Workplace collaboration could get a lot easier with facebook all set to launch a professional version of its globally acclaimed social network. Facebook has been testing its systems for this particular version for over a year now and the official launch may take place in a couple of months. The new service is aimed at making workplace collaboration better and easier, it features similar interface including news feed, likes and a chat feature. However, this service would only be usable for professional networking and not for personal, social networking as is the case with the original facebook.
According to Julien Codorniou, director of global platform partnerships at facebook, about 95 % of all features developed for facebook would be adopted into the professional version of the social networking site. This new version is currently being called as ‘facebook at work’. This particular version already has competition from LinkedIn, which is also a professional networking site that allows people to spread their professional network and endorse each other with their specific specializations. Facebook at work is expected to surpass LinkedIn, purely on the basis of its already huge user base, but the exact statistics will be available only after a couple of months of the official launch.
Facebook at work users will have to maintain a special profile that has to be distinct from their personal profiles on the original facebook. The company is also reportedly developing some exclusive tools for its new version. A new security tool is also underway. Some reputed companies like Royal Bank of Scotland, Heineken, Stella and Dot are already using facebook at work as part of the testing and developing team of the company. This only means that an official open launch cannot be very far away.
What do you think about this latest offering by facebook? Would you be willing to try it out or would you still prefer the good old LinkedIn for all matters professional? Do let us know through the comments section below or through any of our social media channels.
