Introducing Workplace by Facebook
As many of you will have gathered from previous articles, I am an enthusiastic advocate of using Facebook for business. With the launch of Workplace, this enthusiasm has reached new heights.
What is Workplace by Facebook?
Most people are familiar with the origins of Facebook, which began as an internal communication tool for Harvard University students. It quickly expanded to other campuses and grew into the social platform we know today. With Workplace, Facebook seems to be returning to its roots. By taking the best functions of Facebook and adapting them for business use, Facebook has created a powerful internal communication tool in the form of Workplace.
Why You Need Workplace by Facebook
Workplace leverages the familiar group structure to facilitate more effective internal communications. Each group can be tailored for specific teams or departments and can be made open to all or restricted to select participants. This makes it particularly beneficial for multi-site companies, global enterprises and even smaller businesses like our own.
If you’re familiar with Facebook, setting up Workplace is straightforward, especially since you can bulk upload all employees via a CSV file. But why should you consider adopting it? Let me outline the benefits we’ve gained from our new Workplace account:
- Streamlined Communication: We have several dedicated groups to optimise business processes. For instance, we have an HR group linked to our external provider, where employees can message HR with questions, either publicly or privately. We also have an IT group connected to our IT support service for reporting and resolving issues and an announcement section for delivering company news to all staff as quickly as a typical Facebook post.
- Enhanced Collaboration: The Multi-Company function is a standout feature, enabling us to communicate seamlessly with clients through a branded version of Facebook. This secure platform allows for file, video and image sharing between our team and clients. Now, when a client posts to their designated Workplace group, the entire team can view the request and respond efficiently.
Accessibility & Cost
Like Facebook, Workplace is accessible via both desktop and mobile apps, ensuring that team members on the go can stay connected. Workplace is available to any company or organisation and counts big names like Starbucks, Danone and Oxfam among its users. For small businesses, it offers access to enterprise-level cloud software without the hefty price tag. The pricing is $3 per user per month for up to 1,000 users, and there is currently a three-month free trial, so your initial investment is just the time it takes to set up and evaluate whether this solution fits your business needs.
For us at The Last Hurdle, it’s nothing short of a game changer!
