Thriving internal communication networks in the workplace aren’t just good to have — they’re essential. Breakdowns between teams or individuals can cost your company hours of overhead in unproductive or redundant work. An estimated 85% of employees report sending the same information multiple times through multiple channels, adding to the 3 hours and 43 minutes a day the average worker spends communicating.
Alternatively, open communication and sharing between employees creates an information-rich environment that makes it easy to keep diverse departments, teams, and workers on the same page.
But in the digital-first world, this type of communication will require an online tool, and the software option you select will majorly influence communication within your company.
It’s important to choose a solution that meets your needs. Yet, with so many options, you might need some guidance. So, this article will walk you through two of the most popular communication platforms available today – comparing the pros and cons of Viva Engage (formerly Yammer) and Teams.
Viva Engage vs. Teams in a nutshell
Viva Engage and Teams are two powerful collaboration tools from Microsoft, each with distinct purposes and functionalities.
Viva Engage, formerly known as Yammer, serves as an enterprise social network. It's designed to enhance internal communication, foster community building, and promote a sense of belonging within an organization. Users can share updates, engage in community discussions, and participate in knowledge sharing on a platform reminiscent of social media networks.
Microsoft Teams, in contrast, is tailored for real-time communication and project collaboration. It integrates chat, voice, video calls, file sharing, and co-authoring functionalities, making it an ideal tool for teams working closely on specific tasks or projects.
The key differences between the two platforms lie in their user interface and features. Viva Engage offers a community-based interface ideal for broader, more open group interactions and social engagements. With its chat-based interface, Teams excels in providing a space for more direct, task-oriented communication and collaboration.
Viva Engage is more suitable for company-wide announcements, informal employee interactions, or knowledge sharing across departments. Teams is better suited for specific project teams needing a space for ongoing collaboration, file sharing, and regular team meetings.
Of course, there are alternatives to Microsoft’s collaborative tools. Lark, for instance, brings its unique capabilities to the table. It combines messaging, video conferencing, and document collaboration, offering an integrated suite for team communication.
In comparison to Viva Engage, Lark leans more toward the functional side of Teams, emphasizing real-time collaboration. Yet, it still offers features that facilitate broader communication and engagement, bridging the gap between the two Microsoft tools.
Plus, Lark offers Wiki, a centralized repository for knowledge sharing, allowing employees to access and contribute to a wealth of information. Additionally, Lark's Moments feature functions as an internal social media platform, creating a dynamic space for company-wide announcements and facilitating interactions among employees
Which has the best features?
In workplace communication and collaboration, Viva Engage and Microsoft Teams serve distinct roles and subsequently offer unique features to users.
To truly understand which of these two workplace communication platforms is the best for your specific use, you’ll first need to learn more about each option’s features and functionalities.
Communication features and availability
Viva Engage offers features akin to social networks, such as post-sharing, community discussions, and knowledge sharing. Essentially, its communication tools are an internal news feed.
Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, excels in real-time communication features, including chat, voice, and video calls, which are crucial for remote or in-office collaboration. The platform’s strength lies in its integrated approach to communication, which is more conducive to immediate, collaborative work environments.
Participant and group limits
Teams supports larger meetings and has a higher participant limit in chats and calls; it enables up to 250 private channel members.
Viva Engage focuses on network building geared toward more open and less structured interactions, allowing up to 500k members in Dynamic Communities. Keep in mind that this large figure is partly due to the fact that Viva Engage facilitates indirect communication methods.
User interface
Teams’ user interface is designed for task-oriented communication, with a straightforward, chat-based layout that facilitates quick navigation.
With a more community-centric interface, Viva Engage might appeal to those familiar with social media platforms, offering a more engaging experience for broader interactions.
Customization options
Both platforms offer customization options, like theme settings and notification controls. Still, Teams might provide more in-depth customization suited to various collaborative work environments, given its focus on project management and team collaboration.
Desktop and mobile support
Both Viva Engage and Teams have robust desktop and mobile applications, ensuring seamless cross-platform support. Of course, this is crucial if you operate in hybrid working conditions, where employees may switch between devices frequently.
