Approximately 15% of the world’s population has some degree of hearing loss, as recognized by the World Health Organisation, WHO. In Sub-Saharan Africa, slight impairment (defined a 26-40 dB) tracked at just over 14% (1). Fostering a corporate climate which promotes the inclusion of differently-abled workers into the workplace, which can include the right environment and equipment to support workers considered hard of hearing, is not only a compliance requirement in many countries across the world, but in some circumstances can also help to improve productivity.

Noise has always had the potential to distract people from the task at hand. Today, changes in the workplace have introduced new levels of noise that were absent just a few years ago. Effective noise management is now a business imperative that extends from inside the office walls to anywhere work happens.

Noise management in the office begins with acoustics. The first step is to look over the workplace to determine what can be done acoustically to improve the environment. Consider where different groups of workers are located, and assess whether each group’s communications needs are helped or hindered by their specific location. Where noise is a problem, the following best practices has the potential to enhance acoustic performance, whatever the office environment:

Best Practices to Consider:

• Specialized materials on floors, walls and ceilings minimize noise. For example, covering bare floors with carpeting is an essential step for reducing noise.
• Vertical barriers limit sound travel across an open-plan office. Consider placing divider panels between affected areas.
• Computer-generated sounds mask unwanted noise. Many companies pipe in background noise, or allow people to listen to music to block sound.
• Introduce headsets to block out background noise wherever it occurs and help users enjoy higher quality communications.

Plantronics headset technologies build on the noise protection provided by other acoustic best practices and our headsets are backed by extensive development and testing facilities, plus over 50 years of audio engineering experience. The Plantronics range offers a variety of headset technologies, including:

• Noise cancellation: Plantronics achieves optimum results using active and passive noise cancellation at both the transmission point (what you hear) and reception point (how you sound).
• Digital signal processing (DSP): DSP in Plantronics headsets produces a more natural voice sound by applying specialized algorithms to digitized voice signals.
• Sidetone: This feature provides out-of-band feedback in real time to let people know how they sound to the listener or listeners on a call.
• Microphone array: Using multiple microphones in a single device delivers exceptional sound clarity.
• Hearing protection: Plantronics SoundGuard technology helps to ensure that loud tones are quickly reduced to more comfortable levels, using a sophisticated three-stage process to protect users from sudden increases in sound levels.

Current industry trends are driving the need for improved noise management. Covering calls from desk phones, PCs and mobile devices, Plantronics offers a range of corded and wireless audio solutions that enhance the audio experience for business customers. To find out more about different solutions available in South Africa, please get in touch with a local authorized distributor at www.plantronics.com/za

Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a global leader in the communications industry. We create intelligent and adaptive solutions that support our customers’ most important needs: experiencing and facilitating simple and clear communications while enjoying distraction-free environments. Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike, and are an optimal choice for open office environments. From Unified Communications and customer service ecosystems, to data analytics and Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers high-quality communications solutions that our customers count on today, while relentlessly innovating on behalf of their future. For more information visit www.plantronics.com/za

© 2018 Plantronics, Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

(1) MBD, WHO, 2011 DHL estimates as reported within, WHO global estimates on prevalence of hearing loss Mortality and Burden of Diseases and Prevention of Blindness and Deafness, WHO, 2012

WHY DO YOU NEED GOOD PASSIVE HEADSET DESIGN COMBINED WITH ACTIVE NOISE CANCELING (ANC) TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL NOISE CANCELING PERFORMANCE?

Passive Noise Reduction
Any stereo headset or headphone will provide some level of passive noise reduction. In fact, any device that provides a physical barrier to your ear canal will limit your exposure to noise. Industrial noise canceling headphones fit over the ear and are specially constructed to maximize noise filtering. They are packed with layers of high-density foam or other sound-absorbing material, which makes them heavier than other headphones but reduces the background noise by about 15 to 20 dB. This level of noise reduction is essential in workplaces with extreme noise levels, such as airport ground crew areas or factories. Not every work environment requires that level of noise canceling, however. For office workers, a more lightweight, over-the-ear or in-the-ear headset typically provides the required passive noise reduction more comfortably.

