Apple and SAP Announce New Enterprise Partnership

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced a new partnership with SAP to "revolutionize" the mobile work experience for its enterprise customers by combining native iPhone and iPad apps with the SAP HANA Cloud Platform. Under the partnership, Apple and SAP will create a new software development kit and training academy to help developers and enterprise customers create tailored business-focused iOS apps.

"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."

The new SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK will be developed exclusively for iOS and will give enterprise customers simple tools for "quickly and efficiently" building apps for iPhone and iPad based on the SAP HANA Cloud Platform. According to the press release, the native apps will provide access to core data and business processes on SAP HANA while also taking advantage of Apple hardware features like Touch ID, Location Services, and Notifications.

Under the partnership, a new SAP Fiori iOS design language will be created, and SAP will also develop a suite of native iOS apps for "critical business operations" built on Apple's Swift programming language.

Article Link: Apple and SAP Announce New Enterprise Partnership

 

[SSD-GUY]

IBM are going to feel hurt.

 

[wynhou]

IBM are going to feel hurt.

Apple is now the BlackBerry of the future.

 

[blackcrayon]

IBM are going to feel hurt.

Looks like IBM and SAP are already partners, so maybe there's some 3-way business action to it all.

 

[selfsilent]

The company I work for used to use SAP until another company took over. It was crap but I think it can be changed depending on the usage for the company so I suspect it was just badly implemented.

 

[smacrumon]

I've used SAP. They design software with I guess powerful features, with interfaces sprouting millions of buttons. The experience is terribly ordinary. Hmmm, what to make of this.

 

[daftpunker909]

My company uses SAP software and the user interface is absolutely horrendous. Looks like software designed in the 90s. Isn't Salesforce a competitor? Too bad they didn't partner.

 

[Jakexb]

Apple is now the BlackBerry of the future.

I can't tell if you mean that in a good way or a bad way.

 

[Urban Joe]

SAPPLE....sounds promising.

 

[Apple Corps]

Magical / "Revolutionize" and AAPL drops further - now under $93/share. Cook is looking like he is running on empty - his BS is not flying with anyone other than Cook Kool Aid drinkers.

 

[konqerror]

IBM are going to feel hurt.

Nope. Totally different markets. SAP writes software (payroll, purchasing, sales orders, etc.) you run your company on (ERP). IBM customizes, installs and maintains the software for your particular company, sets it up on IBM servers, OS, and databases. There's a huge amount of business-specific customization you need.

 

[keifer.street]

I'm super excited about this. I'm an SAP IT Analyst so having my favorite company collaborate with a platform I use every day is an fascinating prospect.

 

[smacrumon]

UPDATE: Developers reporting new key in iOS 10 beta "willPrintDotMatrixSAP".
It appears, as suspected, a dot matrix printer accessory for SAP and iPhone 7 is confirmed.

 

[Three141]

Business objects which SAP bought is actually good, if they can refresh their accounting package particularly the interface this could work.

 

[MagMan1979]

My god, I thought this was "Mac"Rumours, not TrollCentral... The amount of uneducated BS vitriol being spewed here lately is mind-numbing...

This is a big deal, as SAP is widely used by multiple organizations of varying sizes, including IBM. A partnership here can only propel the iOS platform in enterprise to even more expansive heights than it already is, and also help to accelerate iPad adoption in enterprise.

The only BS here is the trash being spewed by those sitting behind their keyboards pretending to be some kind of cyber columnist or warrior against the vile of Tim Cook, pathetic.

 

[Barry Bishop]

I am curious what the cost is going to be and hows it going to be passed to the business. If you are using SAP or Oracle and you have a maintenance contract built, you should checkout Rimini Street, totally worth it, take that savings an reinvest into something useful

 

[dk001]

Maybe for the smaller scale use of SAP or Mac centric shops.
For most enterprise level, MS is the platform driver and SAP is set to run on it. I don't see doing two sets of development: one for MS and one for iOS.
Maybe Hanna or older style BW or other reporting? To me this looks like a headline with not a lot of significant future use.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

The company I work for used to use SAP until another company took over. It was crap but I think it can be changed depending on the usage for the company so I suspect it was just badly implemented.

Well, it's just extremely complicated and abstract if you are not familiar with it. That's why those folks make the big bucks.
IMO, SAP it's a pain in the neck.

 

[Barry Bishop]

My god, I thought this was "Mac"Rumours, not TrollCentral... The amount of uneducated BS vitriol being spewed here lately is mind-numbing...

This is a big deal, as SAP is widely used by multiple organizations of varying sizes, including IBM. A partnership here can only propel the iOS platform in enterprise to even more expansive heights than it already is, and also help to accelerate iPad adoption in enterprise.

The only BS here is the trash being spewed by those sitting behind their keyboards pretending to be some kind of cyber columnist or warrior against the vile of Tim Cook, pathetic.

SAP is huge thats for sure and thousands of companies do use SAP or Oracle in their business is very true. The Partnership can go one of two ways, lets not just assume it will be great. Plenty of enterprises use iPad's and Apple devices right now, before this partnership. I've seen what SAP has done with their apps. Its cool, game changing...maybe, but like with everything we will have to see, time will tell.

 

[pondhopper]

somebody is about to become the sculley of apple.

 

[Soccertess]

Apple is now the BlackBerry of the future.

I agree, Blackberry stop innovating, and Apple really has slowed down too!

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Apple becomes less and less liberal arts meets technology.

 

[CFreymarc]

Steve Jobs was working for years to get an SAP deal going since the 90's. Who compromised the most for this to happen?

 

[coolfactor]

I've used SAP. They design software with I guess powerful features, with interfaces sprouting millions of buttons. The experience is terribly ordinary. Hmmm, what to make of this.

My company uses SAP software and the user interface is absolutely horrendous. Looks like software designed in the 90s. Isn't Salesforce a competitor? Too bad they didn't partner.

SAP has likely realized that they need the likes of Apple to clean up their software and make it more user-friendly. That's what their users are now demanding thanks to being enlightened by Apple tech away from work.

I agree, Blackberry stop innovating, and Apple really has slowed down too!

Easy to make that claim. What do you expect? Today's technology is amazing, and there's a lot more going on than we consumers/users see.

 

[69Mustang]

My god, I thought this was "Mac"Rumours, not TrollCentral... The amount of uneducated BS vitriol being spewed here lately is mind-numbing...

This is a big deal, as SAP is widely used by multiple organizations of varying sizes, including IBM. A partnership here can only propel the iOS platform in enterprise to even more expansive heights than it already is, and also help to accelerate iPad adoption in enterprise.

The only BS here is the trash being spewed by those sitting behind their keyboards pretending to be some kind of cyber columnist or warrior against the vile of Tim Cook, pathetic.

Vitriolic post bemoaning vitriol

On topic: It's good to see Apple trying to make enterprise a viable part of it's growth strategy for the future. It's especially encouraging for iPads since that category needs a boost like no other in Apple's stable. Hopefully, this enterprise push isn't a day late/dollar short.