Facebook Launches New Team Collaboration Tool Called 'Workplace'

[MacRumors]

Facebook yesterday officially launched its 'Workplace' platform, an organization and business collaboration tool to rival the likes of Slack.

Previously known as Facebook Work, Workplace combines social network, chat messenger, and productivity features to help teams work together online. The app includes groups, custom profiles and ad-free news feeds, including tools for team members to make audio and video calls as well as host live broadcasts.

There's also something called Multi-Company Groups, which allows employees from different organizations to work together.

Workplace is free for non-profits and schools, but Facebook will charge commercial users of the platform $3 per month for organizations of up to 1,000 people, and as low as $1 per month for organizations comprising over 10,000 employees.

That contrasts with Slack's Standard plan of $6.67 per user and its Free tier, which has some search and archive limitations.

Workplace exists as a web interface and an iOS app similar in style to Facebook's other mobile offerings. The app is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Facebook Launches New Team Collaboration Tool Called 'Workplace'

 

[DaveTheRave]

My employer uses this. It's not that big of a deal and it won't be replacing email anytime soon.

 

[miknos]

That tool might be useful but to share my company information to Facebook? No thanks.

 

[Kajje]

Facebook equals freemium data mining. This product charges money. Good luck Facebook changing the mindset of 1.71 billion users.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Will be interesting to see how it competes with Slack. Slack may have a strong following but Facebook has the numbers and it'll make adoption far easier for their service. Plus they have the developers to add features at a far faster rate than Slack can.

 

[LSarge]

As a teacher, I wonder how this could work. Right now, there is not much beyond google drive in terms of colab software

 

[coomdoom]

That tool might be useful but to share my company information to Facebook? No thanks.

My University is one of the early adopter organisations and we've been using it for about a month now. As part of this, we performed a data due diligence that went through our University lawyers to understand the data collected by Facebook. I can assure you that no data is shared with Facebook, especially as they have no need to as companies who join, are required to pay. So they make their money that way.

 

[sir1963nz]

My University is one of the early adopter organisations and we've been using it for about a month now. As part of this, we performed a data due diligence that went through our University lawyers to understand the data collected by Facebook. I can assure you that no data is shared with Facebook, especially as they have no need to as companies who join, are required to pay. So they make their money that way.

ROTFLMAO, I would not trust Facebook to honour the contract, they will have some get out of Jail free card there somewhere. Facebook relies on collecting as much data as it can on everyone, even if they are not a Facebook subscriber.

They will simply allow their crap to become so integrated into your university it would take years and a LOT of pain to remove them, making it more cost effective to "forgive them" and allow them to continue collecting data.

 

[coomdoom]

ROTFLMAO, I would not trust Facebook to honour the contract, they will have some get out of Jail free card there somewhere. Facebook relies on collecting as much data as it can on everyone, even if they are not a Facebook subscriber.

They will simply allow their crap to become so integrated into your university it would take years and a LOT of pain to remove them, making it more cost effective to "forgive them" and allow them to continue collecting data.

I disagree. 1) It's a legally binding contract and 2) They have to adhere to the UK's Data Protection Act. As staff are not "agreeing to their terms and conditions" as all staff members are put into the system, then Facebook have obligations that they must, legally, adhere to. I know the immediate thought is "ZOMG They're stealing all the dataz", but remember the data mining in Regular Facebook is for advertising, to make money. With Workplaces, they make their money through organisation subscriptions, therefore do not provide any advertising and have no justifiable reason to collect organisational data, of which some may be company confidential. (I'm talking generically here, not specifically my organisation)

 

[adamjackson]

Ad-Free news feeds but what about the side-bar?

I'll keep using Slack. They're independent and don't sell my data out to ad networks.

 

[jimmyc7]

There are many social platforms available for the enterprise like Jive, Yammer (now part of Microsoft Office 365), Hangouts and now Workplace by Facebook – but all these channels eventually become noisy, employees lose interest (there is no incentive for them to use the platforms) and HR / Internal Marketing can’t seem to get their message across consistently nor are they able to address employee needs properly. Haven’t you seen that with your Facebook feeds already? If you are looking for a metrics driven employee communication and engagement platform, pick one that provides two way communication with you having control over the targeting, makes content fun, and helps you provide incentives for employees to be engaged. Read more here - http://www.hubengage.com/is-workpla...rison-employee-mobile-communication-platforms

 

[Kajje]

For many business environments Facebook is contra-productive and IT departments spent good money for blocking everything facebook-related on the corporate network.

A 'Workplace' rolout would require to destroy a bunch of firewall rules and there will be a ton of sysadmins giving their veto for that.

Companies should go either consumer or go enterprise. Doing both right - even with an unlimited budget to back this - is going to be quite a task. Many have tried, most have failed.

Facebook for sure has the cash - and the pure technical expertise - but at the end it's the end user and its perception who will decide.