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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 apps cover professions from banking and wealth advisors to flight attendants, first responders, nurses and retail buyers. Additionally, the companies are expanding the portfolio to new markets, including consumer products, automotive, aging and chemical and petroleum.
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 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.
“Thanks to the unprecedented collaboration between Apple and IBM, we are unlocking new value for our private banking customers by providing them a unique digital banking experience that will foster lasting relationships, and offerings tailored to their individual preferences and financial goals,” said Andrzej Rosłaniec, director of private banking at Alior Bank, in a statement.
Moreover, 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.
“Our apps — which currently represent an exclusive level of business value — are evolving to deliver cognitive capability that refines insights to the most relevant information, enhancing the quality of decision making,” said Fred Balboni, general manager of the Apple partnership at IBM, in a statement. “Marrying the simplicity of Apple’s product design with IBM’s unmatched security, analytic and cognitive expertise is the leading edge of mobile-led business transformation.”
All existing apps combine IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities with Apple’s legacy of consumer experience to help companies achieve new levels of efficiency and customer satisfaction — faster and easier than before.
Air Canada, AXA, Coca-Cola Amatil, Japan Post, Rimac and Vodafone Netherlands are among many companies worldwide selecting IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps designed for iPads and iPhones, IBM said.
“We see the transformation of our customers’ experience as a strategic differentiator for our insurance and financial advice business,” said Nicolas Moreau, chairman and CEO of AXA France and member of the AXA Management Committee. “We’re going to combine the sleek experience of an Apple Genius Bar with the expertise of our advisors to not only give our customers the experience they want, but an experience that dramatically exceeds their expectations.”
Apple, IBM Deliver More Than 100 MobileFirst for iOS Apps
Other clients selecting IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps include Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Bosch BSH and SAS airlines. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, a leading financial institution in the Middle East, is transforming how it interacts and provides services for customers through a new digital innovation strategy that includes IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps. The bank will deploy the Trusted Advice app to help financial advisors easily and securely access and manage customer portfolios from iPads.
Bosch BSH, a European home appliance manufacturer, is using the Fast Fix app to put analytic-based guidance in the hands of field service engineers via iPad, enabling them to resolve home appliance issues faster. BSH’s new mobile strategy aims to enhance customer service by connecting field service engineers with customers in real time.
“User excitement and time to market are key for BSH. The pre-configured app approach from Apple and IBM aligned with an agile implementation enables BSH to implement an integrated process and information flow to support the service technicians in all aspects of their daily work as well as increasing their productivity — and this way faster than ever expected,” said Michael Gerber, head of BSH customer service, in a statement.
SAS, the largest airline in Scandinavia, will provide its flight attendants with the Passenger+ app, enabling them to access a 360-degree view of each passenger’s past preferences, interests and purchasing decisions to deliver a more personalized flying experience.
“Loyalty programs are no longer just about point programs. The frequent traveler seeks exclusive services and access when they fly,” says Eivind Roald, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), in a statement. “In line with SAS’s overall digital strategy, we are now investing in digital and modern tools for our cabin crew.”
As the roster of industry-specific apps grows, full suites of IBM MobileFirst for iOS capabilities are taking shape to streamline job roles in healthcare facilities, financial institutions and retailers. Information can now be shared across entire teams, empowering colleagues with the ability to work collaboratively from the same set of data on their mobile devices, IBM said.
IBM also is developing enterprise apps for iPad Pro that take advantage of the device’s expanded power, performance, larger screen size and iOS 9’s multitasking features, enabling professionals to work in two apps side-by-side at the same time. And apps with Apple Pencil support will provide added precision and functionality to tasks, including designing and laying out a room, logging transactions or annotating maintenance logs.