Sep 19 2016 01:13 PM
There is a group in my enterprise who is considering the use of Whatsapp rather than Skype for Business (we're already a S4B Online shop). I would like to think that most, if not all, of the Whatsapp functionality can be covered by Skype for Business Online. Do any of you have experience with this comparison? Any ideas on how to influence this group?
Thanks!
Sep 19 2016 01:22 PM
For us, if I read the Whatsapp website correctly, Whatsapp would be a total no go as it doesn't archive conversations like Skype does.
Also, policy for us is that if we have a tool already in our toolbox for users then they have to have a really compelling business case why the organization would invest time and money in something else.
Sep 20 2016 12:11 AM
You do realize Whatsapp's (and similar apps) model is basically "sell customers data", right?
Sep 20 2016 12:51 AM
Once you allow your staff to start using WhatsApp for work, soon they will be connecting with their friends and socialising as well using WhatsApp. With Skype for Business, you can simply enable the policies to stop them adding any external Skype accounts.
Apart from that Skype for Business has many more features that are relevant to business users compared to WhatsApp.
I wish you good luck :)
Sep 20 2016 12:59 AM
Whatsapp is definitely outclassed and outshined by Skype for Business in regards to feature set and central managability so my instinct would be to get in a room with them and try and get to the bottom of what it is they really like about whatsapp and if it is a feature that S4B cannot do (unlikely) they look at other items in the O365 offering that could emulate their requirements.
The only thing I can think of is the chat room style functionality that whatsapp seems to more naturally do. And that can be easily emulated with other tools like Yammer and in a more feature rich controlled manner.
Sep 20 2016 06:27 AM - edited Sep 20 2016 07:10 AM
The only real advantage I can think of that WhatsApp has over Skype for Business is that I can have a conversation going, on the web through WhatsApp and then pickup my phone and carry on that conversation. Whereas with Skype for Business I would need to remake the conversation, ask the other person to resend anything that I missed or need to reference.
This is a constant frustration for me personally, though that's not a suggestion to use WhatsApp over Skype for Business, it's very much not suitable for a business environment in pretty much every other aspect.
Sep 20 2016 03:26 PM
Sep 21 2016 05:28 AM
Thanks to all for your insights. I'll be meeting with the group later this week to see what their needs really are and how we can address them with S4B (or other services within Office 365)
Nov 04 2016 03:30 AM
Nov 07 2016 01:48 AM
Other than the lack of control that some of the other responses cited I would say that Whatsapp is essentially a consumer tool and not an enterprise/business grade solution (a bit like 'Consumer' Skype v's Skype for Business).
If they want a 'Persistant' chat experience similar to that that whatsapp provides you could look at Microsoft Teams to compliment your SfB deployment...
Feb 07 2017 10:25 PM
1. With whatsapp people may chat with anyone who has whatsapp application. And whatsapp is free. For people it's easier to communicate via whatsapp. S4b is paid. You may communicate only with companies that uses skype for business, and only if your administrators configure federated trust with that company. S4b is used only within one organization, but people need to communicate other people who don't have S4b. There is no solution to add people who uses free IM messengers, but skype. However, with S4b you are able to communicate only with "microsoft account"-ed skype users.
2. S4b doesn't support chat on mobile devices. Nowadays you can't find person who doesn't have a smartphone. I don't understand why microsoft didn't implement chat on mobile devices.
3. whatsapp disadvantage is only in conferences. whatsapp don't have them at all. S4b has a desktop, powerpoint sharing, and usefull conferencing tools. You may even invite a person outside of your organization, who even don't have S4b application. He may use guest account via browser plugin.
Feb 08 2017 12:58 AM
@Аллдар Бухаев wrote:2. S4b doesn't support chat on mobile devices. Nowadays you can't find person who doesn't have a smartphone. I don't understand why microsoft didn't implement chat on mobile devices.
Not sure what you mean by this, S4B definitely has chat on a mobile app.