LAS VEGAS - 25 Oct 2016: IBM (NYSE: IBM ) today announced it will empower professionals with the first-of-its-kind ability to combine enterprise mobile apps with IBM Watson for superior decision making. IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps can now be integrated with a broad set of conversational and cognitive capabilities to help increase the productivity and improve the experience of enterprise employees.

IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps as well as custom-built iOS apps from IBM can now embed variety of Watson APIs to fit a client’s unique use case. With Watson-enabled speech interaction, for example, professionals can now control IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps with their voice, providing easy access to deeper insights that help improve the performance of their work.

IBM Natural Language Processing, Watson Conversation and other Watson APIs have been optimized to work with the new iOS 10 speech framework. The combination of Watson, iOS and IBM services allows the apps to support conversational interaction, bringing deep insight to the end user so they can make more informed decisions. Apps are more convenient and even easier to use, offering a simple hands-free solution.

“Apple and IBM set out more than two years ago to help define the enterprise mobility market, ensuring that professionals could finally enjoy at work the same experience they’d come to expect as consumers. We are taking that to a whole new level by combining the power of Watson with the new speech framework of iOS 10. The combinations and possibilities are virtually endless.” said Mahmoud Naghshineh, general manager, Apple partnership, IBM. “This is a digital assistant for the business -- one that creates the next-generation professional experience tailored for enterprise processes”

For example, a field technician using the Find & Fix app integrated with Watson can verbally interact with the app while busy servicing equipment in the field. They can speak any schedule changes and the app will automatically notify dispatch and modify the remaining schedule of jobs for the day. Using voice prompts, technicians can ask for suggestions to solve specific problems. The app can then tap into highly technical equipment manuals as well as insights gained from other technicians in the field and present them to the technician to consider before choosing a course of action.

Watson services are delivered through IBM Cloud, so current and forthcoming cognitive capabilities can be easily integrated into IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps -- even if a client has already rolled the apps out to its workforce.

This new generation of apps takes advantage of latest cognitive innovations and technologies. IBM Research’s human language technologies lab houses researchers currently incubating the next version of Natural Language Processing as well as other speech recognition advancements that can be integrated into the made-for-business apps.

IBM MobileFirst for iOS Apps Put Cognitive Insights at the Fingertips of Professionals

By integrating Watson technology, these made-for-business apps now have the ability to understand, reason and learn based on deep data analytics -- all with the same intuitive user experience professionals have come to expect from IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps. Professionals across industries can now be equipped with richer, more relevant information that can allow them to make smarter decisions and deliver superior customer service.

Examples of how professionals can benefit from IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps combined with Watson include:

• Flight attendants using the Passenger + app enhanced with Watson can gain a deeper view into a traveler’s personality, for travelers who opt-in to the service via the airline, to deliver more personal and relevant customer care while inflight. From priority seating to a favorite snack or beverage, the cabin crew can customize services tailored for the passenger.
• Retail Sales Associates using Sales Assist can access data across different resources with the permission of customers -- customer databases and product forums -- for deeper insights in to a customer’s unique preferences as well as the latest purchasing trends and popular products to assist customers in choosing the right item.
• Financial Advisors using Trusted Advice with deep learning technology from Watson gain highly targeted search and trend analysis in to market history and happenings to optimize the investment recommendations made to individual clients.

IBM is a one-stop shop to help enterprises through every step of their mobile transformation and innovation. Working with clients, IBM designs, develops, and integrates iOS apps with enterprise systems, delivering a complete mobile platform at speed and scale. IBM also resells Apple devices and provides device lifecycle management plus global financing for a comprehensive mobile deployment that drives digital transformation.