It would seem Facebook is currently working on a version of Facebook for work, with features specifically designed for professional environments. Should LinkedIn be worried? And what can we expect?
The social giant is already very active in the personal lives of more than 1.35 billion regular users, and is now preparing its entry into their professional lives.
Facebook at Work, as coined by the Financial Times when unveiling the news, wishes to enrich and foster links between colleagues – “that they know as people first,” reportedly said Mike Rognlien of Facebook – to reduce tensions in the office.
How? By offering employees a “face” and facilitating their interactions.
Is LinkedIn threatened?
With these new professional services, Facebook would be playing in the courtyard with the latest social technologies already adopted by many companies.
First, an “at work” Facebook page in order to personalize interactions between individuals, even in a professional context. This profile would be separate and different from that of their personal Facebook pages as to allow them to keep certain aspects of their personal lives private. In short, a LinkedIn-like network, with a more personal appearance than the professional network of 334 million subscribers, but in a more professional context than the classic Facebook setting. Another likely difference: if the interest is to develop relations in the office, it is assumed that Facebook at Work will focus more on the present and daily interactions than past interactions like LinkedIn which, for many users, boils down to an enhanced resumé.
Another interesting function of Facebook at Work is a service that this time directly competes with Chatter at Saleforces and Yammer at Microsoft: instant messaging. Employees may indeed interact directly via messaging rather than exchanging a series of emails (or picking up the phone).
Facebook at Work would also manage collaborative documents, in the likes of the popular Dropbox and Google Box platforms.
A desirable service?
It’s difficult to gauge the lure Facebook at Work will have, as well as its potential impact on organizations and its true functions in addition to elements that have not yet been officially announced.
As it stands, there’s nothing astounding in terms of services. Its main attraction is Facebook’s popularity… an aspect not always appreciated by management.
Many companies also ban the use of Facebook to reduce stagnation. Will Facebook at Work facilitate daily management… or will it be a new source of time lost for employees?
Moreover, does the desire to “personalize” the interactions between colleagues to improve work environments make sense? Human resources experts fear the opposite, that employees come to appreciate less, based on criteria that have nothing to do with their professional skills and interactions.
Finally, pushing employees to use Facebook at Work seems, at first thought, unlikely. Known fact: the social network is often singled out because of its questionable privacy and personal information disclosure practices. However, managers and companies attach great importance to the management of confidential information. Will they trust Facebook – or Facebook at Work – to seal everyday documents and interactions?