Migrating from Meta Workplace to Stream Chat and Video

Meta Workplace, a collaborative platform used by many companies, is set to be discontinued in August 2025. This announcement has significant implications for businesses that have built products or services around the Workplace platform, particularly those leveraging its video component.

The sunsetting of Meta Workplace presents a challenge for companies that have integrated this platform into their operations or product offerings. Many of these businesses have relied heavily on Workplace's video functionality, which has become an integral part of their services.

As the deadline approaches, these companies are now faced with the task of finding alternative solutions to maintain their product functionality and ensure continuity of service for their clients. This transition period offers an opportunity to explore more modern, flexible, and potentially more feature-rich platforms like Stream Chat and Video.

The Need for Migration

With the impending closure of Meta Workplace, businesses need to start planning their migration strategy. This process involves finding a suitable replacement for the video component and ensuring a smooth transition for all other features they might be using from the Workplace platform.

Stream Chat and Video are viable alternatives, offering robust communication and video conferencing capabilities that can surpass what Meta Workplace currently provides. The migration to Stream's solutions could allow these companies to enhance their product offerings and improve user experience.

This example demonstrates migrating a basic video call functionality from Meta Workplace to Stream Video. The key differences include the initialization process and the API for creating and joining calls.

Code Sample: Handling Participants

Another important aspect to consider during migration is handling participants. Here's an example of how you might manage participants in a Stream Video call:

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import { useCallStateHooks } from '@stream-io/video-react-sdk';

const ParticipantList = () => {
  const { useParticipants } = useCallStateHooks();
  const participants = useParticipants();

  return (
    <div>
      <h3>Participants</h3>
      <ul>
        {participants.map((participant) => (
          <li key={participant.userId}>
            {participant.name || participant.userId}
            {participant.isSpeaking && ' (Speaking)'}
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
};

This component demonstrates how to access and display the list of participants in a Stream Video call, including their speaking status.

Handling Screen Sharing

Screen sharing is a crucial feature for many video conferencing applications. Here's how you might implement screen sharing with Stream Video:

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import { useCallStateHooks } from '@stream-io/video-react-sdk';

const ScreenShareButton = () => {
  const { useScreenShare } = useCallStateHooks();
  const { isScreenShareEnabled, toggleScreenShare } = useScreenShare();

  return (
    <button onClick={toggleScreenShare}>
      {isScreenShareEnabled ? 'Stop Sharing' : 'Share Screen'}
    </button>
  );
};

This example shows how to create a button that toggles screen sharing on and off, demonstrating the simplicity of implementing advanced features with Stream Video.

Additional Migration Considerations

As companies progress through their migration from Meta Workplace to Stream Video, they should also consider the following aspects:

• API Differences: Thoroughly review the differences between Meta Workplace and Stream Video APIs to identify any gaps in functionality.
• Authentication: Implement a secure authentication system compatible with Stream Video, potentially leveraging existing user management systems.
• UI/UX Redesign: Take advantage of the migration to improve the user interface and experience of video-related features.
• Performance Monitoring: Set up monitoring tools to track the performance of the new video system and compare it with the previous one.
• Fallback Mechanisms: Implement fallback options for cases where video calls might fail or be unavailable.

By carefully considering these aspects and leveraging Stream Video's robust features, companies can not only replace their existing Meta Workplace video functionality but potentially enhance their video conferencing capabilities, providing a better experience for their users.

Migrating Data from Meta Workplace

As companies prepare to transition from Meta Workplace, extracting and migrating data is a crucial step. Here's an overview of how customers can retrieve their data and migrate users:

Exporting Data from Meta Workplace

Meta Workplace provides several options for data export:

• Admin Panel Export: Workplace admins can use the Admin Panel to export various types of data, including posts, comments, and files.
• API Access: For more granular control, companies can use the Workplace API to extract data programmatically.
• SCIM API: This API can be used to export user and group information.

User Migration Process

Migrating users from Meta Workplace to a new platform like Stream involves several steps:

1. Export User Data: Use the SCIM API or Admin Panel to export user information, including names, email addresses, and roles.
2. Map User Attributes: Create a mapping between Workplace user attributes and the corresponding fields in Stream's user system.
3. Create Users in Stream: Use Stream's API to create new user accounts based on the exported data.
4. Migrate User Content: Transfer user-generated content like posts and comments to the new platform, maintaining associations with the migrated user accounts.
5. Implement Authentication: Set up a new authentication system or integrate with existing identity providers to ensure seamless user access.

It's important to note that while technical solutions can handle much of the data migration, companies should also consider the human aspect of this transition. This includes:

• Communicating the migration plan clearly to all users
• Providing training on the new platform
• Offering support during and after the transition

By carefully planning and executing the data migration process, companies can ensure a smooth transition from Meta Workplace to Stream, minimizing user disruption and maintaining continuity in their communication and collaboration processes.

