In an official announcement, Microsoft formally retired the Yammer brand and introduced a rebranding of the platform under the name Viva Engage.
The change, initially communicated in February 2023, became effective on June 29, 2023. Nonetheless, existing Yammer users will be seamlessly transitioned to the new Viva Engage branding, allowing them to continue using the platform without interruption.
The rebranding of Viva Engage aligns with Microsoft’s strategy for their Viva employee experience platform. The tool has been thoughtfully designed to support employees in establishing connections, fostering collaboration, and facilitating knowledge exchange. Notable features of this platform include threaded conversations, live events, and video-calling capabilities.
Viva Engage will also incorporate the community and conversation functionalities previously available in Yammer. These features are now encompassed within Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans tailored for enterprise and frontline workers.
The new edition is now available within Microsoft Teams alongside other modules of Microsoft Viva. The company has already rebranded Outlook notifications, Yammer Embed, Yammer SharePoint web part, and the Yammer mobile app to Viva Engage.
Existing users of the Yammer Desktop PWA app will be prompted to reinstall the app upon opening it. By clicking “OK,” the app will be reinstalled and renamed “Viva Engage.” If the prompt continues to display the Yammer logo instead of the Engage logo, users are advised to uninstall and reinstall the app.
Microsoft has asserted that the change in Yammer URLs and APIs will not occur right away. However, it is expected to be fully realized by the conclusion of this year. In the meantime, users will be seamlessly redirected to the new Viva Engage address when they click on these links.
Yammer was initially established in 2008 as a budding venture, introducing a novel approach for enterprise clients to establish internal social networks, catering to their employees’ needs. The platform’s value proposition resonated significantly, leading to an impressive adoption rate of 80% among Fortune 500 corporations. Recognizing Yammer’s potential, Microsoft made a strategic decision in 2012 to acquire the company for a substantial $1.2 billion investment.
Via Windows Central
