Over 100 new MobileFirst apps for iOS have been released by Apple and IBM following their partnership on made-for-business apps back in 2014.
The apps were designed to transform how people work across 14 industries and 65 professions, including healthcare, aviation, finance and retail. The collaboration allows each app to make use of IBM's big data and analytics software and Apple's customer-focus, the companies claimed.
Fred Balboni, general manager of the Apple partnership at IBM, said: "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.
"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."
In the future, IBM wants to integrate capabilities from its Watson AI program, allowing the apps to learn over time from how employees and customers make use of them. In addition, the company is working on apps designed specifically for the iPad Pro, which make use of the expanded power and screen size as well as iOS 9's split-screen functionality.
Companies currently making use of the MobileFirst apps include Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Bosch BSH, Air Canada, AXA, Coca-Cola Amatil, Japan Post, Rimac, Vodafone Netherlands and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).
"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 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."
