology, connect up to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously
Pair up to 8 devices
Wireless range: 30m / 100ft
3-Mic technology for outstanding call performance
JPL 401 Advanced Single Ear Noise Cancelling Headset £52.00 +VAT
Noise Cancelling Microphone
Acoustic Shock Protection
Wideband Enabled Speakers
Clear & Crisp Sound
Fully Adjustable Headband
Ideal for Offices & Call Centres
Plantronics Encorepro HW520N Corded Headset £78.25 +VAT
High Quality, Lightweight Binaural Headset
USB & Deskphone Compatible
Extremely Comfortable
Noise Cancelling Technology
Fully Adjustable Headband
Ideal for Offices & Call Centres
