Viva Engage vs Facebook Workplace

Selecting the right platform for digital collaboration for your organisation is more critical than ever.

As businesses adapt to new working methods, tools that enhance communication and foster collaboration become invaluable. With ever-growing needs for employee engagement and experience due to remote working, well from working anywhere in a team, having the right tool is inevitably the best investment to make for any organisation.

Engaged employees are more productive and motivated and contribute positively to the company’s overall success. With increasing retention rates by creating communities, don’t fall asleep on the value a communication and community platform and what it can do for your organisation.

Meta are retiring Facebook Workplace in the next few years. They have added many stops on this road to retirement. August 31st, 2025, will be the last day you can use Facebook Workplace as normal. Workplace will only be accessible to read and download existing data. The last stop will be June 1st, 2026 when your Workplace will be terminated and deleted.

This article will lead you, the reader, to consider transitioning to a robust alternative: Viva Engage.

Viva Engage, previously known as Yammer, presents itself as a compelling choice. Hopefully, this article will explore what both platforms offer, compare their benefits and drawbacks, and explain why moving to Viva Engage would be a smooth transition for you and your organisation.

 

What is Viva Engage?

Viva Engage, formerly known as Yammer, is a robust enterprise social networking platform that is part of the Microsoft 365 suite. Designed to enhance internal communication, collaboration, and community building within organisations, Viva Engage integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools like Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook. This integration creates a cohesive and efficient digital workspace, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity.

Viva Engage offers a range of rich communication features, including interactive conversations, community building, and announcements, fostering a collaborative culture within organisations. It allows employees to connect, share insights, and engage in meaningful discussions, regardless of location. The platform is highly customisable, enabling businesses to tailor it to their specific needs and preferences, thus ensuring it meets the unique requirements of various teams and departments.

The standard version of Engage equips organisations with essential tools to enhance internal communications and foster employee engagement. It enables the creation and management of communities where employees can join groups, share updates, and engage in discussions, supporting standard posting, commenting, and reacting to content. Ideal for day-to-day communications, it helps build a sense of community among employees.

The premium version of Viva Engage elevates this experience further by offering advanced features designed to streamline internal processes and boost two-way engagement between leaders and employees. With premium licensing, you can access the Leadership Corner, a dedicated space for leaders to foster open dialogue and receive feedback from communities and teams. This feature facilitates direct interaction with leadership content, including discussions, events, campaigns, and recent activities.

Additionally, the premium version supports internal virtual events, enabling ‘ask me anything’ or Q&A style sessions within your organisation. Internal communicators can create organisation-wide campaigns, accessing ‘back of house’ features to manage communication efforts and distribute information across multiple communities. A highly requested feature now available is the ability to publish stories on behalf of other users, allowing stories to be posted by or for leaders and employees.

Furthermore, the premium version leverages AI capabilities to help users find the right answers by easily searching for existing responses or routing questions to the appropriate individuals. While the standard version covers fundamental communication needs, the premium version provides enhanced tools that significantly improve the internal communication experience within the organisation.

At Changing Social, we have many communities on our personalised Viva Engage.  The ‘High Fives’ community is where we celebrate and praise one another on achievements outside and inside of work. We have the ‘Pet Café’ where we show adorable images of our pets or animals in general. We have questions, updates and many more. It allows us to feel even more like a team when we are spread all over the globe. You are also able to start campaigns, which we haven’t done yet, but we look forward to doing so!

Security is a priority for Viva Engage, which leverages Microsoft’s robust security infrastructure to ensure that all data remains confidential. This focus on security effectively addresses privacy concerns, providing organisations with peace of mind. Overall, Viva Engage is a future-proof solution backed by Microsoft’s commitment to continuous improvement, making it ideal for organisations looking to enhance their internal communication and collaboration efforts.

 

What was Facebook Workplace?

Facebook Workplace was a collaborative platform designed to bring the familiar interface and functionality of Facebook into the professional environment.

We’re unsure whether this is good or not. If Facebook is something people use in their leisure time, is it really something that users want to see on their day off when they’re leisurely scrolling on Facebook?

Furthermore, Workplace was launched in 2016; it aimed to enhance internal communication, foster engagement, and facilitate collaboration within organisations by leveraging the tools and features many users already knew from Facebook. Features such as News Feed, Groups, Chat, and Live Video. This familiarity helped reduce the learning curve for employees, making it easier for them to adopt and use the platform effectively.

Key features of Facebook Workplace included the ability to create and join groups for different teams or projects, share updates and documents, and use live video for announcements and virtual meetings. The platform also supported instant messaging and video calls, allowing for quick and efficient communication among employees. Workplace promoted active participation and engagement through interactive features such as reactions, comments, and mentions. These tools encouraged employees to interact with each other’s posts and updates, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

Designed to be accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, Facebook Workplace ensured that employees could stay connected and engaged, regardless of their location. This mobility supported a flexible work environment, accommodating remote and on-the-go workers. In summary, Facebook Workplace aimed to enhance organisational communication and collaboration by bringing the intuitive, social-media-like experience of Facebook to the business world.

 

What are the benefits of Facebook Workplace vs Viva Engage?

Now that you know more about both tools, we want to elaborate further on their benefits. Both platforms have the same initiative of employee collaboration and furthering the employee experience. Yet what are the different benefits that set them apart?

