Apple subsidiary Claris launched the commercial version of its Connect platform that provides a low-code environment for enterprises to drive business outcomes using an automated application building process.

No- or low-code platforms are targeted at simplifying the developer experience for enterprises. They typically use automation or artificial intelligence (AI) that allows a person with no experience with traditional coding languages to construct applications. They can also support more established developers working in new environments.

The Claris Connect service is built on its Claris Core platform, which itself relies on Apple’s Cloud platform. It allows enterprises to integrate, orchestrate, and automate different data streams to construct applications without needing to work with custom code. It also includes end-to-end encryption, hardware security module (HSM) key management, the open standard OAuth authentication, and AI-based threat protection.

“Claris Connect allows customers to seamlessly connect existing cloud services and also the on-prem data services and databases into applications that serve a business need,” explained Srini Gurrapu, VP of product management and design at Claris. The platform is launching with 50 connectors that can tap into data streams from sources like Trello, Slack, and Box.

Gurrapu explained that the platform targets the ongoing enterprise digital transformation journey that “is all about improving productivity and embracing digital.” He said that digital strategy includes two phases: first a digital evolution from the "pencil-and-paper world" to software that provided productivity benefits, and the second is a transformation that provides better and more efficient outcomes.

“Today, when someone wants to build something as an application they do not build everything from scratch,” Gurrapu said. “In the cloud-first world there are so many building blocks. It’s about how can an enterprise stitch together its business processes and leverage all of these tools to create better outcomes.”

Gurrapu explained that the Claris Connect platform does this by supporting those divergent on-prem and cloud workflows into a single platform. This uses a connector in the platform where people can drag and drop the different data sources using “whatever the simple logic is that they want to do.” It can also scale from a no-code environment to what he termed a “pro-code” environment where a traditional developer would operate.

“It’s no longer about just building an app,” he said. “The app needs to do something more meaningful. It needs to give meaningful insight to your business to grow your business and your outcomes.”

Claris’ history dates back to 1986, when it began as an Apple subsidiary. It changed its name to FileMaker in 1998 with a focus on its flagship product of the same name.

The Claris name was resurrected last year on the heels of Claris' acquisition of Stamplay, which closed in August. Stamplay was targeted at helping enterprises integrate data from third-party cloud providers like Box or Docusign into their applications. It also served as the basis for the Claris Connect product that went into beta last November.

Despite the name changes, the company has remained a part of the Apple umbrella. While that would seem to be a dream marketing opportunity, Claris has taken a subtle approach to the Apple connection.

“All of Apple’s products are, of course, in the enterprise but Apple did not build any B2B enterprise software,” Gurrapu said, adding that Claris is Apple's "only B2B division" that is going directly at the B2B market, though you can have an enterprise app store through Apple. “All of our products run on Apple cloud, and for small or midsized companies to build a cloud as secure and as scalable as Apple, it’s a dream. We don’t actively make claim to that because Apple as a company takes security and confidentiality very seriously. But we also take these very seriously. ... We get a lot of leverage from Apple.”

Prior to the name change, FileMaker was grouped in the “Leaders” category in Forrester Research’s Wave report on low-code platforms for business developers. It sat alongside Caspio, Quick Base, and AppSheet in that category.

The no-/low-code market itself is seeing increased attention from vendors that are trying to help enterprises deal with a shallow pool of developers. Google, for example, earlier this year acquired AppSheet for an undisclosed amount and slid the operation into its cloud business unit. The company said the deal will boost Google Cloud’s ability to support enterprises that want to use automation to innovate their development process but lack developer resources.

Gurrapu said that Claris sees an opportunity where it can take advantage of its core competencies and its link with Apple. “We now see this opportunity where we can make a bigger impact at an Apple scale,” he said. “Our hope is that at some point this becomes a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.”

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to clarify Srini Gurrapu's description of the market's digital transformation. Claris also wanted to clarify that despite the direct quote by Gurrapu about the company using Apple Cloud, it in fact runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS); that Claris is a subsidiary of Apple and not a "division" as stated by Garrapu; and that despite what was said by Gurrapu, Apple has other enterprise-focused offerings like its App Store, which we added as a clarification directly in the story.