Facebook has launched its rival to work emails as Workplace debuts globally.
The professional application is an adaptation of an in-house social network used by Facebook employees for years.
Previously known as ‘Facebook at Work’, it encourages collaboration between employees of different companies as well as within the same organisation.
This is made possible through the creation of shared groups.
The app, which like its social media counterpart is available via desktop or mobile, has been in beta testing for a year and is already used by more than 1,000 organisations.
Users have created more than 10,000 Facebook Workplace groups.
“We’ve brought the best of Facebook to the workplace – whether it’s basic infrastructure, such as news feed, or the ability to create and share in groups or by chat, or useful features such as live, reactions, search and trending posts,” said Facebook in a statement.
Other features are auto-translations, video and group calling and search filters.
The app is used mostly in India, Norway, the US, the UK and France, with The Lad Bible, RBS, Renault, Danone, Starbucks, Oxfam and Booking.com among those firms who have signed up.
Facebook has also initiated the Workplace Partner Programme, intended to act as a global partner ecosystem to increase co-operative working.
Free for non-profits and educational institutions, Facebook Workplace costs $3 per month per user for the first 1,000 users, $2 per month per user for companies with 1,001 to 10,000 employees and $1 per month per user for those with more than 10k.