Workplace (software)

{{short description|Online collaborative software}} {{Primary sources|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox software | name = Workplace | logo = Workplace from Meta (inline).svg | developer = Meta Platforms | genre = Collaborative software | website = {{URL|workplace.com}} }} '''Workplace''' is an online collaborative software tool developed by Meta Platforms. Its features include instant messaging, file sharing, and video and audio conferencing. On 14 May 2024, Meta announced plans to sunset Workplace by May 2026.

==History== Workplace was first announced on January 14, 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/01/facebook-at-work-launch/|title='Facebook at Work' Launches So You Can Never Not Be on Facebook|first=Davey|last=Alba|magazine=Wired|date=Jan 14, 2015|access-date=Jul 25, 2019|via=www.wired.com|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108171057/http://www.wired.com/2015/01/facebook-at-work-launch/|url-status=live}}</ref> It launched in beta as Facebook at Work before officially launching in October 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2015/10/rbs-becomes-first-bank-in-the-world-to-launch-facebook-at-work.html|title=RBS becomes first bank in the world to launch Facebook At Work|website=www.rbs.com|access-date=Jul 25, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403231257/https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2015/10/rbs-becomes-first-bank-in-the-world-to-launch-facebook-at-work.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2020}} Free accounts were discontinued as of February 2021.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Workplace for Good was launched in June 2018 to provide a free version of Workplace for registered non-profits and staff of educational institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Successfully launch Workplace to your whole non-profit |url=https://www.workplace.com/resources/getting-started/nonprofit-launch-guide |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.workplace.com |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2018, Workplace announced the launch of Safety Check.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://workplaceblog.fb.com/product-news/safety-check/|title=Bringing Safety Check to Workplace on mobile and desktop – Workplace Stories|date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009235033/https://workplaceblog.fb.com/product-news/safety-check/|archive-date=2018-10-09}}</ref> Originally developed by Facebook engineers after the 2011 Japanese tsunami,{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} Safety Check for Workplace allows organizations to identify employees who may be affected by a crisis and send and monitor responses. Safety Check has been used by Delta Air Lines (during Hurricane Florence and the Hokkaido earthquake).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Khari |date=2018-10-09 |title=Workplace by Facebook introduces multi-company chat groups and video calls |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/workplace-by-facebook-introduces-multi-company-chat-groups-and-video-calls/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref>

As of May 2021, there were 7 million paying users.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dignan|first=Larry|title=Workplace by Facebook passes 5 million paid users, launches Workplace Rooms, video conferencing enhancements|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/workplace-by-facebook-passes-5-million-paid-users-launches-workplace-rooms-video-conferencing-enhancements/|access-date=2020-07-18|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=2020-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610180037/https://www.zdnet.com/article/workplace-by-facebook-passes-5-million-paid-users-launches-workplace-rooms-video-conferencing-enhancements/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2024, Meta announced Workplace shutdown in 2026, encouraging users and system administrators to migrate to Zoom-owned Workvivo or download their data.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=2024-05-14 |title=Meta is shutting down Workplace, cutting back enterprise ambitions |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/14/meta-is-shutting-down-workplace-its-enterprise-communications-business/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Important: Workplace is closing in 2026 |url=https://www.workplace.com/help/work/1167689491269151 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.workplace.com |language=en}}</ref> On September 1, 2025, Workplace website entered read-only mode and the Workplace mobile app and the Workchat desktop app stopped working.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Workplace is in read-only mode |url=https://www.workplace.com/help/work/563248646362688 |access-date=2026-03-08}}</ref> Meta plans to discontinue data export on May 31, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

== Functions == While Workplace accounts are set up and run separately<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.workplace.com/help/work/411291142403345|title=How do I unlink my personal and work accounts?|website=Workplace from Meta|access-date=Jul 25, 2019|archive-date=September 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924094214/https://www.facebook.com/help/411291142403345/|url-status=live}}</ref> from Facebook accounts, Workplace uses much of Facebook's underlying technology. Workplace uses machine learning to rank information in a user's news feed and make recommendations, while 'downranking' less relevant information.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-18|title=How using AI is making work more meaningful – Workplace Stories|url=https://workplaceblog.fb.com/future-of-work/ai-work-meaningful/|access-date=2020-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010925/https://workplaceblog.fb.com/future-of-work/ai-work-meaningful/|archive-date=2018-12-18}}</ref> Workplace data is stored across 12 Facebook-owned and operated data centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://datacenterfrontier.com/facebooks-accelerates-data-center-expansion/|title=Facebook Accelerates its Data Center Expansion|date=Mar 19, 2018|access-date=Jul 25, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601153628/https://datacenterfrontier.com/facebooks-accelerates-data-center-expansion/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception== PC Mag described it as "Facebook if your employer restricted membership to only your coworkers and bosses" and concluded "Workplace is what an organization makes of it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/social-networking/88257/workplace-by-facebook|title=Workplace by Facebook|date=Dec 12, 2017|website=PCMag UK|access-date=Jul 25, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403203825/https://uk.pcmag.com/social-networking/88257/workplace-by-facebook|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also== * List of collaborative software

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.workplace.com}}

Category:Business software Category:Collaborative software Category:Groupware Category:Meta Platforms applications