Beau Wilder, Senior Vice President, and General Manager of Video Collaboration, Poly said, “although organizations have started to announce return-to-office plans, relying on solutions that were successful pre-pandemic will no longer cut it. At Poly, we’re dedicated to investing in pro-grade tools that make sure all employees have equal opportunity and experience – whether in the office, at home, or on the go.”

Poly Studio R30 video bar features include:

• 4K camera with a 120-degree field of view so every meeting participant is seen clearly, even those sitting closest to the camera
• Poly DirectorAI smart camera technology that can perfectly frame everyone in the room, an individual speaker, or even track a presenter in real-time.
• Advanced audio with NoiseBlock AI and Acoustic Fence to block-out unwanted background noise
• Wi-Fi device capabilities for remote IT management, eliminating the need for additional software in the room
• End-users have the option to personalize settings for their workspace

Poly Sync 10 speakerphone features include:

• Reliable, enterprise-grade hi-fi audio and power amplifier for calls and music
• Easy-to-spot call status, with clear, bright status lightbar
• USB-A cable, with a USB-C adapter included
• Dust-and water-resistant IP64
• Supported by Poly Lens

Poly Lens and the Poly Lens App features include:

• Vital management for the Poly voice, video, and headsets for both the IT manager and individual user
• Device personalization for both the user desktop and mobile
• “Find MyDevice” for mobile users, so you never misplace your favorite device

Poly’s “Evolution of the Workplace” report in 2021 provides an analysis of the findings of a survey of 7,261 hybrid workers from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Poland, and the UAE.

The report suggests 37.2% of UAE employees are more concerned about noisy phone calls and meetings while 31.6% are worried about their noisy colleagues. 36% of the employees polled across the UAE also indicated that they will most likely get fed up if their noisy colleagues break their concentration with those in the healthcare sector at 53% expressing their concerns.

The following are the key findings of the study:

Office distractions are everywhere: phones ringing, calls, loud conversations, text alerts, pens clicking, and everything in between. Home offices or co-working spaces, coffee shops, your car, or airports have their share of distractions too. The nature of the noise may vary, but the challenge is the same: concentration and productivity suffer.

“We have collectively adapted to different work locations – remote, onsite, or a mix of the two but one challenge remains wherever we work from: unwanted background noise. It’s everywhere and it’s a problem,” said Bob Aoun, Regional Sales Director at Poly.

Noise doesn’t have to be a nuisance: Background noise rapidly becomes public enemy number one when you need to get your head down and focus. We have all been interrupted or distracted by washing machines, kitchen appliances, barking dogs, children, music, or the TV in neighboring rooms. The disruption negatively impacts our work. As a result, we have moved from coping mode, using any headset device to hand, to wanting the best tech possible. Lower quality, older technology, and devices create disparity, and they can undo all your hard work.

Don’t leave people to their own devices: Equip employees with the right devices and they’ll stay motivated and productive. Left to their own devices, you risk frustration and isolation. In today’s hybrid reality, it’s all about the experience, whenever or wherever you work. Clear, positive, uninterrupted conversations make lasting, positive impressions. Consistent, equal meeting experiences benefit workers your customers.

“Voice is such a powerful medium that hearing others properly and being understood brings satisfaction and meaning. Both of which are essential to successful communication and collaboration,” adds Aoun.

Give us some insights into the products and solutions presented at GITEX for your partners as well as the enterprise customers

One of the unique things about Poly is the breadth of its portfolio. From individual or personal communications to enterprise-level applications are offered to customers from Poly. E.g., headset devices for personal use and webcams-integrated video bars for video systems of the large meeting rooms.

Do you still see the relevance of remote work solutions when companies are returning to the office?

Our recent research tells that 82% of the people want to work at least one day a week from home and 69% of them want a greater number of days to work from home. That underlines the fact, not everyone wants to go back to the office all of the time. Companies also have significant advantages subscribing to the hybrid model of work and that the future.

Paul Clark, Senior VP – EMEA, Poly

What impact do you think the COVID-19 pandemic has created in the industry?

Although COVID-19 had negatively impacted most industry verticals, it has allowed some to bring the most competent and innovative products for video collaboration as the medium further democratized – Poly Video Bar solutions are the ideal example for it.

Give us some idea about the kind of software that can be used with Poly’s video collaboration tools.

You can connect to whatever services that you use. Whether it be Zoom or Microsoft Teams or plus, we have our tools for easy conferencing or collaboration.

Speak about the industry verticals you concentrate on

We have an interest in all verticals including healthcare, education, and finance. One of the verticals we have witnessed major changes in is financial markets. These are the markets that historically didn’t support even broad-basis flexibility and remote work as there have been security concerns. Considering the need for business continuity, the finance sector started to embrace the latest technologies after strengthening security up to the most sophisticated standards.

How easy Poly solutions are to install and use?

Our products essentially are designed to be plug-and-play. A little complexity typically comes in during the implementation in an organization. We are closely working with resellers to get that part addressed.

What size of enterprises you would be interested in?

We are interested in all the business. In large businesses, there are bigger complexities and challenges. With smaller customers, they are probably going to see the most change, because historically they’re the ones that were most resistant to change thinking there was not another way. Many of them going to change how they work and we see an enormous opportunity in the paradigm shift.

How do you influence the potential customers amidst tough competition as there are others too offering similar solutions?

We assure quality and consistently focus on innovation because we have the challenge to handle. We won’t have the market ourselves and that is hugely beneficial to the end. Our products are being developed, not because we think of something. But because we know there is a business. So, competition is a good thing.