Active Noise Canceling (ANC)
Beyond passive noise canceling, which involves physically blocking sound, ANC is a technology built into many of our products that further enhances the user experience. This technology uses additional microphones on the back of each speaker that respond well to low-frequency (80 to 700 Hz) background noise.
These microphones pick up the background noise, feed it into the ANC circuitry, invert it, then direct it into the same audio path. This happens very quickly, <500 milliseconds, which is not perceptible to the user.
The result? The original background noise and the inverted noise cancel each other, leaving just the audio the user wants to hear.

WHY ARE THERE TWO LEVELS OF ANC ON VOYAGER 8200 UC (MID AND HIGH)?
The Voyager 8200 UC features two levels of ANC. The first one, “mid,” is set at a similar level to the Voyager Focus UC, optimized for typical office noise. The second level “high,” is about double the intensity of the mid level. The high-level ANC is very useful for noisier environments, such as airports or coffee shops, but may be fatiguing for long periods of use in an office environment depending on how sensitive the user is to the effects of ANC. The option to adjust ANC intensity settings allows users to choose their own individual comfort level.

Wherever you work, noise can be distracting. So whether you’re in an open office or on a crowded flight, taking calls or listening to music, the boomless Voyager 8200 UC Bluetooth® headset with active noise canceling lets you focus on what’s important, in comfort and style. Hear music and conversations with complete clarity. All tones, from high to low and everything in between, sound full and natural. Need to tune out distractions? The hi-fi stereo sound and dual-mode active noise canceling cut background noise while the dual-paired microphones keep the focus on your voice. Information about ANC and the Voyager 8200 UC is available at www.plantronics.com/za or by contacting a local South African authorized distributor. 

Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a global leader in the communications industry. We create intelligent and adaptive solutions that support our customers’ most important needs: experiencing and facilitating simple and clear communications while enjoying distraction-free environments. Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike, and are an optimal choice for open office environments. From Unified Communications and customer service ecosystems, to data analytics and Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers high-quality communications solutions that our customers count on today, while relentlessly innovating on behalf of their future. For more information visit www.plantronics.com/za

© 2018 Plantronics, Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

64% of employees agree blocking out noise increases their productivity.(1)

Today, work happens everywhere — in busy open-plan offices and contact centers, at home, even coffee shops. This flexibility is great for business and people, but with it comes a new challenge: noise. Distraction caused by noise reduces productivity and well-being and, in contact centers, detracts from a positive customer experience.

Studies show that it takes 23 minutes to recover from distraction(3) and over 58% of employees are distracted multiple times each day.(2) That represents a significant impact on your customers’ businesses you can easily help avert through proven noise reduction strategies and products.

Managing Noise: In the Contact Center

In the contact center, noise remains the biggest complaint among employees(4) and can negatively impact customer satisfaction.(3) But managing noise effectively can raise productivity,2 improve customer experiences(5) and impact the bottom line.(1) Plantronics creates technologies that manage noise to help contact centers be more effective and businesses be more successful.

Customer Service Representative (CSR) - Needs to handle urgent requests from customers quickly and efficiently. Key challenge: Hearing and being heard by customers.

Help Desk Support - Manages intense, often lengthy, customer calls. Key challenge: Wearing headset all day (comfort, battery issues).

Supervisor - Supports CSRs with call assistance and training. Key challenge: Background noise and audio quality on escalated calls.

High-Level Support - Guides and supports CSRs on most challenging calls. Key challenge: Mobility within office to help with urgent situations. 

How do you handle these challenges within your business? 

Contact Center Solutions

Plantronics engineers solutions that help people manage the noise around them so they can be more effective — no matter where they work. Together, we can help your customers reduce distractions caused by noise so their businesses can thrive.The all-day comfort and superior sound quality of our headsets empowers contact center workers to provide exceptional service. Explore how you can provide a better customer experience, and empower your staff with better products, newer technology, and smarter workplace design. The EncorePro series is a great option, delivering the all-new generation communications technology for customer service centers and offices, designed for the future, and built on experience. The EncorePro series is available in South Africa through authorized distributors. More information about solutions available in your local area are available at www.plantronics.com/za 

Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a global leader in the communications industry. We create intelligent and adaptive solutions that support our customers’ most important needs: experiencing and facilitating simple and clear communications while enjoying distraction-free environments.  Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike, and are an optimal choice for open office environments. From Unified Communications and customer service ecosystems, to data analytics and Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers high-quality communications solutions that our customers count on today, while relentlessly innovating on behalf of their future. For more information visit www.plantronics.com/za 

1 Oxford Economics, “When the walls come down – the evolution of the workplace.” 2 Plantronics Noise in the Workplace Global Study, 2017. 3 The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress Study from the Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, 2008. 4 Plantronics Persona Research, 2017. 1 Oxford Economics, “When the walls come down—the evolution of the workplace.” 5 Dimensional Research for ZenDesk, Customer Service and business results: A survey of customer service from mid-size companies, 2013.

