In 2026 Apple replaced Apple Business Manager and Apple Business Connect with a single service called Apple Business. If your company already uses Apple Business Manager to deploy Macs, iPads or iPhones, your account and data move across. If you've never used it, this is a good time to start.
What Apple Business includes
- Device enrolment. Devices bought through Apple or an authorised reseller can be linked to your organisation, so they enrol in management automatically the first time they are switched on.
- Built-in device management. Apple now includes basic device management in the service itself, aimed at businesses without a dedicated IT team. Larger fleets can still connect a third-party MDM.
- Blueprints. You can prepare settings and apps in advance, so a new device is ready to work when an employee opens the box. This is the zero-touch deployment many companies have wanted for years.
- Managed Apple Accounts. Work accounts keep company data separate from personal data. They can be created automatically from Microsoft Entra ID or Google Workspace.
- Brand and location tools. The features from Apple Business Connect, such as managing how your business appears in Apple Maps, are now part of the same service.
The core service is free. Some features need the latest operating systems, and not every feature is available in every country.
Why zero-touch matters
Without it, every new Mac or iPhone has to be set up by hand: accounts, Wi-Fi, email, security settings and apps. That takes an engineer's time per device and leaves room for mistakes. With automated enrolment, the device configures itself the first time it connects. When someone leaves, the device can be wiped and reassigned without anyone needing their password.
The catch: buy through the right channel
Automated enrolment only works for devices that are linked to your Apple Business account. That link is made when you buy from Apple or an authorised reseller who adds the devices to your organisation. Devices bought from a shop, online marketplace or a grey importer usually can't be linked later without extra steps.
Getting started
- Check whether your company already has an Apple Business Manager account, as it will have moved to Apple Business.
- If not, enrol your organisation. You will need your trade licence details and a verified contact.
- Ask your Apple reseller to link future purchases to your organisation.
- Decide whether Apple's built-in management is enough, or whether you need a full MDM.
- Build a Blueprint for each role, such as sales, finance or field staff, and test it on one device before rolling it out.
BluDATA supplies Mac, iPad and iPhone for business and sets them up alongside the rest of your IT, from Wi-Fi and email to security policies.
Sources
IT Brief: Apple launches business platform to streamline company tools
Apple Business
Apple, Mac, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.