# Business application

> In general terms, a business application is software used to perform or support business functions.

Original page: https://t10.de/en/glossary/business-application
Publisher: total10 GmbH, https://t10.de/en/glossary

That general description comes from the [Kompass der föderalen IT-Architektur](https://docs.fitko.de/kompass/docs/it-landschaft/fachapplikationen/) ('compass of the federal IT architecture'), published by FITKO, the federal IT co-operation of the German public sector. The page uses the German term 'Fachapplikation' and is marked as a draft. The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), in its [IT-Grundschutz-Kompendium](https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Grundschutz/IT-GS-Kompendium/IT_Grundschutz_Kompendium_Edition2023.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4), counts individually customised business applications, such as personnel administration software, as bespoke software. We found no definition of the term in law or in any standard.

We use the term more narrowly, for software that covers processes off-the-shelf products do not fit. Examples include customer portals, B2B ordering portals and automated workflows. Projects often start with a remark such as 'Our SAP can't do that.' These applications run alongside the standard systems, whether SAP or another ERP system, a WMS or an e-commerce platform. Instead of replacing those systems, they connect to them through APIs and secure file transfer (SFTP).

The ordering microsites we build for pharma manufacturers are one example (see Microsite). Our first business application for a pharma logistics provider went live in 2016. We run these applications ourselves and keep developing them.

## See also

- [Non-GxP](https://t10.de/en/glossary/non-gxp): Non-GxP describes a system that its operator does not classify as GxP-relevant; PIC/S guidance uses the term without defining it formally.
- [Microsite](https://t10.de/en/glossary/microsite): According to the Gabler Wirtschaftslexikon, a microsite is a small website separate from the main website of the organisation providing the information.
- [WMS](https://t10.de/en/glossary/wms): WMS stands for warehouse management system; according to the short description of VDI 3601, its task is to manage and optimise a company's internal storage and transport systems.

## Where the term appears

- [Pharma IT services: Non-GxP software](https://t10.de/en/pharma)
- [Straight to the patient, without ever touching their data](https://t10.de/en/blog/ordering-microsites-pharma)
- [Out of the inbox: a knowledge platform for a pharma logistics provider](https://t10.de/en/blog/knowledge-platform-pharma)
- [One QR code on every appliance: from EU obligation to service portal](https://t10.de/en/blog/eu-energy-label-qr-platform)
- [Non-GxP in pharma: what we build, what we leave out and where our systems stop](https://t10.de/en/blog/non-gxp-pharma-logistics)
- [How expensive reusable boxes stopped going missing](https://t10.de/en/blog/reusable-boxes-pharma)
- [Every order confirmed, without anyone touching it](https://t10.de/en/blog/order-confirmations-pharma)
- [Proof of delivery in pharma logistics: matched to the client, searchable in a portal](https://t10.de/en/blog/pod-handling-pharma-logistics)
- [Bespoke software & business apps with Symfony](https://t10.de/en/symfony-development)

## Sources

1. [Kompass der föderalen IT-Architektur: Schicht Fachapplikationen](https://docs.fitko.de/kompass/docs/it-landschaft/fachapplikationen/), FITKO (Föderale IT-Kooperation), accessed 2026-11-06
2. [IT-Grundschutz-Kompendium, Edition 2023, Baustein APP.7 Entwicklung von Individualsoftware](https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Grundschutz/IT-GS-Kompendium/IT_Grundschutz_Kompendium_Edition2023.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4), Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI), accessed 2026-11-06