IFS launches Touch Apps for Android and Iphone
1 min read
Swedish manufacturing ERP software firm IFS, has launched IFS Touch Apps and the IFS Cloud, as part of its strategy for empowering mobile workforces.
The first two Touch Apps are IFS Trip Tracker, for travel expense reporting, and IFS Notify Me, for approvals of purchases, time, expenses etc.
IFS Touch Apps connect to IFS Cloud, which runs in Microsoft's Windows Azure public cloud and acts as an intermediary between smartphones and IFS Applications.
That makes the apps easier to try, adopt and update, according to Dan Matthews, IFS chief technology officer, who points out that smartphones are part of a fast changing technology.
IFS Touch Apps were conceived by IFS Labs and their development is now part of IFS' main R&D agenda, says Matthews, with an early adopter programme scheduled to kick off this autumn.
"[This] is the perfect manifestation of how we can deliver concrete business functionality out of innovative ideas in line with IFS's product strategy," comments Matthews.
He says IFS intends to develop Touch Apps into a long-term product focus in IFS Applications and to deliver business functionality – as opposed to the pared-down websites he accuses competitors of launching.
"IFS Trip Tracker and IFS Notify Me are good examples of how we can deliver core functionality to mobile business processes and individuals on the go," says Matthews.
"They complement our existing solutions for mobile service management and our mobile-friendly IFS Enterprise Explorer – and show how IFS is moving forward … to support a rapidly growing mobile workforce," he continues.
"Today's announcement represents the start of an exciting process where customer focus groups will be at the heart of the development process," insists Matthews.
