Computerworld

Apple strikes enterprise software deal with SAP to drive iPhones and iPads into workplace

Apple has joined forces with fellow tech giant SAP in a partnership designed to drive iPhone and iPad devices into the enterprise.
Tim Cook - CEO, Apple and Bill McDermott - CEO, SAP

Tim Cook - CEO, Apple and Bill McDermott - CEO, SAP

Apple has joined forces with fellow tech giant SAP in a partnership designed to drive iPhone and iPad devices into the enterprise.

Revealed overnight, the agreement sees the combination of native apps for iPhone and iPad with the software capabilities of the SAP HANA platform.

As such, both parties claim the joint effort will also deliver a new iOS software development kit (SDK) and training academy so that developers, partners and customers can build native iOS apps tailored to specific business needs.

“This partnership will transform how iPhone and iPad are used in enterprise by bringing together the innovation and security of iOS with SAP’s deep expertise in business software,” says Tim Cook, CEO, Apple.

“As the leader in enterprise software and with 76 percent of business transactions touching an SAP system, SAP is the ideal partner to help us truly transform how businesses around the world are run on iPhone and iPad.

“Through the new SDK, we’re empowering SAP’s more than 2.5 million developers to build powerful native apps that fully leverage SAP HANA Cloud Platform and tap into the incredible capabilities that only iOS devices can deliver.”

Cook says the companies plan to deliver a new SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK exclusively for iOS that will provide businesses, designers and developers the tools to build iOS apps for iPhone and iPad, based on SAP HANA Cloud Platform, SAP’s open platform as a service.

Going forward, these native apps will provide access to core data and business processes on SAP S/4HANA, while taking full advantage of iPhone and iPad features like Touch ID, Location Services and Notifications.

“We’re proud to take this special partnership between Apple and SAP to a groundbreaking new place,” adds Bill McDermott, CEO, SAP.

“In giving people an agile and intuitive business experience, we empower them to know more, care more and do more.

“By combining the powerful capabilities of SAP HANA Cloud Platform and SAP S/4HANA, together with iOS, the leading and most secure mobile platform for enterprise, we will help deliver live data to people wherever and whenever they choose to work.

“Apple and SAP share a commitment to shaping the future, helping the world run better and improving people’s lives.”

As a part of the partnership, McDermott says SAP will develop native iOS apps for critical business operations, which will be built with Swift, Apple’s programming language, while also offering a “familiar user experience” with the SAP Fiori for iOS design language.