Unlocking Apple’s New Device Management API: Practical Use Cases, Workflows, and How-To

100 days ago • 14 views • The Sequence • the-sequence.com

Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Apple School Manager (ASM) have evolved significantly in recent years, but one critical piece has been missing: programmatic access. That changed with the introduction of the ABM/ASM API, opening new possibilities for automation, integration, and workflow enhancement.

At PSU Mac Admins, Kandji's Weldon Dodd and Arek Dreyer walked through this new capability, demonstrating how it works, and discussing its implications for administrators who manage Mac computers. Let’s dive into the details.

What’s New in Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager

Before exploring the API itself, it’s worth highlighting the significant improvements Apple has made to the ABM/ASM web portal. These changes provide valuable context for what’s now accessible programmatically.

Key additions include:

  • Activation Lock management: View activation lock status and remove locks directly from ABM/ASM.
  • Device storage information: Available capacity and specifications are visible in the device view.
  • Cellular information: IMEI and EID details for cellular-enabled devices.
  • Release history: Information about who released devices from your organization.
  • Network