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1Apple-Accenture Partnership to Build iOS Business Apps for Enterprises
As part of a broader initiative to boost its presence in the enterprise, Apple has signed a deal with global consulting firm Accenture to help companies expand their iOS applications. Under the agreement, Accenture will add a “dedicated iOS practice” inside the company’s Digital Studios, while Apple will co-locate employees with Accenture staff to facilitate application development. Ultimately, the companies believe they can deliver applications that help the corporate world enhance employee productivity and improve customer experiences while reducing costs. But whether enterprises will jump at the chance to deploy iOS business applications remains to be seen. Read on for more about the Apple-Accenture partnership and how it could impact companies around the globe:
2Here Are the Basics
3Why the Partnership Will Focus on iOS Applications
4What Is Accenture Digital Studios’ Role?
5An Apple Co-Location Play
6How the Companies Hope to Help the Enterprise
Apple said the tools created under the Accenture partnership should profoundly impact the corporate world. The software, it said, will focus on helping companies identify and launch new revenue streams, increase employee productivity and improve customer service opportunities, ultimately reducing corporate costs.
7Another Goal Is to Develop ‘Ecosystem Services’
8The Internet of Things Will Be Another Development Priority
9The Agreement Includes Migration Services
10SAP, Cisco Will Play a Role
SAP and Cisco Systems also could benefit from this partnership. Both Apple and Accenture separately have partnerships with the companies, and the agreement will help them find ways to create applications that integrate with the SAP and Cisco products customers already have. However, Apple and Accenture didn’t provide details on how they will do that.
11The Partnership
Apple’s partnership with Accenture is nothing new. Apple has been forming strategic relationships with a host of enterprise-system companies, including IBM, Cisco and many others. Those partnerships also focused on iOS, with the aim of getting more iPhones and iPads into the corporate world.