Situational recommendations
If you’re looking for large-scale corporate communication or informal group discussions, Viva Engage might be the most suitable choice. It provides a platform for broader interaction and community engagement that’s ideal for large groups.
Alternatively, with its comprehensive suite of collaboration tools, Microsoft Teams is likely the better option for direct team collaboration, project management, and real-time communication needs.
Potential alternatives
Of course, some up-and-coming platforms are beginning to eclipse Teams and Viva Engage (formerly Yammer).
Specifically, Lark combines features of both Viva Engage and Teams, offering an integrated suite that includes messaging, video conferencing, and document collaboration, making it a versatile alternative.
Unlike Viva Engage, which primarily focuses on social networking and information sharing within an organization, Lark combines the social networking aspect with a robust suite of productivity tools, offering a more holistic solution. This integration enables users to transition smoothly between collaborative workspaces, real-time communication, and social engagement without the need to switch platforms.
Furthermore, while Teams excels in chat and video conferencing capabilities, Lark extends its utility by incorporating these features into a broader ecosystem that includes project management, document collaboration, and an internal Wiki.
Which has the best integrations?
Teams offers various integrations across various categories, including project management, file sharing, and communication tools. These integrations are widely recognized for their effectiveness in streamlining work processes and improving team coordination.
While offering integrations, Viva Engage primarily focuses on social engagement and community aspects within the workplace. Its integrations are designed to enhance internal communication and networking, although they may not be as extensive as those in Teams.
Both platforms support various integrations, including native, first-party, and pre-built options. Teams, in particular, also show compatibility with automation tools like Zapier, expanding its functionality further. In contrast, Viva Engage's integrations are more centered around enhancing the social networking experience.
Despite the utility of these integrations, users may occasionally encounter bugs or issues. Yet both Teams and Viva Engage have active developer support committed to addressing and resolving these problems to ensure a smooth user experience.
Alternatively, while Teams is ideal for a wide range of functional integrations for diverse work processes, and Viva Engage focuses more on social networking aspects, Lark presents an interesting middle ground.
Which has the best pricing?
Viva Engage is integrated into Microsoft Teams and is part of the broader Microsoft Viva suite. The pricing for Microsoft Viva starts at $2.00 per user per month, with an annual commitment. This pricing includes access to features like Viva Connections, which allows for personalized employee experiences and a unified communications channel.
The Viva Suite, which offers a more comprehensive set of features, starts at $12.00 per user per month with an annual commitment.
Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, has a $4.00 Teams Essentials plan that includes chat and collaboration features, meeting capabilities, and integration with other Microsoft services.
For more advanced features, such as extended meeting durations, additional cloud storage, and additional security and compliance capabilities, Teams offers other plans as part of the Office 365 subscriptions. Although, the specific pricing for these plans can vary based on the level of service and the number of users.
Which has the best customer service?
Microsoft Teams is known for its robust support system, with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction. It offers a range of support features, including a comprehensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and community forums.
Typically, users rate the platform’s support highly, indicating efficient response times and helpfulness in resolving issues. Plus, Teams provides different tiers of support based on the plan, with premium customers accessing more dedicated support options.
Viva Engage benefits from the same extensive support network as a part of the Microsoft ecosystem. This includes 24/7 availability through various contact methods like phone, email, and chat, ensuring users receive timely assistance.
Additionally, both platforms offer extensive training resources, which are particularly beneficial if you’re trying to help your team maximize the potential of these tools.
Alternatively, Lark's customer service is widely acclaimed for its responsiveness and effectiveness, reaching the highest standard in user support. The team's commitment to providing timely assistance and tailored solutions enhances the overall user experience, making it a standout aspect of Lark's offering.
Plus, this dedication to customer satisfaction ensures that users can leverage the platform's full potential with confidence, further solidifying Lark's position as a preferred choice for businesses prioritizing reliable and accessible support.
Which is the easiest to use?
