{"id":50702,"date":"2019-04-19T10:51:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T17:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcuser&#038;p=50702"},"modified":"2025-11-10T15:33:39","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T23:33:39","slug":"six-essentials-for-your-next-gis-implementation","status":"publish","type":"arcuser","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcuser\/six-essentials-for-your-next-gis-implementation","title":{"rendered":"Six Essentials for Your Next GIS Implementation"},"author":1432,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","castos_file_data":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10992,11022],"tags":[165542,176852,152552],"arcuser_issues":[23202],"class_list":["post-50702","arcuser","type-arcuser","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-managing-gis","category-thought-leader","tag-data-sharing","tag-gis-implementation","tag-training","arcuser_issues-winter-2018"],"acf":{"short_description":"When it comes to rolling out a new GIS, there are pitfalls that can derail even the best-laid plans.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"When it comes to rolling out a new GIS, there are pitfalls that can derail even the best-laid plans. During any given month, my team has more than 20 different GIS implementation projects in process. After six years of seeing firsthand what works and what doesn\u2019t, I thought I\u2019d share a few hard learned lessons. This article shares my six top tips for successfully implementing a GIS.\r\n<h2>1. Don\u2019t overcomplicate things<\/h2>\r\nSometimes you\u2019ll find that the simplest application can deliver significant results. Consider establishing an initial operating capability (IOC) that you can build on as you become more familiar with the outputs of your new system. Be careful not to be wowed by add-ons that you might not need initially. Start from a solid foundation, optimize your workflows, and analyze the results. Do this and you\u2019ll be in a far better position later when your team is ready to deliver more advanced GIS capabilities.\r\n<h2>2. Forget the past<\/h2>\r\nWhen it comes to GIS swap outs or major system upgrades, one of the costliest errors is configuring the new system to mimic the functionality of a legacy system. When this happens, the limitations of the old system are invariably replicated in the new system.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to scoping the new configuration, it\u2019s best to start by thinking about what functionality you want rather than the functionality you are most familiar with. This way, you\u2019ll avoid seeding your new system with the very functionality that brought you to the decision to upgrade. It\u2019s also a fail-safe way of ensuring that you are addressing future needs.\r\n<h2>3. Prioritize training<\/h2>\r\nYou wouldn\u2019t put a high-performance vehicle in the hands of a student driver. The same principle applies to your new GIS. Don\u2019t accept a basic knowledge handover at the end of a project. Insist on receiving ongoing learning and skill development from your solution provider. Ideally, look for professionally delivered one-on-one training or facilitated group courses. Once your new system is established, it would also be worth tapping into low-cost training alternatives like webinars, user groups, and technical blogs.\r\n<h2>4. Establish a data-sharing plan<\/h2>\r\nOne of the biggest oversights in GIS rollouts is the absence of a holistic data-sharing plan. Considerations such as secure environments usually (and understandably) take precedence in planning, but often at the expense of other, more practical requirements such as ensuring that data custodians\u2019 and consumers\u2019 needs are aligned or fluctuating demands have quickly scalable solutions. To keep from deploying a GIS with limited information transfer capabilities, ensure that your plan covers the\u00a0<em>who, when, how,<\/em>and\u00a0<em>where<\/em>\u00a0of data sharing.\r\n<h2>5. Keep IT in the loop<\/h2>\r\nThere is nothing more disappointing than going through the ordeal of getting approval for a system upgrade only to have your project obstructed by your IT department. As a CIO, I can assure you that IT people have feelings too. My best advice is to get your IT team involved early and ensure they\u2019re aware of your organization\u2019s GIS objectives. Do that and you may just find a willing GIS champion within their ranks. If your IT team has concerns about the capabilities of staff or systems, your technology provider should be able to present a solution that boosts both expertise and capacity.\r\n<h2>6. Don\u2019t rush to replace<\/h2>\r\nWhen it comes to big GIS implementations, one of the things I\u2019m seeing less and less is a rush to kill off outdated systems. Before you undertake a wholesale swap out of your existing GIS, I\u2019d recommend that you take a quick look at how complex organizations like utilities are deploying the latest GIS technologies to bolster their legacy systems. It\u2019s inventive spatial thinking at its best.\r\n\r\nThose are my top tips for managing a GIS implementation. Best of luck with your next project."},{"acf_fc_layout":"pdf","file":50712}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Six Essentials for Your Next GIS Implementation | Winter 2018 | ArcUser<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When it comes to rolling out a new GIS, there are pitfalls that can derail even the best-laid plans.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Six Essentials for Your Next GIS Implementation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When it comes to rolling out a new GIS, there are pitfalls that can derail even the best-laid plans.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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