Dive Brief:

• SAP plans to deliver its SAP Cloud Platform software development kit (SDK) for iOS on March 30, the company announced Monday. The news comes a little less than a year after SAP and Apple first revealed they would partner on the platform, which leverages SAP’s HANA to create apps for iPhones and iPads.

• The SDK is meant for developers, designers and businesses to have access to scalable tools to quickly build enterprise-grade applications. It comes with a library of pre-built user experience components to make app development a more fluid process, including Touch ID, location services and notifications, according to the announcement.  

• Along with its announcement at Mobile World Congress this week, SAP also revealed its Academy for iOS curriculum is also now available to provide IT workers training on how to use SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS.

Dive Insight:

For companies that rely on Apple products, or are looking to implement them into their back end business, the new toolkit could allow for easy access to the tools required to quickly develop for iOS. SAP says native iOS apps are already in the works for industries including manufacturing, healthcare and retail. The first apps are expected later this year, and will be designed to change how the core of businesses operate, according to SAP.

The SDK for iOS will quicken a company’s ability to deliver mobile business applications to customers and internal users. As companies become more digital, demand has increased for more mobile options. Right now, Apple products are still more geared to the consumer, but the tech giant has been working to get its mobile solutions into businesses. 

The partnership between Apple and SAP could be mutually beneficial. SAP CEO Bill McDermott has been looking for ways to help his company look trendier to the iOS developer base.