In our June 10, 2026 webinar, ‘Improving ArcGIS Field Workflows by Integrating with Microsoft,’ we explored how to integrate ArcGIS field applications with several ArcGIS for Microsoft apps (ArcGIS Connectors for Power Automate, ArcGIS for Teams, and ArcGIS for SharePoint). This integration demonstrated the following benefits:
- Enhancing Collaboration
- Improved Communication
- Automating Existing Manual Workflows
We’ve received many great questions and have compiled the most frequently asked questions and answers from the webinar below. For those who missed the live event or want to revisit the content, you can watch the full webinar recording embedded here.
Webinar Questions and Answers
Location Sharing
What licensing and permissions are required to use Location Sharing?
Location Sharing is included with the Mobile Worker user type. For Viewer, Contributor, Creator, Professional, and Professional Plus user types, it can be licensed through the ArcGIS Location Sharing User Type Extension. An ArcGIS administrator must also enable the organization’s Location Sharing service and assign the appropriate licenses before users can share their location through Field Maps.
If you’re unsure what applies to your organization, Esri Support can help clarify the current licensing requirements through the Esri Support site.
How is location sharing enabled and managed?
Location sharing is available and managed as part of ArcGIS, not Microsoft Teams. In ArcGIS Field Maps specifically, mobile workers can enable it through the My Tracks card or by opening a map that’s configured to require location sharing. Once enabled, locations are shared to ArcGIS, where they can be viewed through Track Views and other ArcGIS applications. Organizations can also configure geofences to control when location sharing is active.
Can location sharing be limited to specific groups of users?
Yes. Track Views allow you to scope location sharing to specific groups of users. For example, you could create separate Track Views for AG inspectors and hydrant inspectors and only include the appropriate participants in each view. You can also control which users are permitted to view location tracks, ensuring access is limited to authorized personnel.
For more information, see the Deploy a Location Sharing Solution with ArcGIS Field Maps guide.
Can location sharing be required for specific maps?
Map authors can configure a map to require location sharing before it can be accessed. Users still choose whether to enable location sharing, but if they decide not to, they won’t be able to open that specific map. This approach is commonly used for workflows such as emergency response, where situational awareness is important.
For more information, see the Field Maps location sharing documentation.
Can location sharing trigger notifications or automated workflows?
Yes, this can be done. You can use ArcGIS Location Sharing and a Track View to make location updates available as a feature layer. From there, Power Automate can monitor location events and send messages to Microsoft Teams when users enter or exit a defined area.
If you have ArcGIS Velocity available, it provides a more direct approach. Velocity supports dynamic geofencing and can trigger actions when assets or users enter or leave geofenced areas. You can then send notifications directly to Microsoft Teams, including Adaptive Cards, making it easier to alert staff and provide additional context about the event.
For more information, see the ArcGIS Velocity Microsoft Teams documentation.
Can location sharing automatically update asset status when a worker passes an asset?
Not out of the box. Location Sharing can tell you that a user was near or passed an asset, but automatically updating an asset from not inspected to inspected would typically require additional logic, such as an attribute rule, automation, or a custom workflow.
Is location sharing limited to ArcGIS field apps users?
It depends on which location-sharing workflow is being referred to.
If talking about ArcGIS Location Sharing, that capability is tied to ArcGIS field apps such as Field Maps, where users enable location sharing and their tracks are written to the Location Sharing service and exposed through Track Views.
If asking whether an ArcGIS Velocity real-time feed or other tracking devices can be used instead, that’s a different pattern. In that case, the location data would be coming from an external feed into ArcGIS rather than from the Field Apps location-sharing service.
Mobile and Offline Workflows
Does location sharing work when users are offline?
Yes. Location sharing continues to record locations while offline. When connectivity is restored, the recorded locations are automatically synced and are available to view.
Does the user need to actively use the app for their location to be shared?
No. Users do not need to actively interact with the app. Once location sharing is enabled, Field Maps can continue recording and uploading locations in the background.
Does screen locking interfere with location sharing?
No. The screen does not need to remain on for location sharing to work. Field Maps records locations in the background, though device or agency management settings may affect how background location services operate.
