This edition of Apple @ Work is powered by Mosyle, the only comprehensive Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle uniquely combines all the professional-grade solutions necessary for the seamless and automated deployment, management, and protection of Apple devices in the workplace. More than 45,000 organizations rely on Mosyle to transform millions of Apple devices into work-ready tools effortlessly and affordably.Start your EXTENDED TRIAL today and discover why Mosyle is your go-to solution for working with Apple.
Apple’s enterprise operations are thriving, primarily driven by hardware sales rather than subscriptions or recurring revenues. The majority of revenue is generated through sales of Macs, iPhones, and iPads that energize businesses globally. While Apple does provide services like AppleCare and Apple Business Essentials, their contribution to recurring revenue is negligible. At Apple’s scale, significant revenue is essential for growth. For Apple to drive revenue increase in the enterprise sector, transformation is necessary.
About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers has overseen an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Drawing from his experience in deploying and managing firewalls, switches, mobile device management systems, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, and thousands of Macs and iPads, Bradley will share insights on how Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, construct supportive networks, train users, recount experiences from the IT management trenches, and suggest improvements for Apple’s products geared towards IT departments.
Revamping the Hardware Sales Model
While Apple already features the iPhone Upgrade Program and Apple Business Essentials, it hasn’t fully embraced a subscription model for enterprises. Companies typically purchase or finance Apple devices outright (Apple provides financing options), yet there’s no true subscription-based hardware model.
Envision an Apple One for Business, wherein companies pay a monthly subscription fee per user for a bundled offering that includes a Mac, AppleCare, and managed services, all for one consistent cost. This strategy has proven effective for Dell’s DaaS (Device-as-a-Service), so why not Apple?
To achieve substantial ARR growth in the enterprise space, Apple must address real IT challenges. Presently, IT teams utilize third-party tools such as Mosyle, Jamf, Addigy, Fleet, JumpCloud, Kandji, and Microsoft Intune for managing Apple devices, as Apple’s native management tools are not geared towards large enterprises.
Apple doesn’t necessarily need to compete with its partners here, but it’s important to pause and consider: What challenges are IT and security teams facing today that Apple can effectively resolve? Is it an issue with compliance? Or perhaps a comprehensive endpoint detection and response solution? IT teams are more interested in solutions rather than simply purchasing new tools. This is an area where Apple can begin to focus.
Acquisition of a SaaS Company
If Apple is genuinely committed to increasing ARR in the enterprise sector, acquiring a company would be the quickest route. Identity and access management is one area where Apple currently lacks a presence, even though it represents a growing revenue source. Microsoft has Azure AD, Google features its own Workspace identity solutions, and Okta is regarded as the foundation of many modern enterprises. What does Apple have? Nothing scalable for enterprise IT.
A sensible strategy would involve acquiring a company in the identity management sector to create a cohesive, Apple-native authentication and security platform for businesses. With macOS and iOS already excelling in enterprise security, adding a Zero Trust identity layer would bolster Apple’s position while simultaneously driving reliable subscription revenue.
Conclusion
Historically, Apple has been cautious about making substantial SaaS acquisitions. However, if it aspires to establish a tangible growth trajectory in enterprise IT revenues (beyond merely selling more hardware), branching into IAM appears to be a logical step. Another potential acquisition could involve a player in the password management ecosystem, such as 1Password. Should Apple seek to expand its enterprise presence and convey to investors that it has sustainable revenue growth on the horizon, rethinking its approach—whether via hardware-as-a-service, SaaS tools for IT, or strategic identity management acquisitions—is essential.
This edition of Apple @ Work is powered by Mosyle, the only comprehensive Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle uniquely combines all the professional-grade solutions necessary for the seamless and automated deployment, management, and protection of Apple devices in the workplace. More than 45,000 organizations rely on Mosyle to transform millions of Apple devices into work-ready tools effortlessly and affordably.Start your EXTENDED TRIAL today and discover why Mosyle is your go-to solution for working with Apple.
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