Understanding the Urgency of Migration

The announcement of Meta Workplace's discontinuation in August 2025 has created a sense of urgency for businesses that have integrated this platform into their operations. This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a critical juncture that requires immediate attention and strategic planning.

For many organizations, Meta Workplace has been more than just a tool—it's been the backbone of their internal communications, project management, and even customer-facing services. The video component, in particular, has become indispensable, facilitating everything from daily stand-ups to client presentations and large-scale virtual events.

The impending shutdown means that companies need to act now. Waiting until the last minute could result in service disruptions, loss of critical data, and a negative impact on employee productivity and customer satisfaction. This is where Stream Chat and Video come into play as not just alternatives but superior solutions that can elevate your communication infrastructure.

Why Stream Chat and Video?

Stream's offerings aren't just replacements; they're upgrades. Here's why:

• Scalability: Stream's global edge infrastructure is built to handle millions of concurrent users, ensuring your communication channels can grow with your business.
• Customizability: Unlike Meta Workplace's one-size-fits-all approach, Stream allows for deep customization. You can tailor the look, feel, and functionality to match your brand and specific needs.
• Advanced Features: Stream offers cutting-edge features like AI-powered moderation, real-time translation, and advanced analytics that can give your business a competitive edge.
• Reliability: With a 99.999% uptime guarantee, Stream ensures your communication channels are always available when needed.
• Developer-Friendly: Stream's comprehensive SDKs and extensive documentation make the migration process smoother and allow for easier integration with your existing systems.

Detailed Migration Strategy

Migrating from Meta Workplace to Stream isn't just about switching platforms; it's about reimagining your entire communication ecosystem. Here's a comprehensive strategy to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Assessment and Planning

• Audit Current Usage: Thoroughly analyze how your organization uses Meta Workplace. Identify key features, integrations, and workflows that need to be replicated or improved.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Involve key stakeholders from different departments to understand their specific needs and concerns.
• Gap Analysis: Compare Meta Workplace features with Stream's offerings. Identify any gaps and plan for alternative solutions if needed.
• Timeline Creation: Develop a detailed timeline for the migration, including key milestones and deadlines.

2. Technical Preparation

• API Familiarization: Dive deep into Stream's Chat and Video API documentation. Understand the differences in how Stream handles user authentication, message sending, video calls, and other core functionalities.
• Test Environment: Set up a test environment to experiment with Stream's features without affecting your production systems.
• Data Migration Plan: Develop a comprehensive plan for migrating user data, conversation histories, and file attachments from Meta Workplace to Stream.

3. Implementation

• Phased Rollout: Consider a phased approach, starting with a pilot group before full organization-wide implementation.
• Custom Development: Leverage Stream's SDKs to develop custom features or integrations that might be unique to your organization's needs.
• UI/UX Design: Design a user interface that maintains familiarity for your users while taking advantage of Stream's enhanced capabilities.

4. Data Migration

• User Data Transfer: Carefully migrate user profiles, ensuring all relevant information is carried over to the new system.
• **Content Migration:** Transfer chat histories, shared files, and other content, maintaining data integrity and user associations.
• Archiving: Develop a strategy for archiving old data that may not be actively needed but should be preserved for compliance or historical purposes.

5. Training and Adoption

• Comprehensive Training Program: Develop training materials, including video tutorials, user guides, and FAQs to help your team adapt to the new platform.
• Champions Program: Identify and train "Stream Champions" within each department who can provide peer-to-peer support during the transition.
• Feedback Loop: Establish a system for collecting and acting on user feedback to continuously improve the new communication ecosystem.

6. Go-Live and Support

• Staged Rollout: Implement the new Stream-based system in stages, allowing for any last-minute adjustments.
• 24/7 Support: Ensure robust support is available, especially in the initial weeks after going live.
• Performance Monitoring: Closely monitor system performance, user adoption rates, and any issues that arise.

Looking Ahead: The Future with Stream

Migrating from Meta Workplace to Stream isn't just necessary but an opportunity. You're not merely replacing an outdated tool; you're upgrading to a cutting-edge communication platform that will evolve with your organization.

Picture a future where your team collaborates effortlessly across continents, AI-powered chatbots, and your virtual events rival in-person meetings to enhance your customer support. This is the future Stream can help you create.

The clock is ticking on Meta Workplace, but your organization's communication capabilities are poised to leap into the future with Stream. Our team of experts will guide you at every step, ensuring your transition to Stream is smooth and transformative for your business. Let's make this transition together, turning a potential challenge into a remarkable opportunity for growth and innovation.