DEVOPSdigest

Software AG announced the availability of a new mobile backend as a service (MBaaS) capability.

Designed to help developers build web or mobile applications while integrating enterprise applications and APIs exposed by cloud applications, this functionality interoperates with the webMethods Hybrid Integration and API Management module of the Software AG Digital Business Platform.

Additionally, the MBaaS functionality works with webMethods Integration and API management products to enable financial institutions to comply with the European Union’s PSD2 Directive by 2018. By combining the two solutions, it’s possible to rapidly develop mobile apps with a bank’s own data while efficiently consuming the APIs from other banks, as well as data from legacy systems, to offer additional services and products.

To implement the MBaaS functionality, Software AG is partnering with ApiOmat.

Wolfram Jost, CTO, Software AG, noted: “One of the goals of the Digital Business Platform is to help enterprise clients transform their ideas into ‘live‘ solutions by offering them an integrated set of technologies and tools to underpin their digital transformation. By partnering with ApiOmat, we’re providing clients with additional support, enabling them to deliver apps for all their customers' and employees' preferred front-end interfaces, while drastically speeding up the development and reducing development costs.”

ApiOmat reduces development times by making the consumption of APIs more efficient and generating the essential code that is required to build mobile apps and digital interfaces. Rather than recreating standard app components, ApiOmat provides developers with the capability to implement intuitive design, connect with chat bots about products and inform Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant know about specific services.

Marcel Etzel, ApiOmat’s CEO, said: "ApiOmat helps the enterprise deliver mobile solutions and many of our clients have already integrated their IT systems and data silos with webMethods. So this partnership and integration opens up a new era of possibilities for our customers, as it’s never been easier to get enterprise data securely onto apps, websites and into AI.”

The partnership also enables companies to transform the way they develop mobile apps by decoupling the back-end development from the front-end. This lets developer quickly deliver a fully functional rapid prototype that uses test data. When the app concept has been tested and approved, then developers can simultaneously connect enterprise data and build multiple frontends with ApiOmat's generated software development kits.

With the EU’s introduction of the Payment Service Directive 2 (PSD2), retail banks have been one of the sectors to benefit most, as they are required to make their customer data available as APIs. ApiOmat works with webMethods Integration and API Management offerings to offer banks compliance with the new regulation, as well as a direct competitive advantage. By combining the two solutions, it’s possible to rapidly develop mobile apps with a bank’s own data while efficiently consuming the APIs from other banks, as well as data from legacy systems, to offer additional services and products.

Together, ApiOmat and Software AG provide a complete end-to-end solution for connecting, orchestrating and mobilizing enterprise data not only as an API, but as any front-end interface.