How-To: Deploy and Manage Tulip Apps

What’s on this page?

Background

Users can install Tulip apps on their Apple devices by downloading and installing them from the App Store. But there are two main disadvantages to this:

  • Availability of Tulip apps through the App Store is limited to a certain number of countries. If a device owner’s Apple ID is associated with a country where Tulip apps aren’t available, users won’t be able to view or install the apps.
  • Even when apps are available through the App Store, any app downloaded and installed directly through the App Store can’t be configured or managed through Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions.

To circumvent these limitations, Tulip recommends that Retailer IT Teams do the following:

  1. Centrally manage enterprise-wide Tulip app licensing using Apple Business Manager (ABM).
  2. Deploy and manage Tulip apps using an MDM solution.

Managing Tulip app licensing using Apple Business Manager

Before you begin

Work with your Apple account representative to receive an introduction to Apple Business Manager (ABM) and integrate it with your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution of choice. After your MDM platform is connected to the ABM, you can manage app licenses that flow downstream to your MDM platform.

Tulip apps licensed through ABM can be installed on any company device as long as Tulip apps are available in your company’s home country. In other words, licensing Tulip’s apps through ABM removes the limitation imposed by App Store country requirements on individual devices. If Tulip apps are available to your company’s home country, they can be deployed to any device through MDM regardless of which country the device owner’s Apple ID is associated with.

Obtain Tulip app licenses using Apple Business Manager

Step by step instructions

  1. Sign in to Apple Business Manager: https://business.apple.com
  2. To ensure that your organization’s location is configured correctly, in the left navigation bar, select Locations.

  3. To locate Tulip apps, in the left navigation bar, select Apps and Books.
  4. In the search bar, type the name of the app for which you want to procure licenses. For example, Tulip Clienteling.

  5. From the results that appear, select the desired app.
  6. In the right pane, in the Quantity box, type the number of licenses you wish to obtain, and then select Get. (Note that Tulip apps are free.)

    After a few minutes, the licenses become available in your MDM.

    7. To obtain licenses for additional Tulip apps, repeat Steps 4 - 6 for each app.

Deploy Tulip apps using a Mobile Device Management solution

Before you begin

Apps downloaded and installed directly through the App Store can’t be configured or managed through Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions. Once an app has been associated with an individual’s Apple ID, the device’s update settings override those of the MDM, making it difficult to keep your fleet of devices up-to-date. Prior to deploying Tulip apps using your MDM solution, ask users to uninstall Tulip apps if they have it installed, or if your MDM allows it, convert the app to be a managed app.

Step by step instructions to deploy Tulip apps using an MDM solution

  1. Pre-configure your device groups, if they aren’t configured already. If you need assistance, reach out to your MDM partner.
      Note:
    • It is recommended that you use a production device group that’s separate from any testing groups.
  2. Access the App Store catalog.
  3. Search for a Tulip app for which you have procured licenses from ABM.
  4. Select the app and configure it following the instructions of your MDM solution provider.
  5. Assign the app to a deploy group, ensuring the available licenses purchased through ABM are greater than or equal to the number of devices in the deploy group.

    6. To deploy additional Tulip apps, repeat Steps 2 - 5 for each app.

Vendor-specific deployment instructions

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