Anyone who has not yet made a decision must do so very soon. After all, Meta will discontinue its enterprise platform Workplace on August 31, 2025 and, after a transition phase, shut it down completely on June 1, 2026.
Companies that have previously used Workplace as a central platform for internal communication and collaboration are now faced with the challenge of finding a suitable alternative. This decision is not only technologically relevant but also strategically relevant.
What is Meta Workplace and why we will (not) miss it?
Meta Workplace is an internal communication and collaboration tool (Enterprise Social Network) and enables employees to interact with each other in a very simple way via functions such as groups, newsfeeds, chats, and live videos.
What we will miss
What we won't miss
So how can we best retain the advantages of Meta Workplace in the new solution and minimize the disadvantages?
The official alternative: Workvivo
Meta has named Workvivo as its preferred migration partner. Workvivo offers similar social features to Workplace, e.g. news feeds, communication channels (groups), surveys etc. but is mainly aimed at large companies.
And although Workvivo is a solid solution, it is not necessarily suitable for all companies. The choice of intranet software is not a question of popularity, functionality, or “official recommendation”, but should be based strictly on individual needs, processes, and corporate culture. Not every company needs the same functions, and some might find a better fit with a different platform.
Two approaches to migration
1. Find a system as similar as possible to Meta Workplace.
2. Use the shutdown to strategically rethink the intranet, going beyond pure social network functionality.
Companies are basically faced with two approaches:
Approach 1: Choose software that is as similar as possible to Meta Workplace
If the focus is on a seamless transition experience, the following options are particularly interesting:
Viva Engage (formerly Yammer)
If Microsoft 365 is already in use, Viva Engage is a very comparable option.
Pro tip! If you decide to use Viva Engage as a Meta Workplace alternative, you should consider using Powell Intranet as an add-on and a standardized interface for Microsoft 365 Intranet.
Pros:
- Familiarity: as part of Microsoft Viva, Viva Engage is seamlessly integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite.
- Communication and collaboration: Strong social features such as communities, news feeds, and reactions are similar to Meta Workplace.
- Integration: Perfect integration with SharePoint, Teams, and other Microsoft products.
- Virtually “free”: Viva Engage is already included in most Microsoft 365 plans, so there are no additional costs for using it.
Cons:
- Requires Microsoft 365 licenses: if certain groups of employees need to be relicensed (e.g. firstline workers) it quickly becomes very expensive.
- Suboptimal mobile use: Viva Engage can be used as a separate app or integrated into the Teams mobile app. This causes confusion for many employees.
- Less intuitive than Meta Workplace: the user experience can be more cumbersome for newcomers.
Haiilo
Pros:
- Familiar concept: With news feed and communities, Haiilo follows a familiar concept of an enterprise social network for Meta Workplace users.
- More than a social network: In addition to social functions, Haiilo also offers functions of a classic intranet without being too complex.
- Strong personalization: Haiilo can be adapted to specific needs and branding.
- Mobile app: Particularly user-friendly on mobile devices and can be used as a white-label app.
Cons:
- Possible complexity: Haiilo offers more functions than Meta Workplace and can therefore appear somewhat oversized as a “pure” alternative.
- Reduced integration options: Integrations to third party solutions (Microsoft 365 / Google Workplace etc.) are available but not best of breed.
Other alternatives:
- Beekeeper: Strong mobile orientation, ideal for non-desk employees.
- Simpplr: Very visual, easy to use, strong in the area of content organization.
- Speakap: Strong mobile orientation, extremely pronounced personalization.
Approach 2: Rethinking the intranet strategically
The shutdown of Meta Workplace opens up the opportunity to develop a future-oriented intranet that goes beyond pure social functions. The focus here can be on a central information hub, greater integration, and personalized workflows.
LumApps
Pros:
- Holistic intranet: LumApps combines social features with functions for knowledge management and employee communication.
- Rich editorial functions: LumApps is very strong in the area of content creation and distribution.
- Personalization: content can be tailored to teams, departments, or individuals.
- Google and Microsoft integration: Supports both ecosystems.
- Strong analytics capabilities: Provides detailed insights into usage and engagement.
Cons:
- Complex implementation: If you don’t use the UI-to-Go kit, the rollout can be quite time-consuming.
- Learning curve: Users need more time than with Meta Workplace to understand the platform fully.
Staffbase
Pros:
- Extremely powerful editorial functions: Probably the perfect intranet for editorial teams, including newsroom and content distribution via various channels.
- Multi-channel communication: Enables targeted addressing of different employee groups.
- Mobile use: very powerful mobile app incl. white label and offline functions.
- Integration with Microsoft 365: very good integration with SharePoint, Teams & Co.
Cons:
- Comparatively few interaction options: There is no dedicated group function. Communities are only possible in the chat.
- Focus on communication: Not ideal for in-depth knowledge management.
Other alternatives:
- Interact: Strong personalization and analysis functions.
- Firstup: Mobile solution with a focus on frontline employees.
- Flip: Super app with a focus on frontline employees and integrations.
Tips for making a decision
The choice between a tool similar to Meta Workplace and a strategic realignment depends on several factors:
- Goals of the intranet: should it primarily promote social interactions, or is a comprehensive digital workplace needed?
- User needs: What does the current user base look like? Are mobile solutions or deep integrations more important?
- Existing IT strategy: Are you already working intensively with an ecosystem (Microsoft, Google)?
- Budget: What costs are sustainable in the long term?
- Time horizon: Is a quick implementation necessary or is there time for a strategic realignment?
- Corporate culture: Is a “social-first” solution a better fit, or should the intranet be more focused on information and processes?
Migrating from Meta Workplace is not a simple “one-and-done” decision. Companies should take the opportunity to critically review their intranet strategy and choose a solution that fits their culture, structure, and goals in the long term. Whether it's a platform as similar as possible to Viva Engage or a new intranet paradigm with LumApps or Staffbase, the key lies in a thorough analysis of your own requirements.
