Unless you work at Facebook, the two terms, Facebook and work seem to clash. Words like procrastination and unproductive pop into our heads. However just earlier today, there were rumours that Facebook is testing a new product called “Facebook@Work”. The product would be exclusive from regular Facebook and “the service would allow users to message their colleagues, connect with other people in their professional network, and collaborate on work.” As the Wired article also states, there are already credible competitors such as Google, LinkedIn, and Saleforce.com in the software-for-enterprise space. However, what the articles fail to address is that something like Facebook@Work already exists, and it’s called Yammer. Yammer, which was purchased by Microsoft in 2012 for over $1 billion, is sometimes referred to as “Facebook for business”. From the colours to the user interface design to the way the newsfeed (or ticker) functions, Yammer looks like a product of Facebook. Although casual users may not know about Yammer, businesses and social media professionals would definitely know about it and might already be using it. To illustrate just how similar Yammer is to Facebook, check out the image below:

Yammer, sometimes known as Facebook for business.

Beyond Yammer (Microsoft), other companies like LinkedIn already dominate a large chunk of the professional space. Do you think that Facebook@Work would be a flop, or a legitimate product for businesses that will catch on?

Sources:

• http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/17/facebook-prepares-a-business-product/?_r=0
• http://www.pcworld.com/article/260517/what_is_heck_is_yammer.html
• http://www.wired.com/2014/11/facebook-at-work/