With remote working and a massive move ‘to the cloud’ for business telephony, the business headset market has boomed. Market trends indicate a growing preference for wireless and Bluetooth-enabled business headsets, along with the integration of AI and voice recognition technology. The business headset market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2024 to 2031 (1). It could be argued that handsets are just so ‘yesterday’ as companies look for flexibility, convenience, and savings, which headsets now deliver.
With advancements in sound quality, noise cancellation, and wireless connectivity, investing in high-quality headsets has become essential for the modern hybrid work environment, whether in-office or remote.
When buying business headsets there are so many factors to consider before investing. You go cheap from the likes of Amazon, you may end up buying again, you buy quality headsets and there is a larger initial outlay, so the question is, is paying more worth it?
For a business owner looking to purchase the best headsets for a large or small business, buying cheap headsets might seem cost-effective at first but it can lead to problems that outweigh the initial savings further down the line.
One of the primary issues is that these headsets often come from unreliable or less reputable sources, which means they might be equipped with outdated software or firmware. This can lead to compatibility issues with modern devices, poor audio quality, frequent disconnections, or other technical glitches that disrupt your workflow. Entry-level headsets are typically manufactured by lesser-known brands, so may find it difficult to contact customer support if issues arise. In many cases, the companies behind these headsets either lack the resources to offer comprehensive support or simply do not prioritise it. Additionally, cheap headsets often don’t receive regular software updates, which are essential for maintaining compatibility with evolving technology and ensuring that any bugs or security vulnerabilities are patched.
To help you make a decision, we have created a checklist of points to consider…
1. Comfort and Ergonomics
- Adjustable Headbands: Choose a model where the headband can be adjusted for different head sizes.
- Cushioning: Opt for well-padded ear cups and headbands for all-day wear.
- Weight: Consider lightweight models for enhanced comfort.
2. Sound Quality
- Microphone: Look for noise-cancelling microphones that provide clear audio transmission.
- Speaker Quality: Ensure the headset delivers a crisp and clear sound.
3. Noise Cancellation
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): For noisy environments ANC can help reduce background noise.
- Passive Noise Cancellation: Well-padded ear cups can help block out external sounds.
4. Connectivity
- Wired vs. Wireless: Decide if you need the flexibility of wireless or the reliability of wired connections.
- Bluetooth: Check if Bluetooth connectivity is required for compatibility with multiple devices.
- USB: Consider USB headsets for easy plug-and-play functionality.
- Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with existing devices (PCs, Macs, smartphones).
5. Durability and Build Quality
- Materials: Choose a headset made from durable materials that can withstand daily use.
- Warranty: Check for a good warranty period to protect against defects. Here at Evoke Telecom we offer a 12-month warranty on most headsets and even 2 years on some of our recommended brands.
6. Microphone Features
- Boom Arm: A flexible boom arm can help position the microphone in the ideal spot.
- Mute Functionality: A quick mute function can be useful during calls.
7. Controls and Features
- Controls: For adjusting volume and muting without touching the computer.
- Multi-Device Pairing: Useful if employees switch between different devices.
- Voice Assistants: Integration with voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant.
8. Battery Life (for Wireless Headsets)
- Talk Time: Ensure the battery life meets the daily usage requirements.
- Charging Time: Consider how long it takes to fully charge the headset.
9. Ease of Use
- Setup Process: Choose headsets that are easy to set up and use.
- User Manual: Use a supplier that offers clear instructions for setup and troubleshooting.
10. Cost and budget:
- Price Range: Determine your budget per headset.
11. Brand and Reviews
- Reputation: Choose reputable brands known for quality.
- User Reviews: Check reviews and ratings from other users for insights into the performance and reliability of both the headset brand and the provider.
“Evoke regularly reviews its solutions’ portfolio to ensure that customers access the best quality and value.” – James Clarke, CEO of JPL Telecom
12. Additional Considerations
- Compliance: Ensure headsets comply with any relevant health and safety regulations.
- After-Sales Support: Be aware of the availability of customer support and the process for troubleshooting and replacements. If you have worked with Evoke Telecom before, you’ll know that we pride ourselves on our customer service, so no need to worry about this one!
13. On-the-go employees
- Protection: For employees who need to transport the headset from office to home, can they do this without damaging the headset?
14. Timescale
- How quickly do you need delivery of your order?
Here at Evoke Telecom we offer the full works from corded, cordless, computer, and USB headsets, to call centre headsets. We have a range of top-tier and entry-level options available to our customers. We are able to provide brands that span across the industry but our most popular ranges come from the big 3, for example:-
We work with the big 3 and our most popular options:
- Jabra
- Poly
- Sennheiser/EPOS
We also offer good value mid-range brands such as:-
- Agent
- JPL
Read more about our headset range here.
As you go about your headset research, you may stumble across UC vs MS (Microsoft Teams) headsets, so let us save you some time with this summary of their differences.
An MS headset is compatible with most video conferencing platforms, so essentially it is a UC headset however MS-certified headsets come with extra pre-installed features. Whilst they offer compatibility with the likes of Zoom or Skype, when it comes to Microsoft Teams, the biggest difference is typically a button on the headset or charging pod. What does magical this button do? Well, when pressed it automatically launches the MS Teams application and in the scenario that you are using your headset for a mobile call, your Teams presence will switch to unavailable.
As with all our product offerings, we trial them thoroughly before adding them to our growing portfolio and we are currently trialling Shokz headsets. This bone-conducting innovative technology transmits sound through the bones of the skull, bypassing the eardrums and delivering audio directly to the inner ear. The jury is still out, but we’ll be releasing a blog post soon to give our verdict.
We know that choosing the right headset can be a big decision, so please don’t hesitate to seek our advice if this is an area where you might need some helpful guidance and tips. So whatever you are looking for, we can help, contact our lovely team today at [email protected] or 01509 278278.
