Support iOS managed app configurations at the time of deployment when using a MDM solution

XMLWordPrintable

    • Type: Suggestion
    • Resolution: Done
    • None
    • Component/s: None
    • None
    • 1

      At the moment a big issue for enterprise is being able to push a managed config out with the application to streamline the user eqperiexpe (and even maybe some custom restrictions in the future. But let's start simple)

      A good starting point would be being able to deploy the URL of your confluence instance out with the app so that when the user opens the app they are simply asked to sign In vs being asked to enter a server url.

      This is critical for a lot of enteprises. 

      Not all companies are tech companies with tech savvy staff. If we were to push the app to our 8000 sales reps - regardless of what training / resources / instructions are provided I can guarantee that the helpdesk would be inundated with tickets and calls along the lines of "I can see the confluence app on my device but now it's asking for some server url thing?" 

      You'd have people that fall Into the group above and a good majority of the rest would put it into the 'too hard' basket without even attempting to try or get help. 

      I know it sounds silly but try not to have the attitude of 'Its just a web url who cant do that's - because I can assure you a lot of people would struggle. 

      This isn't hard to implement on a code side at all. Apple makes it really easy with their Managed App Configuration framework. What this allows is for a company to push out a plist dictionary with the app (XML) that would configure this setting. 

      It would look something like this 

      <boolean keyName="confluenceUrl">
      <value>https://my.confluenceserver.com</value>
      </boolean>

      At which point if the app detects this dictionary key when being opened they are taken straight to authenticate instead of being asked for the url . 

      This isn't difficult to implement either, realistically your looking at a few hours of work in the hands of a skilled iOS developer to implement this feature. 

      Apple even provide a code sample that can be pretty much copied and pasted into your app and then bam.. the beginning of being able to fully support managing your confluence app behaviour in enterprise environments. 

      You can find a quick into as well as the code samples directly from Apple here https://developer.apple.com/library/content/samplecode/sc2279/Introduction/Intro.html

      For more in depth you can just google 'Apple mdm managed app config' and you'll find lots of resources. 

      Such a small investment of time has such a huge payoff when it comes to user experience. That's one less thing the user needs to do when they get their device on their first day. They open the confluence app and log in , then off they go. Instead of being asked for a server url / address. 

      Less steps for the user = a better user experience = happier users = more adoption 

      Please oh please consider piroritising / bumping up the urgency of this. 

      Then you've lasted the ground work to manage any aspect of the app in the future , but this one simple feature is a huge step in the right direction. 

      Plesse try and remember that your customers are not all just developers who are competent of such a basic task. There's hundreds of thousands of users who are using products like confluence in marketing, hr , etc 

      This not only benifits the users, it saves the It department valuable support time and lays the way forward for more advanced management in the future 

      Thanks

            Assignee:
            Unassigned
            Reporter:
            John Szaszvari
            Votes:
            12 Vote for this issue
            Watchers:
            11 Start watching this issue

              Created:
              Updated:
              Resolved: