Apple/IBM partnership hits landmark of 100+ apps across 14 industries and 65 professions

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The enterprise apps partnership between Apple and IBM has reached the goal the two companies set of bringing 100+ MobileFirst apps to the business and professional sectors, reports eWeek. Many enterprise customers of course use these in conjunction with existing consumer apps.

Apple and IBM today announced the release of a new wave of IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps, increasing the number of apps in the portfolio to more than 100 and expanding it to more industries and professions.

Since partnering in 2014, the Apple and IBM collaboration has yielded a slew of made-for-business apps – nearly 50 in the last month alone — that transform work across 14 industries and 65 professions.

The companies plan to make future apps even more powerful …

IBM said it will integrate many future MobileFirst for iOS apps with the capability of its Watson cognitive computing system, enabling the apps to continuously learn about the needs of employees and customers over time — effectively building on data with more use.

Among the companies using the apps are Air Canada, AXA, Bosch, Coca-Cola Amatil, Japan Post, Rimac, SAS Airlines and Vodafone. As examples, Bosch equips field engineers with an app designed to enable them to more quickly diagnose issues with home appliances, while SAS gives flight attendants and app that provides “a 360-degree view of each passenger’s past preferences, interests and purchasing decisions to deliver a more personalized flying experience.”

The site reports that one of the latest apps added to the portfolio is one aimed at wealth advisors in banks.

Among the new banking apps announced today is the Discover Needs app, which gives wealth advisors access to all necessary information, including meeting schedules and customer profiles, portfolios and goals, so they can maximize the time their time in the field with customers. Open Account, another new banking app in the MobileFirst for iOS portfolio, simplifies the process for opening a bank account — reducing the time it takes for bank employees to assist customers.

IBM is, of course, working on apps for the iPad Pro, including ones that use the Apple Pencil for tasks as diverse as room designs and annotating maintenance logs.

The partnership was extended back in the summer to include IBM distributing and supporting enterprise Macs for other companies. IBM employees were also offered the option of Macs for the first time earlier in the year.

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