Facebook begins testing ‘At Work’ enterprise product

Facebook today confirmed that it has begun testing on Facebook at Work. The app, which blends elements of the Facebook experience into an enterprise level product, will be visible in iOS and Android App Stores and accessible to pilot partners only.

Facebook at Work was first spied in November last year and is likely part of the company’s efforts to expand its revenue base beyond the billion or so personal users it currently lays claim to.

The product is meant to provide a separate experience that gives employees the ability to connect and collaborate efficiently using Facebook tools — many that they’re likely already using such as News Feed, Groups, messages and events.

In effect, co–workers can stay in touch with each other in the same way they stay in touch with friends and family via Facebook: Facebook at Work offers the familiar look and feel as Facebook and has the same tools.

Read more: Why social media is the future of communication in your business

According to the big blue social network, Facebook at Work was created completely for use within a company. This, it says, means that employees’ Facebook at Work info is safe, secure, confidential and completely separate from their personal Facebook profile. The info shared among employees is only accessible to people in the company.

“We look forward to getting feedback from our pilot partners to build the best possible product for them and their employees,” the social networking giant said in a statement.

It is worth pointing out however that Facebook’s success in the public social networking space doesn’t automatically mean that it’ll do well in the enterprise space. For starters, there are plenty of established players. The foremost of these is Yammer, acquired by Microsoft in 2012, and used by large organisations around the globe.

As a new entrant, it’ll have to disrupt and disrupt hard if it wants to succeed in an incredibly competitive market.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that Facebook’s ubiquity doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best, or most user-friendly social network — both attributes which matter a lot more in the enterprise space.