SAP Unveils Windows 8 Mobile Apps
Betting that Windows 8 will make a splash in the enterprise mobility market, SAP today announced six new business apps for the touch-enabled OS during the SAPPHIRE NOW + SAP TechEd conference in Madrid.
Windows 8 has a long way to go to catch up to Apple's market-leading iPad and application ecosystem. Several software makers, SAP included, have published apps that helped make iPads a familiar sight in the workplace.
Now, it's Windows 8's turn. In a company statement, Sanjay Poonen, head of SAP's Mobile Division, hinted that Windows 8 is an integral part of the software maker's mobile strategy.
“SAP takes advantage of the current install base and customer relationships to transform enterprises to a mobile-centric computing model. We look forward to helping our customers fully leverage Windows 8 and bringing new business and consumer apps to the industry that take full advantage of the new Windows user interface,” said Poonen.
The first batch of Windows 8 apps from SAP focus on training, recruiting and sales. These are:
- SAP WorkDeck – An employee management app that mobilizes and streamlines travel, leave and purchasing requests.
- SAP Customer Financial Fact Sheet – A customer profile app that gives account executives real-time access to financial data, invoices and sales orders.
- SAP GRC Policy Survey – An employee policy app with survey support that allows workers to review and acknowledge policy changes.
- SAP Manager Insight — An HR app that offers statistics including diversity, headcount and employee talent by location, plus access to employee profiles.
- SAP Learning Assistant – An on-demand, online training app aimed at offering classes that fulfill compliance and job requirements.
- SAP Interview Assistant — A recruiting app that tackles arranging interviews, candidate evaluation and HR feedback.
SAP plans to launch these Windows 8 mobile apps on both the Windows Store and SAP Store. Although the company has yet to offer specifics on when the apps will be released, they can't come too soon for Microsoft — not if it hopes to unseat the iPad in the enterprise.
Microsoft's Erwin Visser, senior director of Windows Commercial, stated, “We are very pleased with the commitment of SAP to Windows 8; the apps that SAP is developing for Windows 8 take advantage of the beautiful new Windows user interface and will help our customers be even more mobile, secure, productive and efficient.”
Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.
Pedro Hernandez contributes to Enterprise Apps Today, and 11Press, the technology network. He was previously the managing editor of Internet.com, an IT-related website network. He has expertise in Smart Tech, CRM, and Mobile Tech, Helping Banks and Fintechs, Telcos and Automotive OEMs, and Healthcare and Identity Service Providers to Protect Mobile Apps.
