Lo smart working and hybrid working require flexible tools: Logitech offers the Wave Keys For Business keyboard and the Zone Wireless 2 For Business headphones.
Working from home or away from the office is a common practice for many employees and professionals nowadays. The work at the company desk itself has changed, as has its rhythms and methods.
Market, demand and strategies
Hybrid work, introduced as an emergency measure during a global crisis, it has become the preferred way of working. Companies in every sector are adopting this new way of organizing work, but some do not know how to prepare for this change in the work scenario. What kind of tools should they use? How can they ensure targeted and consistent employee experiences?
When talking about how we work in the new era of hybrid work, we must necessarily consider not only the technology that enables it, but also the culture that defines it. In addition to investing in digital experience technologies to support employees wherever they choose to work, organizations must also rethink the culture of a workforce that is no longer confined to an office.
Millions of people are redefining their workspace every day, driving one of the biggest shifts in business strategy and processes in decades.
The current scenario requires companies to define a new balancing, rethinking ways and aspects of work such as training and development programs as well as new collaboration models for teams. Furthermore, in this context, it is essential to provide employees with correct technological equipment that allows them to work at their best, wherever they are.
Hybrid working is here to stay. For IDC Worldwideinvestments in technologies related to the “future of work” reached $656 billion in 2021. In 2023, 70% of companies have adopted the hybrid model. By 2024, global spending is expected to reach about 1 trillion dollars. In our country, where 50% of employees prefer a hybrid working model, digital platforms have been activated above all for holding remote meetings – both in the public sector (71.5%) and in the private sector (64.4% ).
Logitech Wave Keys For Business
The keyboard proposed by Logitech boasts an ergonomic design and a key profile that favors hand positioning and typing. The key layout has been specially designed to reduce finger movement and minimize effort during use.
Today, there are ergonomic keyboards for all tastes, why choose Wave Keys For Business?
The product stands out for its sober and elegant design, for the quality of the finishes and for the use of materials in post-consumer recycled plastic.
The key travel is reducedthe membrane is very silent: crucial aspects for those who carry out long writing sessions and for those who work in environments where background noise can become a problem (for example in coworking spaces).
Typing is quite comfortable and quick, you get used to the shape of the keys: the only limit, to be picky, is the availability of a very compact layout, with a width of 376 mm, approximately 100 mm less than a conventional keyboard. The direction keys are embedded below the Enter and “Shift” keys on the right, a position that is not always optimal in some possible usage scenarios.
The wrist rest is fixed and padded with memory foam, to better adapt to the different postures of users.
Thanks to the receiver Accommodation Boltoperation is immediate as soon as you insert the dongle into a free USB port on your PC (compatible with Windows 10/11, MacOS 11 or higher, ChromeOS and Linux).
Wave Keys For Business also works efficiently with Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as notebooks or tablets (from iPadOS 14 and Android 9).
The user experience can be easily enhanced by installing the suite Logi Options+, which allows you to customize each connected Logitech device. The system allows you to receive notifications on the status of the keyboard and allows you to customize the function keys. Among the standard preset functions, the buttons navigation for the browser (home, end, forward, back), but also the button forstart automatic dictationactivation/deactivation microphone and quick access to emoticon.
The availability of “combo” configurations with is interesting Smart Actionsto assign to one key combination a series of tasksa bit like what happens with Office macros or with a batch script. Logitech propone combinations already packaged and in common use for productivity, for meetings, for free time, but it is then possible to define your own. This is a really useful and time-saving feature.
Come altri modelli Logitech, Wave Keys For Business (at the price of 84.99 euros) can be interconnected to up to three Logi Bolt / Bluetooth terminals. Switching from one system to another is possible simply by using the F1, F2 and F3 keys, once external systems have been paired.
An ideal match for this keyboard could be the Logitech “vertical” mouse Lift for Business (read our test).
PRO
Integrated quality and functionality; recycled materials; high integration and compatibility; software kit.