Is offline track recording a new capability?
No. Field Maps has long supported recording locations while offline. If you’re experiencing gaps in location history, we’d recommend working with Esri Technical Support to investigate the specific deployment and operating conditions that may be contributing to the issue.
There are several ways to contact support and log a case through Esri Support.
How does location sharing impact battery life?
Field Maps optimizes battery life by monitoring device activity. While the device is moving, high-accuracy locations are requested. While stationary, lower-accuracy locations are used to reduce battery consumption.
To further optimize battery life, set location access to Always in the device settings for Field Maps.
For more information, see the Field Maps optimize battery life documentation.
Field Maps Workflows and Data Collection
What tool was used to create the forms demonstrated during the webinar?
For this demo, Field Maps Designer was used to build and configure the form.
Can field crews create new assets in the field, or can they only edit existing assets? Can they continue working while offline?
Yes. Users with the appropriate permissions can create new assets, such as a hydrant, and update existing records in the field. Maps can also be configured for offline use, allowing field teams to continue collecting and editing data when connectivity is unavailable and synchronize their updates once connectivity is restored.
Can office staff see and work with field-collected data from a desktop?
Yes. All data collected in the field is stored in a feature service, which means it can be viewed and edited across both web and desktop applications, based on user permissions. For non-GIS users, applications such as Experience Builder, Dashboards, and other web apps provide a simplified, tailored experience for viewing and interacting with that data.
Is there a way to require photos during data collection?
Yes. In Field Maps Designer, you can configure the attachment field as required, ensuring a photo is captured before submission.
Are forms supported with related records?
Yes. Field Maps supports forms on related tables, and a common example is a hydrant with related inspection records. Users can access those related records from the parent feature and add or edit inspections directly.
One thing to note is that Field Maps currently supports working with related records, but it does not yet support embedding a child table form directly within the parent form using the Related Record Form element. That’s a capability the team is considering for a future release. Users can provide feedback through the related ArcGIS Ideas submission.
How secure are Microsoft Teams deep links?
Visibility of a deep link follows the sharing settings of the map or application where it appears. However, access to the underlying content is still governed by the permissions of the destination system. In other words, a user may be able to see a link, but can only access the content if they have been granted appropriate permissions. For more information about Microsoft Teams deep links, see the Microsoft documentation on Teams deep links and chat links.
How well does the solution scale with large or complex datasets?
ArcGIS has been designed to work with large and complex datasets, and the system is designed to scale. The biggest factors tend to be the specific data model, offline configuration, and connectivity conditions rather than simply the size of the dataset. It is always recommended to test representative offline areas and sync workflows as part of deployment to ensure they perform as expected for your environment.
How can map templates help streamline new field projects?
Map templates help you get started faster by replicating an existing map’s configuration, including layers, forms, symbology, pop-ups, and settings, without copying the actual data. This helps standardize workflows across projects and keeps field teams using consistent forms and data collection practices.
Integrations and External Systems
Can Track Viewer be connected to an AVL system?
Track Viewer is designed to visualize and share location data collected through ArcGIS Location Sharing. Integration with an AVL system would typically be handled through ArcGIS integration tools, depending on the AVL platform being used.
When can we expect ArcGIS Field Maps to support Apple CarPlay?
CarPlay support is not currently on the ArcGIS Field Maps roadmap. For in-vehicle navigation workflows, ArcGIS Navigator is the product expected to support this feature.
ArcGIS for Teams
Is there anything that needs to be installed to use ArcGIS for Teams?
Each Microsoft 365 application (such as Teams, Excel, and SharePoint) has its own unique deployment mechanism managed within the Microsoft Tenant Admin tools. Consequently, deploying ArcGIS for Microsoft 365 involves installing each specific ArcGIS integration (like the ArcGIS for Teams app or the ArcGIS for Excel add-in) individually, adhering to the standard application deployment processes for that particular Microsoft 365 environment. For detailed information on managing add-in deployments within Microsoft 365, please refer to the official Microsoft documentation.
Does ArcGIS for Teams work with ArcGIS Enterprise? Are there specific version requirements?
