Apple , Google , Microsoft , Blackberry and Amazon are leading the race to build app distribution platforms for smart phones and tablets. In recently concluded WWDC Apple announced distribution of $10 Billion to developers since the inception of their AppStore. In other words , app economy is real and the good news is its just getting started. Most of the big players have thus far focused only on direct consumers leaving much wanted in the enterprise space. In essence , most of these commercial app distribution platforms are business to consumers (B2C) platforms.
Enterprises, on the other hand, are trying to build their own MDM / MAM solutions that address enterprise security needs to some extent but lack sophistication and scale of commercial app stores run by smart phone manufacturers. Given that mobility is going to be major enterprise trend, I think there is an opportunity for SAP to develop a cloud based integrated Business to Business (B2B) app store
A B2B enterprise app store of future needs following functionalities
1. Ability to provision (productivity) apps from B2C app distribution platforms run by Apple , Google and Microsoft etc.
2. Ability to host in-house apps developed by company.
3. Ability to host apps provided by enterprise software partners such as SAP, Oracle etc.
4. Ability to authenticate, push and remove apps from corporate devices.
5. Support workflow and approval process enabling users to request for a specific app.
6. Software license management
7. Traffic encryption and VPN support.
8. Enterprise branding
9. Usage Analytics
10. Ability to pay to Apple , Google or Microsoft etc for the apps consumed from their platforms.
11. Ability to pay to corporate developers based to per use basis , including slab rates and volume discounts,
12. Ability to pay to enterprise software partners as per negotiated licensing agreements.
13. Integration with corporate financial system for Accounts Payables.
14. Integration with corporate LDAP for user authentication.
Given that Apple , Google and MS have huge cloud footprint and have already existing B2C app distribution platforms, its very easy for them to build this B2B platform however the challenge is if they will support applications from the competitors. SAP has a major play in enterprise mobility with Sybase Unwired Platform, Afaria and Cyclo. SAP can also very easily integrate this with backend financial systems given their huge presence in ERP space and they can build a high performance application of cloud scale using their HANA platform.
Enterprises, on the other hand, are trying to build their own MDM / MAM solutions that address enterprise security needs to some extent but lack sophistication and scale of commercial app stores run by smart phone manufacturers. Given that mobility is going to be major enterprise trend, I think there is an opportunity for SAP to develop a cloud based integrated Business to Business (B2B) app store
A B2B enterprise app store of future needs following functionalities
1. Ability to provision (productivity) apps from B2C app distribution platforms run by Apple , Google and Microsoft etc.
2. Ability to host in-house apps developed by company.
3. Ability to host apps provided by enterprise software partners such as SAP, Oracle etc.
4. Ability to authenticate, push and remove apps from corporate devices.
5. Support workflow and approval process enabling users to request for a specific app.
6. Software license management
7. Traffic encryption and VPN support.
8. Enterprise branding
9. Usage Analytics
10. Ability to pay to Apple , Google or Microsoft etc for the apps consumed from their platforms.
11. Ability to pay to corporate developers based to per use basis , including slab rates and volume discounts,
12. Ability to pay to enterprise software partners as per negotiated licensing agreements.
13. Integration with corporate financial system for Accounts Payables.
14. Integration with corporate LDAP for user authentication.
Given that Apple , Google and MS have huge cloud footprint and have already existing B2C app distribution platforms, its very easy for them to build this B2B platform however the challenge is if they will support applications from the competitors. SAP has a major play in enterprise mobility with Sybase Unwired Platform, Afaria and Cyclo. SAP can also very easily integrate this with backend financial systems given their huge presence in ERP space and they can build a high performance application of cloud scale using their HANA platform.