Apple makes play for Google and Microsoft's small business gains

Apple Business Essentials separates features into four sections with three categories each, one each for Subscription tracking, Users, Devices, and Collections.

The first grouping of features includes Subscription, Activity, and Locations. The Apple Business Essentials administrator will see Users, User Groups, and Roles (for each user therein). They'll have access to all Devices, Service & Support, and a full Assignment History for devices.

In Collections, the admin will have the ability to group specific apps together for administration on user devices. One Collection might include several apps that'll be used by a certain set of users, which in turn are assigned to specific devices. Collections have the ability to list and handle Settings for users, devices, and apps, and all elements have dates added and updated – where it makes sense to have such markers.

Collections allow the admin to push settings to devices and apps on devices like WiFi passwords and configurations of all sorts. Apps include the Apple Business Essentials app itself (of course), as well as a variety of 3rd-party corporate apps like Microsoft Word and Cisco Webex.

In short, you're looking at a system for an IT administrator of a company looking to keep track of all the company's employees, devices, and apps on devices, along with cloud storage and easy contact for assistance for all elements.