 

Benefits of Viva Engage

1. Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365:
   • Works perfectly with tools like Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook.
   • Creates a cohesive digital workspace.
2. Enhanced Security:
   • Utilises Microsoft’s robust security infrastructure.
   • Ensures the protection of your data and addresses privacy concerns effectively.
3. Rich Communication Features:
   • Facilitates community building and interactive conversations.
   • Supports announcements and promotes a collaborative culture.
4. Customisation and Flexibility:
   • Allows extensive customisation to meet specific business needs.
   • Offers more flexibility compared to other platforms.
5. Future-Proof Solution:
   • Part of the Microsoft ecosystem, ensuring longevity and continuous improvements.
   • Protects your investment and keeps your tools up to date.
6. Improved Productivity:
   • Enhances productivity by integrating with commonly used Microsoft tools.
   • Simplifies IT management, reducing the complexity of using multiple systems.
7. Training and Support:
   • Microsoft and us at Changing Social offer extensive training resources to help users learn and adapt to the platform.
   • Provides continuous support and resources for troubleshooting and optimisation.

 

Benefits of Facebook Workplace

1. Familiar Interface:
   • Utilises the same design as Facebook, providing an intuitive and user-friendly experience.
   • Reduces the learning curve for new users familiar with Facebook.
2. Integration with Facebook Ecosystem:
   • Seamless integration with Facebook Messenger, Groups, and Live Video.
   • Provides a comprehensive suite of tools for communication and collaboration.
3. Engagement Features:
   • Features such as reactions, comments, and live videos promote active participation.
   • Encourages engagement among employees through familiar social media interactions.
4. Real-Time Communication:
   • Supports instant messaging and video calls, facilitating quick and effective communication.
   • Allows for real-time collaboration and instant feedback.
5. Community Building:
   • Enables the creation of groups and communities within the organisation.
   • Fosters a sense of belonging and enhances team collaboration.
6. Mobile Accessibility:
   • Offers robust mobile applications, allowing employees to stay connected.
   • Ensures accessibility and engagement regardless of location.

 

When comparing Viva Engage and Facebook Workplace, several factors highlight why Viva Engage is the superior choice.

First, while Facebook Workplace offers integration within the Facebook ecosystem, Viva Engage’s integration with Microsoft 365 is far more advantageous for businesses. This ecosystem not only enhances productivity but also simplifies IT management. Given the critical nature of data security, Viva Engage’s reliance on Microsoft’s security infrastructure provides a level of assurance that Facebook Workplace simply cannot match.

Furthermore, it’s essential to recognise that Facebook Workplace’s impending retirement diminishes its relevance, regardless of its current capabilities. Scheduled to retire fully by June 2026, Facebook Workplace’s functionalities will become obsolete, making a transition inevitable for all its users.

Viva Engage not only has the key features of Facebook Workplace but also offers a wealth of additional benefits, such as seamless integration with Microsoft 365, enhanced security, and advanced communication tools.

Moreover, switching to a new platform is unavoidable with Facebook Workplace’s imminent retirement. Viva Engage, backed by Microsoft’s commitment to continuous improvement, ensures that your organisation won’t face another transition in the near future.

Lastly, the ability to tailor Viva Engage to your specific organisational needs is a significant advantage over the more rigid structure of Facebook Workplace. The comprehensive feature set and ongoing improvements of Viva Engage ensure that businesses can continue to foster strong internal communications and collaboration without disruption. Thus, while the comparison highlights the capabilities of both platforms, the choice is clear: Viva Engage is the superior and more durable solution considering Facebook Workplace’s imminent phase-out.

 

What are the downsides Viva Engage vs Facebook Workplace?

Viva Engage:

1. Learning Curve:
   • For those not already familiar with Microsoft 365, there might be a learning curve. However, Microsoft offers extensive training resources to mitigate this.
2. Cost for Premium:
   • Depending on your existing subscriptions and needs, there may be additional costs associated with integrating Viva Engage into your organisation.
   • Standard Viva Engage is mostly free therefore, the cost is aimed towards getting the premium features.

 

Facebook Workplace:

1. Privacy Concerns:
   • Given Facebook’s history with data privacy issues, there are concerns about the confidentiality and security of corporate information.
2. Limited Customisation:
   • The familiar interface limits customisation options, restricting businesses from tailoring the platform to their specific needs.
3. Will be obsolete in the near future:
   • With its impending retirement, businesses face the challenge of transitioning to a new platform, which can be disruptive and costly.

 

 

Still wanting to know the answer to Viva Engage vs Facebook Workplace…

Facebook Workplace plans to retire by 2026, so now is the perfect time to transition to a more robust solution.

Viva Engage, formerly known as Yammer, presents itself as a compelling choice for organisations looking to enhance internal communication and collaboration.

Unlike Facebook Workplace, Viva Engage seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365, leveraging tools like Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook to create a cohesive digital workspace. This integration enhances productivity and simplifies IT management.

Viva Engage also boasts advanced security measures, utilising Microsoft’s robust infrastructure to ensure data confidentiality and address privacy concerns effectively. Furthermore, Viva Engage offers rich communication features, customisation options, and continuous improvements, making it a future-proof solution.

With its ability to foster community building, facilitate real-time communication, and support internal events and campaigns, Viva Engage provides a comprehensive platform that meets the evolving needs of modern organisations.

Transitioning to Viva Engage ensures that your organisation remains at the forefront of digital collaboration, making it the best and smoothest option as Facebook Workplace phases out.

 

If you have any queries, or would like to know more about the transition please do not hestitate to reach out to us by pressing the green ‘CONTACT’ button to the right of the screen. Lets have a chat and work out whats best for your organisation!