SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS now available to developers

Apple said yesterday that a software-development kit (SDK) for SAP Cloud Platform development is now available to iOS developers. Announced in May 2016, the Apple-SAP partnership aims to help reinvent business processes and workflows. The SDK lets developers build native iOS apps in Swift, Apple’s modern programming language, and integrate them with SAP’s Cloud Platform.

For the uninitiated, SAP is a German business software maker that writes enterprise software for managing business operations and customer relations.

The SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS lets developers build, extend and run iOS apps, powered by the SAP Cloud Platform and enterprise backend data. There are more than 2.5 million developers in the SAP community.

A whopping 76 percent of business transactions touch an SAP system.

Apple highlights these benefits:

  • Seamlessly connect to back-end processes—With the SDK, developers can easily take advantage of a company’s aggregated data held in the SAP Cloud Platform and enterprise systems. The apps can also tap into the services and functions defined in the SAP Cloud Platform, and include specific business and security rules to protect sensitive data.
  • Take advantage of native iOS technology—As one of the key building blocks of the SDK, developers can access native iOS frameworks and technologies to build incredible apps. This means that apps can take advantage of the latest interface technologies and built-in sensors to provide the context and experience that users expect.
  • An SDK built on Swift—The SDK is built on Apple’s powerful and open source programming language, Swift. This means that when you’re working in Swift, you can seamlessly call into the SDK and leverage it’s frameworks, UI elements, and APIs. And everything will look and feel the way it should, making the developer experience as natural as accessing native iOS APIs. The toolkit also comes with a Mac-based app, Assistant, that helps you easily set up projects and connect to the SAP Cloud Platform.
  • Tap into a design language developed by SAP for iOS—SAP created the new Fiori for iOS design language to bring together business user needs and the principles of iOS design using Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. The SDK will include UI elements for the new design language, including reusable controls, UI patterns, templates, and access to back-end services. This will help developers quickly tap into reusable design components to build a consistent and intuitive user experience across apps.
  • The training and support you need—Apple and SAP have partnered to provide resources to help you get started. The SAP Academy for iOS is designed to help developers learn about connecting to SAP systems, leverage the SAP Fiori for iOS design language, and take advantage of iOS design and development best practices.

You can register for the SAP Academy for iOS on Apple’s website.

SAP is currently building native iPhone and iPad apps for industries ranging from manufacturing to retail, designed to transform core work processes. The first of these, called SAP Project Companion, is planned for release today.

Find more information at developer.apple.com/sap or visit SAP’s developer website.

Source: Apple