Macquarie to supply Apple mobile devices to Australian businesses

Australia’s Macquarie Telecom has signed a landmark deal with Apple to deliver iPhones, iPads and a mix of bespoke and off-the-shelf iOS apps to businesses in an effort to tap Australia’s growing enterprise mobility market.

Luke Clifton, group executive at Macquarie Telecom, said the move will bring the power and value of Apple to mid-sized businesses in Australia. “We’re backing the best devices for business coupled with native apps that will see our customers become more mobile, increase productivity and solve more business problems,” he said.

Macquarie said it will initially focus on delivering core Apple products and business apps, before starting a device enrolment programme integrated with Apple Business Manager, a web-based mobile device management tool, to streamline on-boarding for customers.

“We’re aligning with the best technology providers to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” added Clifton. “Mobility used to be an afterthought, but that is changing as enterprises’ needs change. This move will see business mobility become a business-leading area of our company.”

“We’re developing relationships and building our business in a way that improves customer service, creates more local jobs and helps businesses innovate,” said Clifton.

Apple devices will be available in Macquarie’s portfolio from 23 August 2019.

According to IDC, Australia is one of the most progressive markets for enterprise mobility in the Asia-Pacific region, with organisations having shifted “from a defensive posture to a proactive approach regarding their employees’ use of mobile technologies”.

The most enthusiastic adopters of enterprise mobility in Australia have been organisations in financial services, local and state governments, and law enforcement agencies.

In 2017, the Victoria Police started equipping its officers with iPads and iPhones through a mobility service that lets them access critical information on the move.

The service would reduce the entry of duplicate data by officers, while increasing workforce collaboration by enabling vital information to be shared between frontline officers and their colleagues working in control rooms.

The Queensland Police has also been using an iPad app to issue infringement notices, conduct roadside drug testing and handle assigned tasks, among other capabilities.

Ian Stewart, commissioner of the Queensland Police, said the devices have enabled police officers to be more productive.

Within seconds, officers will know who they are talking to and whether a person has alerts against him or her, Stewart said. “We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of checks that are done on a daily basis,” he added.