Facebook tweaks enterprise offering ahead of launch

Social giant to target Microsoft and Google's enterprise-social offerings, sources claim

Facebook is currently fine-tuning a business-focused social network which will directly compete with similar offerings from the likes of Microsoft and Google, according to reports.

Anonymous sources told the Financial Times that Facebook For Work is currently being tweaked by the social media giant and tested among enterprises ahead of a wider launch which is approaching.

The product itself will be similar to Facebook in its current form, but users will be able to keep their personal statuses, photos and posts separate from their work profile and group pages.

It is thought that as part of the new "For Work" site, users will be able to share and edit business documents, chat with colleagues and connect with professional contacts.

The move is expected to see Facebook square up against industry heavyweights.

Microsoft acquired enterprise social network Yammer in 2012 – four years after it was founded – and currently serves 200,000 companies and eight million users on the platform, which allows business users to communicate and share documents.

Sources also pointed to Google Drive as a product which will come up against Facebook's new "For Work" network.