Facebook at Work or Facebook @ Work is reportedly launching next month. It will be a communication and collaboration network with a per-monthly-active-user pricing model. Will it be replacing Slack?
Facebook @ Work has reportedly undergone two years of development and has already taken 450 companies on board according to Engadget. What this new tool from Facebook has as its advantage is the main platform's familiarity.
People who are suing Facebook are already using its Groups, News Feed, Events and group messaging in the Messenger app, which will be integrated with the Facebook @ Work. But this time, the communication and collaboration will be dedicated within the company's community and not to the public or to friends. Anyone with a Facebook account can sign up for the service.
The exact pricing has not yet been disclosed, but companies can get to have a few months to try the product for free. The per-person pricing model might be a bit of a challenge as it would be hard to convince every worker to sign up for the tool, and employers are not obliged to pay for empty seats. However, Menlo Park executives predicted that Facebook @ Work could bring a steadier revenue than from its Facebook ads.
According to TechCrunch, Slack currenlty charges $6.67 per active user. The app only offers real-time messaging tools, and lacks a feed for posting tasks and/or questions, which makes it hard to search for something once it's buried.
Facebook At Work users will have a special "Work Feed" where colleagues can post tasks and exchange ideas. It will also offer Groups and Group Messaging with audio and video calling options. It also maintains the Events and Live video features.
Perhaps the most exciting twist is the potential to use artificial intelligence to determine employees' sentiments. Facebook at Work might be able to detect how employees really feel about certain topics. This is both amazing and scary at the same time.
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