“We really love Workplace. Where to now?”
Many organisations fell in love with Workplace from Meta and achieved amazing results. Workplace made a big impact, but it is all coming to an end. Workplace will effectively go into “read-only” mode on August 25, 2025.
SWOOP CEO Cai Kjaer with then-Workplace VP Julien Codorniou at Menlo Park in 2017.
We’re sad too. We were one of the very first companies in the Workplace App store back in 2017 and have had the joy of delivering powerful analytics to Workplace customers ever since.
But it’s going away, and we want to help you move forward. In this post, we outline some of the options to consider and how you could use SWOOP Analytics to help you move to your new collaboration platform.
“Where do we go?”
If you are a Microsoft ”shop”
If you are a Microsoft “shop” you must consider the Viva Suite. Don't let anyone convince you that "Yammer is dead" (now Viva Engage), or "SharePoint intranets are ugly".We perform analytics across hundreds of Viva Engage networks and SharePoint intranets and publish benchmarking reports, and more, on these products. We’ve also published reports on Workplace, and we continue to support our remaining Workplace customers with analytics. We can tell you that Viva Engage and SharePoint intranets can be as vibrant, user-friendly, engaging and effective, if not more so, than Workplace.
Download our benchmarking reports on Viva Engage, SharePoint intranets and Workplace from www.swoopanalytics.com under the “Benchmarking” tab.
Later in June, SWOOP Analytics together with our friends from Engage Squared and WM Reply, will be running webinars on migration options from Workplace to Viva Engage, so you can take your content with you from Workplace. Why not use the opportunity to review the role of where you felt Workplace added the most value so you can continue that in Viva Engage?
If you are NOT a Microsoft “shop” (or have a multi-vendor strategy)
There are lots of options. We’re no expert in all of these, so check out ClearBox Consulting Ltd's comprehensive comparison of digital workplace and employee engagement platforms. ClearBox is vendor neutral and has been around for many years. Its reputation is very good.
Workvivo - by Zoom is Workplace's recommended replacement and they are also included in Clearbox's review, so you can more easily assess it objectively.
If you are a non-profit, association, NGO etc
If you are a non-profit, membership-based organisation or similar, check out Mighty Networks. At least one of our customers moved there and loves it. Some SWOOPers also use it as members of a cross-industry collaboration network. It has very good pricing too.
“How do we get there?”
SWOOP Analytics’ Chief Scientist, Dr Laurence Lock Lee, and Director of Communications, Sharon Dawson, at Workplace HQ in Menlo Park in 2017.
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. Together with Engage Squared and WM Reply we’re here to help you reach your destination.
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
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.
Signs on the walls in Workplace HQ in Menlo Park, CA in 2017.
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