Viva Engage, integrated within Teams, leverages a familiar setup, making the initial adoption straightforward if you’re already using Microsoft 365.
Furthermore, Teams is designed for quick setup, with guides and wizards to help along the way. Employees typically find Teams intuitive due to its integration with other Microsoft products. However, Viva Engage adds a social layer to this, focusing on community and employee engagement, which might require additional familiarization for those new to social platforms at work.
Setting up integrations in both platforms is streamlined and supported by extensive documentation. That said, Teams offers a more traditional project and communication dashboard, while Viva Engage focuses on community engagement, affecting how users navigate each platform.
In comparison to Viva Engage and Teams, Lark offers a unique advantage by combining the best of both platforms into a single, streamlined experience. Its ease of use is further enhanced by an intuitive setup process and a user-friendly interface, making it quicker for employees to familiarize themselves with the platform.
Which is the most secure and compliant?
Both Viva Engage and Teams incorporate standard security features such as encryption and two-factor authentication to safeguard user data. Additionally, these platforms comply with major regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, making them suitable for businesses with stringent regulatory needs.
Furthermore, both platforms offer additional security measures, including advanced threat protection and data loss prevention tools. At the same time, user access control and management capabilities make it easy to maintain tight security and control over your data.
When comparing the security and compliance measures of Viva Engage vs. Teams, it’s important to remember that they’re both a part of the Microsoft ecosystem. This means they share a common infrastructure that includes encryption, two-factor authentication, compliance with global standards like GDPR and HIPAA, and advanced threat protection.
Since Teams facilitates collaboration with features that may involve more external sharing, Microsoft has ensured it meets rigorous security and compliance standards. Viva Engage, focusing more on internal engagement, inherits these security protocols. Ultimately, the choice depends on specific organizational needs, but both platforms provide robust security and compliance capabilities.
That said, alternative options like Lark stand out in this regard. Lark places a paramount importance on security and compliance, employing state-of-the-art measures to protect user data and ensure adherence to global standards.
Its robust security infrastructure, including end-to-end encryption and regular audits, alongside compliance with regulations like GDPR, instills confidence among businesses about the integrity and confidentiality of their information.
What are other users saying?
Examining user reviews and feedback across various platforms provides a holistic view of user sentiments toward Viva Engage and Teams. Generally, Teams is praised for its comprehensive collaboration features and integration with Microsoft 365, but some users report bugs and issues related to notifications and meeting features.
Viva Engage, being newer and focused on employee engagement within Teams, receives positive feedback for fostering community and connection among users, though detailed user experiences are less documented.
Updates on both platforms have mixed reactions, with an appreciation for added functionalities and frustration over changes or new bugs. The effectiveness of Microsoft's support and engagement with the community is generally viewed positively, with active forums and responsive customer service.
All in all, the platforms can be considered relatively equally matched regarding user feedback.
Although, on the other hand, Lark actively solicits and values input from its user base, incorporating suggestions and concerns into regular updates and feature enhancements. This responsive feedback loop not only enriches the user experience but also fosters a sense of community and co-creation among users.
Thus, by prioritizing user feedback, Lark ensures that it remains agile and aligned with the evolving needs of its diverse user population, further cementing its reputation as a platform that listens to and grows with its users.
Which is right for you?
Choosing between Viva Engage and Teams ultimately depends on your business's specific needs.
Viva Engage is more suited for enterprises that enhance employee engagement and build a strong internal community. And it's particularly beneficial for companies looking to foster a sense of connection among their workforce.
On the other hand, Teams is a comprehensive solution for medium to large businesses requiring an all-in-one collaboration platform, including chat, meetings, calls, and integration with Microsoft 365 apps.
However, it’s important to note that you have other viable choices that are perhaps even more suitable to your needs than Teams or Viva Engage.
In terms of a broader solution, Lark offers an alternative by combining communication, collaboration, and productivity tools, making it suitable for various business sizes and types. It offers advanced features and flexibility to augment your workplace’s communication network.
Ultimately, Lark combines the best of both worlds, offering an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require compromise.