Company now offers the industry’s widest range of stereo Bluetooth devices with active noise cancellation 

Johannesburg, South Africa — 23 January 2018 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), an audio pioneer and communications technology leader, introduced today the Voyager 6200 UC, the company’s latest addition to its flagship Voyager family of enterprise headsets. The new neckband wearing style features Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a boomless design with comfort-fit earbuds, active noise cancellation (ANC), and integration with major UC applications.  With the addition of Voyager 6200 UC to its line-up, Plantronics is now offering professionals the widest range of stereo Bluetooth devices with ANC of any vendor in market.

“Accommodating individual employee work styles is becoming increasingly important, especially when it comes to retaining millennial and Gen Y talent,” said Alaa Saayed, ICT Principal Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “By offering a wide choice of headsets and letting people choose their preference, IT and line of business managers can create a solid win-win scenario; optimizing the UC and collaboration experience overall for the company, and engendering goodwill with highly valuable personnel.” 

“We continue to hear that noise and distraction are the number one pain-points for office professionals,” said Gavin Sear, Global Product Marketing at Plantronics. “The best way to get people to embrace technology that can help them communicate and collaborate better is by offering choices that speak to their individual work style as well as their lifestyle, whether they’re in or out of the office. The Voyager 6200 UC delivers this versatility with business-grade audio to a new group of users that find existing headset and headphone offerings too limiting.”  The Voyager 6200 UC offers a unique combination of features and benefits unlike any other neckband headset with earbuds in market, including:

• Four omni-directional microphones that listen to sound from all directions and deliver a professional-grade audio experience on both sides of the call, without a microphone boom, via Plantronics “clear talk technology”
• Active and passive noise cancellation, ensuring focus when surrounded by noise and distractions both in and out of the office
• Wide band audio delivering clear PC calls and premium hi-fi stereo, which is especially important when listening to music
• Versatile design, allowing users to listen to calls or media in stereo or simply drop either earbud for single ear use and to be more aware of their surroundings; the neckband discreetly vibrates to indicate an incoming call or alert
• Certification for Microsoft Skype for Business; compatibility with Cisco Jabber, Microsoft Teams and numerous software apps
• The ability to pair up to eight devices and connect to two simultaneously for easy audio management
• Class 1 Bluetooth, providing a wireless range up to 30 meters/98 feet Dynamic mute alert, ensuring optimal productivity by sensing and alerting users via an in-ear whisper if they talk while muted
• Up to 9 hours of talk time, and up to 16 hours of listening time, to communicate and collaborate all day
• Compatibility with Plantronics Manager Pro™, an additional purchase, that enables IT teams to gain insight into every compatible Plantronics headset being used company-wide

Voyager 6200 UC and Plantronics Manager Pro

Voyager 6200 UC is fully supported by Plantronics Manager Pro, which allows IT managers to monitor, manage and maintain devices company-wide, including usage and acoustic analysis. This includes the ability to configure the user experience, manage firmware deployments, and harvest predictive analytics to detect compatibility issues before they become critical. Plantronics Manager Pro is available as a subscription service, sold separately from the Voyager family. 

Voyager 6200 UC will be coming to South Africa soon and will be available in black and sand colours through Plantronics authorized South African partners. More information about features offered within the Voyager Family, and Plantronics Manager Pro are available at www.plantronics.com/za/en   

About Plantronics

Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a global leader in the communications industry. We create intelligent and adaptive solutions that support our customers’ most important needs: experiencing and facilitating simple and clear communications while enjoying distraction-free environments. Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike, and are an optimal choice for open office environments. From Unified Communications and customer service ecosystems, to data analytics and Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers high-quality communications solutions that our customers count on today, while relentlessly innovating on behalf of their future. For more information visit plantronics.com. The Bluetooth trademark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of the mark by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information is available at www.plantronics.com/za/en