Apple has been focusing on expanding into enterprise services via its alliance with IBM and SAP. UK Pharmacy and beauty chain Boots is the first retailer that is going to use IBM’s “Sales Assist” app, which was developed as a part of IBM and Apple’s enterprise deal.
According to ZDNet, IBM’s app allows sales staff to use iPads to show product information and reviews to shoppers. Boots is running the app on 3,700 iPads across its stores. The app was developed under a deal signed by IBM and Apple in July 2014 to work together on developing enterprise apps and selling iPads, iPhones and the Apple Watch.
The original deal between Apple and IBM had a goal of producing 100 enterprise iOS Apps by the end of 2015 spanning different industry verticals such as healthcare, sales and transportation.
Boots is using Bluemix, which is IBM’s cloud platform to link Sales Assist with the company’s applications and data.
Similar Enterprise efforts are in progress between Apple and SAP.