Is Viva Engage as good as Workplace?

Helping you decide: Data-driven comparison of Workplace vs Viva Engage

Summary: Viva Engage is just as effective as Workplace from Meta, if not better, at connecting people and allowing communication to flow.

Workplace from Meta is shutting down. Many organisations are considering what to do now. If you are already using Microsoft 365, then Viva Engage must be one of your top candidates. But does it perform as well as Workplace? 

For the past 10 years, SWOOP Analytics has been benchmarking Viva Engage (previously Yammer), and Workplace since it started in 2016. We are therefore uniquely placed to compare the two platforms. However, too often a discussion about choices of technology becomes a question of preferring one feature over another, and we believe it is more relevant to focus on how these platforms deliver business outcomes such as better decision-making. 

Through years of data-driven measurement of communities, we found high-performing communities have high levels of two-way interactions and engagement. This means that employees are not just passively consuming content, but actively participating in discussions, asking questions, and sharing their knowledge and insights. 

In the table below we have outlined a set of metrics and scores that are based on analysing millions of interactions users have performed on Workplace and Viva Engage. And we have outlined what business outcome they relate to.

Metric	Business Outcomes	Workplace Score	Viva Engage Score	Verdict
Replies to Posts Percentage of posts with a reply.	More replies to posts can encourage active discussions and knowledge sharing, leading to a more informed and engaged workforce. This can improve decision-making and innovation.	46.5%	47%	It's a tie. Too close to call.
Two-Way Relationships Percentage of relationships that are two-way.	Strong, reciprocal relationships can lead to a more cohesive and collaborative work environment. This can improve information flow, decision-making, and overall business performance.	17%	21.1%	Viva Engage is slightly ahead.
Influencer Risk Score Indicates the risk of over-reliance on a few key influencers.	A lower influencer risk score can reduce the risk of over-reliance on a few individuals, leading to a more resilient and distributed network. This can improve business continuity and reduce key-person risk.	34.1	33.9	It's a tie. Too close to call.
Public Messages The percentage of messages posted publicly.	Public messages can encourage transparency and open communication, fostering a culture of trust and accountability. This can improve employee morale and business integrity.	60.7%	79.6%	Viva Engage is ahead.
Curiosity Index The percentage of posts and replies that include a question.	A higher Curiosity Index can foster a culture of curiosity and innovation, leading to more creative solutions and continuous learning. This can improve business adaptability and competitiveness.	8%	12.8%	Viva Engage is ahead.
Active Users Percent The percentage of users who are actively contributing.	A higher percentage of active users can indicate successful platform adoption and engagement, leading to more effective use of the platform for collaboration and communication. This can improve business efficiency and effectiveness.	35.2%	31.3%	Workplace is slightly ahead.
Activity Per User The average number of interactions per user.	More activity per user (posts, replies, reactions) can encourage active participation and engagement, leading to a more vibrant and collaborative work environment. This can improve employee satisfaction and productivity.	19.8	24.7	Viva Engage is slightly ahead.
Multi-Group Participation Measures users being active in multiple groups.	More multi-group participation can promote the diversity of ideas and cross-pollination, leading to more innovative solutions and a broader understanding of the business.	47.8	44.4	Workplace is slightly ahead.

The comparison table above demonstrates that the two platforms can deliver similar business outcomes. In most cases, the differences are insignificant. However, two areas stand out. The proportion of messages posted in public communities is higher on Viva Engage than Workplace, and the proportion of messages which include a question (Curiosity Index) is also higher on Viva Engage. 

Public Messages = Transparency = Knowledge-sharing

Transparency and knowledge-sharing go hand in hand. On Viva Engage, employees are better at connecting with colleagues across organisational, functional and geographical boundaries in open forums. This allows for more cross-pollination of ideas, and less of “if only we knew what we know”. 

Also, our benchmarking on Viva Engage and Microsoft Teams has clearly shown communities on Viva Engage are mostly large and open, whereas teams on Microsoft Teams are smaller and private. If you are moving to Viva Engage, you can therefore expect that some of your colleagues will opt for Microsoft Teams, leaving Viva Engage for broader and more public conversations. 

Asking questions = Trust = Speed

Another encouraging outcome those moving to Viva Engage can expect is that more questions will be asked. When we ask questions, it is a sign of trust. In low trust cultures people don’t ask questions. It is a sign of weakness, or something employees have learned is not encouraged. Trust is closely related to how fast you can move as a business. High trust = High speed. 

Conclusion

Had it not been for the fact that Workplace has decided to close, it might be less straightforward to recommend a move to Viva Engage. While there might have been cost savings, technology optimisation or similar benefits associated with a move, it seems to us that both platforms have successfully enabled strong business outcomes.

However, given that Workplace is going away, and that Viva Engage is performing better, a move to Viva Engage seems like a no-brainer.

Organisations SWOOP Analytics has spoken with who have moved to Viva Engage have also told us they have achieved similar strong business outcomes on the new platform. Based on our evidence-based results, reinforced by qualitative feedback, we suggest you do the same.

How SWOOP Analytics can help

We’re going to assume that after some thought you have decided to move to Viva Engage, and we suggest you consider using SWOOP Analytics for Workplace and SWOOP Analytics for Viva Engage.

Understanding the landscape

Before embarking on this journey, it's crucial to understand the current state of your Workplace site. Using SWOOP Analytics for Workplace, you can gain insights into how your organisation is collaborating, identify key influencers, and understand the health of your communities. This will provide a solid foundation for your migration plan.

Planning the migration

With a clear understanding of your current landscape, you can begin to plan your migration. You can identify which groups and content need to be migrated to Viva Engage. Prioritise based on activity levels, business criticality, and the readiness of the group members for the change.

Preparing for the change

Within SWOOP Analytics for Viva Engage, you can see the most Influential People across each department, segment, or across the enterprise.

Change can be daunting, but with the right preparation, it can be managed effectively. Use the insights from SWOOP Analytics to identify key influencers who can act as change champions. Develop a communications plan to keep everyone informed about the migration process and the benefits of moving to Viva Engage. 

Executing the migration

With a plan in place and your organisation prepared for the change, you can begin the migration process. This will involve technical tasks such as setting up your Viva Engage environment, migrating content, and configuring settings. Remember to test thoroughly before going live. 

Monitoring post-migration

Once you've migrated to Viva Engage, use SWOOP Analytics for Viva Engage to monitor the health of your new digital environment. Track key metrics such as engagement, responsiveness, and cross-departmental collaboration. Use these insights to identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes.

Continuous improvement

The journey doesn't end with migration. Continually monitor your Viva Engage environment with SWOOP Analytics, and use the insights to drive ongoing improvements. 

SWOOP Analytics – Special transition price

To help those organisations wanting to move from Workplace to Viva Engage, we’re offering access to both SWOOP Analytics for Workplace and SWOOP Analytics for Viva Engage for up to 12 months for the same subscription fee. Contact your regional SWOOPer to get started!

🛜 Americas: Gemma Saint / Coco Molina 

🛜 UK/Europe: Pete Johns / Nicole Scott

🛜 APAC: Emily O’Brien / Francesca Guidi