Enroll in the Apple Business Manager

Owned by Silvester Cruz (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 09 18, 2019 by Tyler Hoeffner (Deactivated)

Issue/Symptom/Question

What are the steps to enrolling into the Apple Business Manager, formerly known as the Volume Purchase Program (VPP)?  I want to distribute my PENTA apps with a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.

Applies To

  • Installing PENTA Mobile applications
    • MFS Mobile Field Service
    • eTime 
    • TEP
  • Enrolling in Apple Business Manager, formerly known as Volume Purchase Program VPP

Resolution/Fix/Answer

Downloading PENTA Mobile Apps For iOS Devices

New Penta iOS applications and updated versions will be published privately using Apple Business Manager.  Business Manager provides an easy way of distributing new PENTA mobile apps and updates to your users when and how you want. If you currently use, or plan to use, PENTA mobile applications (TEP, eTime, or MFS) please follow the steps below to enroll in Apple Business Manager and purchase and distribute apps.

Enroll in Apple Business Manager

Note: If you have already enrolled in Apple Business Manager you can skip to step 3 of "Purchase New PENTA Mobile Apps in the Business Manager".

  1. Navigate to Apple Business Manager Enrollment Link and fill out the required information.
    1. You will be required to provide your company’s D-U-N-S® Number
    2. Whoever will be serving as your PENTA application administrator should enroll in Business Manager using a new Apple ID (email address). You CANNOT enroll using an existing Apple ID.
  2. After enrollment is complete, make sure that Custom Apps are enabled (Settings → Enrollment Information https://business.apple.com/#main/settings/enrollmentinfo)
  3. Provide your Penta Account Manager with the following:
    1. Organization name, exactly as displayed, right next to magnifying glass (Settings → Enrollment Information https://business.apple.com/#main/settings/enrollmentinfo)
    2. Organization ID (right underneath organization name)
  4. When Penta releases a new mobile app they will make it available to your organization’s ID.

Purchase New PENTA Mobile Apps in the Business Manager

Note: Penta Mobile Apps are free apps within Business Manager

  1. Have your PENTA application administrator navigate to the Apple Business Manager: https://business.apple.com/
  2. Sign in using the Apple ID and password created in the previous section.
  3. Apple Business Manager displays available customer Business-2-Business (B2B) Apps for your organization in the "Custom Apps" menu item.

    1. Note: If you don't see the "Custom Apps" menu item after login, first select the "Apps and Books" menu item.  "Custom Apps" should then appear below it.
  4. Select the PENTA mobile app you want to purchase.
  5. Specify the quantity of apps needed.
  6. Choose a License Type.
    1. See next section for descriptions of each option.
    2. If selecting Managed, you must also specify your linked MDM location in the Assign To dropdown
  7. Click Get to confirm the order
  8. If you chose the Redemption Codes license type, the Download link next to your order will become available after a minute or two

Distribute Your Apps

Your PENTA application administrator has two distribution options to choose from before confirming their app purchase in Apple Business Manager.

  1. Redemption Codes: Download a spreadsheet containing redeemable codes to provide your users. Ownership of the PENTA mobile app is given to the Apple ID that redeems the code. In addition to the redeemable code, there is a URL link provided for each code that will automate downloading the app and entering the redeemable code for the user.
    1. The codes are emailed in an Excel spreadsheet to the email address linked to your Apple ID.
    2. You can also download the codes within the Apple Business Manager by selecting the app in "Custom Apps" and seeing your Purchase History.
    3. Locate the recent purchase and click Download
    4. Open the spreadsheet
    5. Code Redemption Link(s) are provided for every app purchased. Each URL link is unique and can only be redeemed once.
    6. Send a Code Redemption Link to each user of the PENTA mobile app.
      1. If a single user needs to download the app on more than one device they will need a unique code or link for each device.
    7. The Code Redemption Link will launch the App Store on the user’s device and ask the user to tap Redeem Code. The PENTA mobile app will download to the user’s device.
  2. Managed: Assign or revoke apps to users’ devices using a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. Your Apple Business Manager Account can be synced with numerous MDM solutions by going to the MDM Servers menu item. (https://business.apple.com/#main/mdmservers)
    1.  After completing your purchase, refresh your MDM. The Apple ID syncs your recent purchases. Your newly purchased apps should now be available for distribution within your MDM solution.


If you have any questions, please submit a support ticket through Service Desk.Â