Yes, ArcGIS for Microsoft 365 is compatible with ArcGIS Enterprise, provided that your ArcGIS Enterprise deployment meets the required version and configuration criteria. ArcGIS Enterprise must be version 11.5, or later to integrate with ArcGIS for Microsoft 365 apps.
What happens if I am using ArcGIS for Teams and lose internet connectivity, will my map still be there?
If internet connectivity is lost while using ArcGIS for Teams, the maps will refresh when connectivity is regained. If using the Annotate and Sketch feature while in a Teams meeting, updates will be saved automatically if this option is selected. For more information please see the help documentation.
When in a Teams meeting and a map is shared, do all meeting participants need the ArcGIS for Teams app?
Based upon the role of the participants there are different requirements. Below is a list of requirements and for more information please see the help documentation.
- Presenter Requirements: The presenter must have ArcGIS for Teams installed and signed in if sharing private content.
- Participants: They do not need ArcGIS for Teams installed to view the map. They can interact with the shared map through the meeting interface.
- Permissions: If the map is public, guests can view it without an ArcGIS account. For private content, participants need appropriate ArcGIS credentials.
ArcGIS Connectors for Power Automate
What are the licensing requirements to use the ArcGIS Connectors for Power Automate? Are they considered a premium connector?
Yes, Microsoft considers the ArcGIS Connectors for Power Automate a premium connector, therefore a premium license is necessary from Microsoft to use the connectors. In order to create flows an ArcGIS User Type of Creator, Professional, or Professional Plus is needed. For more information please see the help documentation.
We use the Survey123 Connector, what are the plans for this connector?
Currently, there are also no plans to make updates or create new functionality for the connector. All new capabilities will be included in the ArcGIS Connectors and it is recommended to create a plan to move your flows to the ArcGIS Connectors.
My connection to ArcGIS times out and I have to reauthenticate frequently, why is this and how can I authenticate less frequently?
The ArcGIS Connectors for Power Automate rely on a refresh token to authenticate with ArcGIS. By default, the refresh tokens expire in 14 days. The connectors manage the refresh token when a flow is ran ensuring that it is valid and refreshing it when necessary. If your flow runs infrequently, you can create a flow that runs on a schedule to perform a query that refreshes the connection. You can learn more with this blog post in the Esri Community.
Also, API Key authentication is now supported. API Keys have a time out period up to 12 months. To learn more about using API Keys check out the help documentation.
What are some of the ways information can be sent to users with Power Automate? Can a text message be sent?
There are many ways to send information to users in Power Automate. Some of the most common are individual and group chats, adaptive cards, emails, text, and updating data within a dashboard.
ArcGIS for SharePoint
What if my SharePoint documents moves? How do I keep the document linked to the GIS layer?
ArcGIS for SharePoint maintains connections between geotagged documents and their map features—even when files are moved or reorganized in SharePoint. If a document changes location, the linked map feature automatically updates to reference the new path. For more information check out this blog.
Is there a separate license needed to access ArcGIS for SharePoint?
To access the capabilities of ArcGIS for SharePoint, a standard Microsoft account and an ArcGIS user type is needed. These credentials ensure you can sign in, use the mapping features, and access the integration between SharePoint and ArcGIS. Some features can be used without signing into ArcGIS, but full functionality requires authentication with both accounts. To learn more about licensing and capabilities check out the help documentation.
Additional Information and Resources
We hope this blog has provided clear answers to the questions raised during our webinar and offered valuable insights into automation with ArcGIS field applications, ArcGIS Connectors for Power Automate, ArcGIS for Teams, and ArcGIS for SharePoint including how to get started, licensing, and using Task and Location Sharing within ArcGIS Field Maps . If you’re ready to take the next step, explore the resources below to deepen your understanding and start spatial automation today. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to explore the resources below. Many include links to the Esri Community, where you can engage with Esri staff, connect with other users, continue the conversation, share ideas, and ask questions.
ArcGIS Field Maps Esri Community
ArcGIS Survey123 Esri Community
ArcGIS Navigator Esri Community
ArcGIS for Microsoft Webinar Collection
ArcGIS for Microsoft Esri Community
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