Updraft is back with an iOS app

It’s been a hot minute since we last wrote a blogpost about Updraft. But just because we’ve been silent for a bit doesn’t mean we didn’t do things behind the scenes. Over the last year we improved Updraft and worked on further developments. One of them being: The Updraft iOS App!
We’re very excited to share that Updraft is now also available as an app in the Apple App Store. Why we decided to develop a native App for Updraft and how this is helpful for you and your users - we’re explaining in this blogpost.

Why does Updraft need an App?

The mobile web view of Updraft has it all, why did we develop an app anyway? Well, there are several answers for this question. 
First of all, with a native app installation on your device we promote the usage of Updraft as an enterprise store. This especially serves big companies with multiple apps for their employees to use. Along with this comes a better overview over available apps and available app updates. Just as you know it from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

A second reason is to match with our competitors, such as testflight, who also serve their clients with an app. 

Overall we think that with the Updraft app you will be able to simplify your beta testing and app distribution.
 

Functionality

We equipped the Updraft app with the essential functionality you already know from www.getupdraft.com. 

• With the search functionality you can quickly access any of your apps through the dashboard

• Of course you can install apps

• Switching between multiple organizations is also supported

• Within a project you can change between your different environments

• In the version history you can navigate back in time and install every old version of your app

Updraft as your Enterprise App Store

The Updraft app - for now - can easily be used as an enterprise app store. This means it can be used as an alternative to the Apple App Store.

This is handy if you want to distribute an app only to a limited or restricted amount of people and not make it available publicly. In addition, apps distributed via Updraft do not have to undergo a review by Apple or Google, which leads to faster distribution, easier alpha and beta-testing and less restrictions.

You can easily manage your apps in the Updraft web portal and manage the users and assign the necessary user rights, like to which apps individual users have access to. Your users can then download the apps from within the Updraft app to their device at any time. To use the Updraft app, your users have to authenticate themselves - this ensures that only they can download your app from Updraft.

 

Further Implementation

We continue to develop the Updraft app and will regularly add new features to it. Next up will be the support of Google and Apple logins. Users that are currently using Updraft with their third party login will not be able to use the Updraft app just yet. We ask you for a little patience.

 

How to install and use the Updraft App?

Currently the app is available for iOS in the Apple App Store. Unfortunately there is no Android version of the App available just yet, but it is currently under development. We plan to release the Android App in Q1 of 2023. So as an Android user you won't have to wait for long - don’t miss the release.

 

Conclusion

On the one hand the Updraft app helps you to easily distribute your apps or beta apps to your desired testers and users. On the other hand, the Updraft app can also be used as an internal app store to easily make company apps available to your employees. Compared to a relatively cost-intensive Mobile Application Management (MAM) software, Updraft offers a cost-effective alternative to easily distribute internal apps to the desired target group. Especially in the environment of "bring your own device" or  "bring your own mobile operating system" Updraft can be used as a solution to easily distribute internal apps.

We would be happy if you tried Updraft and of course gave us feedback on how we can make mobile app distribution even better - you can reach us via info@getupdraft.com!