Apple, SAP Announce Partnership to Help Move More iOS Devices Into the Enterprise

A major part of the initiative is that the companies will deliver an iOS SDK for the SAP HANA Cloud Platform that will allow developers to use SAP’s platform. Those apps will use SAP technology and combine iOS features like Touch ID, Location Services, and Notifications.

SAP will also be developing native iOS apps for business operations using the Swift programming language. Also, a new SAP Fiori for iOS design language will be created.

“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,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “As the leader in enterprise software and with 76% 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.”

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

Apple also has business-focused partnerships with IBM and Cisco.