Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Facebook Launches Workplace; to take on Slack for Intra-Office Communication


Facebook launched a workplace version of its mobile app and website on Monday, marking the social networking company's entry into the competitive and crowded enterprise software arena.

The product, they are calling Workplace by Facebook, had been in its testing phase for more than a year and will now be available to all businesses. It is designed for workplace communication and collaboration, putting Facebook in direct competition with the ever-increasing startup Slack and Skype Teams.

So basically, Workplace is a subscription product, with businesses paying $1 to $3 per user. And those who don't know Slack's least expensive business plan charges about $7 per user.


Workplace is the latest move by Facebook to take on competitors in all areas of social networking and mobile communications. Over the past several months it also has rolled out products to challenge the fast-growing photo-sharing app Snapchat.

The company is trying its best to overcome the fact that Facebook is not really viewed as a work tool and is often called a distraction in offices. Workplace does not require people to sign in with their personal accounts and limits the News Feed to company announcements, memos, and communications.

Facebook is building a direct sales force for Workplace and also working with professional services firms to get businesses signed up. "We want to replace a lot of old technologies like internal emails, mailing lists, newsletters," said Julien Codorniou, Facebook's global head of Workplace. "These are things that people want to get rid of."


Although its biggest markets for Workplace include the United States and the United Kingdom, Facebook is aggressively targeting businesses in emerging markets, including Africa and Asia, where some employees primarily rely on mobile phones.

It also is going after businesses with non-traditional desk workers where employees spend the majority or all of their time outside of offices. Facebook has more than 1,000 businesses signed up, the company said, with India as its biggest market.

Source: Facebook Newsroom


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