AGAINST
Compact layout not always comfortable.
Logitech Zone Wireless 2 For Business
A modern hybrid work station cannot be considered complete without equipment that includes headphones with microphone, to support numerous video calls and meetings.
The Zone Wireless 2 For Business model on test boasts a high level of finishing: it is certainly not an entry-level model (at the price of 369.99 euros).
Again the headphones can work in this mode Bluetooth 5.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, SPP profiles) to be quickly paired with smartphones and tablets, but also with PCs, thanks to the adapter USB-C (USB-A adapter is also included).
Thanks to the supplied USB-C cable this is possible quickly charge your headphones (approximately 2 hours, for a maximum of 40 hours of listening/talking) e turn them into a wired listening system, in case the batteries are empty.
All the management keys are located on the pavilion which incorporates the microphone stand.
The headband is thick and very robustcoated in eraser; the side arms allow an extension of the listening earcups to better adapt to the head and are made of metallo.
The 40mm drivers are hidden by interchangeable leatherette pads in the same color as the main body. Overall the headphones are excellently built, nice to look at, but perhaps a little bulky and heavy (230 grams). Once worn the ear coverage is almost total and possible isolate oneself almost completely from the outside world.
However, the weight and dimensions make themselves felt and it is difficult to use the Zone Wireless 2 For Business for more than 1 hour.
The padding represents one of the components with the greatest wear: Logitech has provided a mechanism for rapid removal.
These headphones are a concentrate of technologyin fact they incorporate four MEMS microphones with noise cancellation capabilities and various intervention possibilities for cleaning the incoming signal. The mechanism of Hybrid cancellation combines feedback and feedforward microphones to effectively eliminate ambient noise. The result is excellent: it is possible to work and be heard clearly even in an environment with noise above the average office (45 dB).
The pavilion with microphone houses the power button, the one to activate/deactivate ANC (active noise cancellation) and the answer/end button for phone calls and Teams. The system is certified Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Google Voice e Fast Pair.
The communication pole is equipped with a button to enable/disable mute but it is also possible to turn off the microphone by lifting the pole upwards (listening position). By pairing the headphones with the software Accommodation Tune you can access many other functions, such as “automatic mute” when the headphones are not in use. The system is also capable of understanding when the headphones are worn, thanks to specific integrated sensors.
Logi Tune then allows you to enable a equalizer personalized, for optimal listening to conversations and music.
Administrators will appreciate it Logitech Sync, useful for managing personal collaboration devices of the company directly from a single console. The package allows you to check for updates firmware and the activation of the various functionality.
During use we appreciated the compatibility with every type of widely used software and ease of management. The audio quality is of a high standard, also suitable for listening to music. Excellent general equipment shame about the price not being affordable for everyone and decidedly high for headphones intended for “work” use, even if professional. At the suggested price we would have seen favorably the standard availability of the charging stand, which is instead sold as an optional.
The Logi receiver is compact but it is too pronounced if you use the USB-A adaptera detail that makes it difficult to adopt especially on laptops.
PRO
Powerful, high-quality sound; equalizer; recycled materials; integration and compatibility; software kit; Very effective ANC.
AGAINST
Important price; weight not to be overlooked; receiver + adapter inconvenient in some situations.
“Work smart, not hard”
Overall, the month-long trial spent using the Wave Keys For Business and Zone Wireless 2 For Business headphones every day highlighted “lots of lights and few shadows”. The devices integrate very easily into the environment Windows 10 e 11. The accompanying software represents a real added value which simplifies use and maintenance and allows you to get the most out of each device.
The overall assembly quality of the chassis is high, in line with our expectations and the level to which Logitech has accustomed us.
The combination of keyboard and headphones with PC and smartphone has made it possible to better manage calls, chats and video conferences. It is possible to move fluidly from one device to another, reducing the time wasted between connections and cables, eliminating potential hitches or malfunctions.