Highlights

• Sennheiser Business Communications is a separate entity focused on meeting the unique needs of the fast-growing business communications sector.
• The TeamConnect family of products offers scalable, high-quality audio solutions for various business environments.
• Dynamic beamforming technology in the TeamConnect Ceiling allows for superior audio pickup in challenging acoustical settings.
• Sennheiser places a strong emphasis on security, meeting and exceeding the requirements for certifications from key software providers like Microsoft and Zoom.

In a revealing discussion with Naveen Sridhara, the Sales Director for Business Communication at Sennheiser, we delved into the company’s strategic realignment towards the fast-growing business communications sector.

With a strong background in consumer and professional audio, Sennheiser aims to be a frontrunner in delivering top-tier communication solutions to various industry verticals. Here’s what Mr. Sridhara had to say about the path Sennheiser is carving out in this promising market.

Why did Sennheiser choose to focus on the Business Communication Market?

To address why we chose to focus on business communications, it’s essential to understand Sennheiser’s existing strengths in consumer and professional audio sectors. In those spaces, we’ve already built a strong reputation and have a wide array of products that people know and trust.

However, Sennheiser Business Communications is a separate entity with a different mission and target market. The reason we established this new arm of the company lies in the trends we’ve observed in the business world.

Specifically, the market for business communications is one of the fastest-growing sectors today, and there are several factors contributing to this growth. These include the expansion of Fortune 500 companies, increased investments in new technologies, and the booming IT sector.

Building on that, it’s not just about growth in the traditional sense. The nature of business interactions has evolved substantially, particularly with the rise of remote work and increasingly global operations.

Companies are no longer content with just any communication solutions; they demand solutions that are both flexible and robust, capable of serving a range of needs from small-scale meetings to large corporate conferences.

This is the gap that Sennheiser Business Communications aims to fill. We want to provide state-of-the-art, reliable communication technologies that cater to a broad spectrum of businesses. Whether it’s a small startup or a large enterprise, we aim to offer customised solutions that fit their unique needs

Is this part of the Unified Communications Strategy? What does the TeamConnect family bring to the table?

When we first launched the TeamConnect series, our initial product was a ceiling tile designed to cater to specific applications, primarily rooms up to 88 square feet in size.

It met a clear need in the market, but we recognised that there were other room dimensions that were also in need of advanced communication solutions.

That’s how TeamConnect Ceiling Medium was conceptualised with a service area of up to 400 sq ft. We wanted to offer flexibility for smaller spaces, without sacrificing audio quality.

As we continued to understand the varied needs of the business community, we found that organisations don’t just require audio solutions; they also want integrated audio-visual capabilities for their network.

This is where the TeamConnect Bar comes into play. The significant advantage of the TeamConnect Bar is that it doesn’t require an external Digital Signal Processor (DSP). You can simply connect your devices using a cable, which makes the setup less complicated and more straightforward.

But we didn’t stop there. Recognising that even larger spaces had specific needs, we developed add-ons like the boundary microphone.

This allows for increased flexibility. For instance, if someone is speaking from a distance greater than 25 feet away from the TeamConnect Bar, the boundary microphone can still capture high-quality audio.

Tell us some features that differentiate the TeamConnect Ceiling and TeamConnect Bar from the competition?

One of the standout features of the TeamConnect Ceiling is its dynamic beamforming technology. This is especially useful in acoustically challenging environments, such as classrooms or large conference rooms, which can be up to 800 sq ft in size.

Unlike traditional systems that project a static beam of audio pick-up across the room, the TeamConnect Ceiling offers beam steering. This innovative feature allows the system to selectively focus on specific sound sources while ignoring unwanted noise or interference.

For instance, in a classroom setting, the teacher’s voice is typically the most crucial audio source. The beamforming technology will automatically adjust to follow the teacher as they move around the room, ensuring clear and uninterrupted audio.

When it comes to the TeamConnect Bar, the first feature worth mentioning is its Dante integration, which is all about scalability and expansion.

Dante is a multi-channel digital media networking technology that allows for straightforward installation and low-latency transmission. This makes the TeamConnect Bar a highly adaptable choice for organizations that may need to expand their AV setup in the future.

What are some of the privacy concerns and how have you addressed them?

When it comes to encryption and certifications, Sennheiser is not just compliant; we’re ahead of the curve. We understand that data security is of the utmost importance in today’s business environment, and we have taken proactive steps to ensure our products meet the highest standards.

This extends not only to general regulations but also to specific certifications from key software providers like Microsoft and Zoom.

These companies have stringent requirements for how hardware integrates into their platforms, focusing particularly on security standards.

We’ve successfully met these requirements and have received certifications for our products, which means that our hardware seamlessly integrates while maintaining maximum security protocols within these environments.

Whether you’re using Microsoft Teams or Zoom for your communications, you can be assured that all necessary security measures, protocols, and services are already integrated into our system.

What are the industry segments or verticals that Sennheiser considers to be the most promising as of now?

When evaluating our market focus, we have identified three key sectors that align well with our capabilities and offerings: Government, Corporate or Business, and Education. Each of these sectors has unique communication needs that Sennheiser is well-equipped to meet.

Starting with the education sector, we recognize that it typically undergoes a seasonal revamp, generally around the end of the academic year. This presents an opportunity for us to provide cutting-edge audio-visual solutions that enhance the educational experience for both teachers and students.

However, our number one focus at the moment is the government sector. Governments require the kind of secure, reliable communications that Sennheiser specializes in. While the government sector might not be our largest market globally, it is significantly important for us in specific regions.

For example, in India, this sector is a major focus due to the unique security and communication needs that government organizations have. We’ve been investing resources and efforts to meet these demands, aligning our products to be compliant with the stringent security measures required.

What is the future of Sennheiser Business Commuincations?

As of now, our primary strategic focus lies in expanding and refining our TeamConnect family of products. Currently, the family includes three main offerings, each designed to fulfill specific communication needs across various business environments.

Our commitment to these products is not just to maintain them but to evolve them continually. This involves not only improvements in the existing product lineup but also the introduction of new, complementary products that will be integrated seamlessly into the existing family.

Our strategy is two-fold: First, we aim to improve our current offerings based on customer feedback and market trends, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of technological innovation.

Secondly, we’re already in the planning stages for future products that will extend the product offering for Business Communication, again driven by market requirements and technological advancements.

FAQs

Q What is Sennheiser’s rationale behind focusing on the business communications sector?

Sennheiser has observed a rapidly growing demand in the business communications market, influenced by the expansion of Fortune 500 companies and the burgeoning IT sector. The company aims to leverage its existing reputation in the consumer and professional audio markets to provide tailored, high-quality communication solutions to businesses of all sizes.

Q How does the TeamConnect family address diverse business needs?

The TeamConnect family offers a range of products that cater to different room sizes and functionalities, from smaller meeting rooms to larger conference spaces. The series includes ceiling tiles, bars, and boundary microphones, each with specific advantages such as no need for an external DSP and plug-and-play capability.

Q What are the standout features of TeamConnect Ceiling and TeamConnect Bar?

TeamConnect Ceiling uses dynamic beamforming technology to focus on specific sound sources in acoustically challenging environments. TeamConnect Bar incorporates Dante for easy scalability and offers an optional camera for integrated audio-visual communications.

Q How does Sennheiser address privacy and security concerns?

Sennheiser goes beyond mere compliance with security standards. The company has received specific certifications from software providers like Microsoft and Zoom, ensuring that its products integrate seamlessly while maintaining maximum security protocols.