business.com receives compensation from some of the companies listed on this page. Advertising Disclosure

Home

A Small Business Guide to Apple's iOS

business.com editorial staff
business.com editorial staff
business.com Member
Updated Apr 09, 2020

Here's what you need to know before deploying iPhones and iPads to your company.

  • The key to using iOs in the workplace lies in not only the company's App Store but also the hardware and operating system.
  • One of the features of iOs that is beneficial for business is that they allow for corporate-owned deployment, which allows corporations to more control over iOs devices that are being used for the company.
  • Some of the top business products Apple provides are the iPad, iPhone X, Apple Business Manager, Apple Watch and MacBook.

Apple's success with consumer devices has made its iPhones and iPads a popular choice for the workplace. Once a company that was heavily focused on consumers, Apple devices are now seen regularly in offices and have been adapted to numerous different work scenarios.

The key to successfully using iOS at work has just as much to do with the company's App Store as it does with the actual hardware and operating system. You also need to understand what options you have for securing iPhones and iPads in the workplace, and ensuring that data doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

Features for business

Many companies want to have more control over iOS devices that are used for work. For this, you'll want to look at a corporate-owned deployment. The IT administrators can restrict what apps and services the user partakes in.

With this approach, the business can supervise device management. For example, a business can turn off iMessage, Game Center, restrict devices that can connect through AirPlay or enable the manual installation of files. Teams that work closely with their employees on which apps and services to allow are likely to have the least amount of pushback when it comes to locking down devices.

Corporate partnerships

Part of Apple's strategy to show itself as a serious platform for the workplace is through partnerships with other long-standing companies. For example, Apple has partnered with IBM and Deloitte to build iOS-specific applications and other solutions that can be customized for a company's specific workflow.

The applications run the gamut of retail, health care, finance, insurance and other industries. While these are geared more for medium to large-sized companies, the breadth of examples illustrates the popularity of doing work on iOS. Additionally, both Microsoft and Google have extensive portfolios of iOS apps, with Office 365 and G Suite supported.

Are Apple products good for business?

If you are wondering whether or not Apple products are good for business, for the most part, the answer is yes. However, it depends on the type of business you have and your business needs. According to Gro CRM, some of the top benefits of using Apple products for business are as follows:

  • The iCloud: One of the top benefits of using Apple products for business is that you can use the iCloud. This allows you to easily share documents live, as well as in the cloud. Moreover, the iCloud provides you with automatic backups for everything you are uploading to it.

  • Work with comfort: Another benefit of using Apple products for your business is that it allows you to work with products that you are already comfortable with. Given that many people are already using Apple products.

  • Better security: Apple products can also offer an added level of security.

What business products does Apple provide?

If you are wondering what types of products Apple provides for businesses, according to Tech Republic, they are as follows:

  • iPad
  • iPhone X
  • Apple Business Manager
  • Retina Display
  • Apple Watch
  • Mac Book

iOs apps for business use

If you are searching for the top iOS apps for business use, according to Business News Daily, they are as follows:

  • Todoist: Todoist is a free app that makes it possible for users to easily organize your life while also making it possible for you to access it across all Apple platforms.

  • Spark email: With the help of Spark, you can easily integrate an array of email platforms, which involve automatic filters to rank your emails.

  • Pocket: One of the best iOS apps is Pocket. This app allows you to save a wide variety of links and information so you can access it later, and as often as you like.

  • Concur: This app allows you to easily track and manage your expenses. This app makes it easy to reimburse your employees for their expenses all while using a simple snap and file receipt system.

  • Tide: This is a free app that allows users to break up their day to ensure they are remaining productive. 

Apps to get started

Apple is always quick to tout the success of its App Store as a destination for services that suit several business needs. That's because even a small shop or one-person operation can tap into the App Store to use what third parties have developed for getting things done.

While Apple has its own section of recommended business apps, your best bet is to dig through the App Store and find the apps that suit your businesses' use case. For example, just about every small store, food truck or street retailer has taken advantage of Square for accepting payments. There are plenty of other point-of-sale apps that allow you to accept credit and debit cards through an iPhone or iPad. [Read this related article from our sister site Business News Daily: Best iOS Apps for Business

If you're deploying Apple devices in your workplace, be willing to experiment  ̶  and be wary of the slow financial squeeze of in-app subscriptions. Most companies want the steady revenue stream of that monthly fee, but those can add up if you're not careful about canceling services that are no longer in use.

For those who want iOS to be their go-to business operating system, there is much to explore. The core approach is to find the deployment method and application package that works best for your team.

Image Credit: hurricanehank / Shutterstock.com
business.com editorial staff
business.com editorial staff
business.com Member
The purpose of our community is to connect small business owners with experienced industry experts who can address their questions, offer direction, and share best practices.