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Geospatial Strategy

Chart your path toward geospatial excellence

Unlocking the full value of data requires more than technology—it demands vision and integration across the enterprise. Define how your geographic information system (GIS) will inform business actions and operational precision by following Esri’s proven guidance.

Get the Geospatial Strategy ebook
Person with a tablet overlaid with satellite and street‑level maps, illustrating geospatial strategy and spatial insight

Why do you need a geospatial strategy?

A plan turns possibility into progress. Creating a GIS strategy aligns technology to priorities, but a geospatial strategy also defines how location insights shape decisions, operations, and outcomes across the enterprise. Together, they give leaders the clarity and foresight to outpace disruption, maximize investments, and establish lasting competitive advantage.

Urban geospatial strategy view with a 3D city model and supporting charts that reveal land use patterns and concentrations of cultural attractions

Esri’s proven framework for a successful geospatial strategy and GIS implementation

A strong geospatial program is built on five pillars—a set of interconnected choices about people, process, and technology. Together, these pillars make up Esri’s proven framework for success, helping organizations uncover blind spots, close gaps, and seize opportunities.

BUSINESS ALIGNMENT

Establish a strong GIS foundation

Advance your organization’s mission, goals, and objectives by connecting GIS use to enterprise-wide priorities.

  • Secure executive sponsorship and define your strategic approach
  • Guide your GIS investment with control metrics and an expected ROI
  • Outline how GIS will support workflows and deliver value to stakeholders
  • Define actionable objectives with clear and measurable outcomes
  • Detail your solutions portfolio that supports the business and drives innovation

Two professionals collaborating at a laptop, overlaid with abstract maps and spatial data graphics that represent geospatial analysis and strategic decision-making

TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE

Develop standards that maximize technology investments

By defining an overarching direction for IT and GIS teams, leaders can ensure technology-business alignment while optimizing resources and minimizing risks.

  • Determine organizational structure and assign groups to drive governance
  • Establish policies and standards for oversight and decision-making
  • Document foundational workflows and standard operating procedures
  • Plan for ongoing IT and GIS governance monitoring, auditing, and quality control
  • Create a GIS operating model that supports operations and use

Person working at a computer with abstract map networks and spatial data overlays representing geospatial strategy and location intelligence

SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION

Facilitate enterprise-wide collaboration

Build a robust, scalable system that encourages the discovery, use, and sharing of GIS products and applications.

  • Design and implement an enterprise GIS system using Esri’s Well-Architected Framework
  • Integrate GIS with emerging technologies and existing systems to drive innovation
  • Make data accessible so anyone in the organization can harness the power of data
  • Define GIS architecture principles that bridge business strategy with technology implementation
  • Align GIS with organizational IT strategy

Professional analyzing data at a workstation, overlaid with digital maps and charts that illustrate geospatial insights informing enterprise strategy

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Build partnerships to elevate GIS value

Engage internal and external stakeholders who can benefit from geospatial technology.

  • Raise awareness about geospatial capabilities through marketing efforts
  • Establish lines of communication for sharing successes with stakeholders and motivating ongoing GIS collaboration
  • Encourage GIS adoption through people-centered integration and coaching
  • Foster a culture of trust, value, and common understanding through a flexible approach
  • Create leadership groups who advocate for GIS strategy, governance, and innovation

Team collaborating in a meeting with digital maps and geospatial data visuals in the background

CAPACITY BUILDING

Empower your workforce with GIS tools that deliver results

Prepare staff at all levels with geospatial knowledge, skills, and resources that drive positive business outcomes.

  • Promote growth and career opportunities with training that bridges knowledge gaps
  • Enhance productivity by integrating geospatial solutions into existing workflows
  • Define an approach to development that aligns with organizational structure and staff capabilities
  • Align GIS with common business patterns to build a clear connection to organizational goals
  • Grow existing and future leaders who will evangelize about GIS technology

Team collaborating around a laptop with geospatial maps and location data overlays, illustrating data-driven strategy and spatial analysis

Get your how-to guide

Beyond the Map: A Guide to Geospatial Strategy

Bridge the gap between geospatial potential and business results. This ebook details Esri’s framework for effective GIS implementation with examples that demonstrate clear benefits.

  • Support current and future workflows

  • Democratize GIS apps, products, and intelligence

  • Establish long-term data and GIS governance

  • Make smarter, evidence-based decisions

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Learn how customers are turning strategy into measurable impact

From efficiency gains to breakthrough ideas, the following stories from the ebook show how a geospatial strategy delivers operational clarity, activating progress and innovation.

  • A world map shows the extensive reach of Cisco's service supply chain and how it improved service delivery by digitizing data

    Cisco improves service delivery by digitizing data

    By digitizing supply tracking into a GIS-powered digital twin, Cisco can deliver parts and services to customers more rapidly and reliably.
  • An aerial view of an airplane on the tarmac represents how Dublin Airport transformed operations by unifying its data

    Dublin Airport unifies data, transforms operations

    Once scattered systems at Dublin Airport are now integrated in GIS, enabling predictive operations, streamlined workflows, and data governance.
  • An aerial view of a Tennessee town represents how its government staff are empowered with GIS capabilities

    TNCOT empowers its staff with GIS capabilities

    Embarking on a system upgrade, TNCOT developed a successful adoption strategy centered on comprehensive socialization, demonstrations, and support.
  • A GIS team with Doctors Without Borders collaborates over a map

    Doctors Without Borders redefines collaboration

    By building a training curriculum and resources portal, the GIS team at Doctors Without Borders enhances collaboration and operations.
  • A view of Nashville represents extended access to GIS tools, applications, and maps across local government for improved data-sharing and innovation

    Nashville democratizes GIS for government staff

    Preparing for growth, Nashville leaders extended GIS tools, applications, and maps across departments to strengthen data-sharing and innovation.
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Additional resources

Dive deeper into Esri guidance to further support your geospatial program.

  • Defining and Implementing Your Geospatial Strategy

    Esri User Conference session video

    Watch the presentation

  • Three Lessons in Collaboration for Data-Driven Organizations

    WhereNext article

    Read the story

  • Approaches to Organizational and Data Governance

    Esri User Conference session video

    Watch the presentation

  • The ArGIS Well-Architected Framework

    ArcGIS Architecture Center

    Explore architecture guidance

  • The Art of Geospatial Strategy

    WhereNext webcast

    Watch the webcast

  • Creating a Workforce Development Plan

    Ebook

    Download the ebook

  • How to Create the Path to Geospatial Excellence

    ArcWatch article

    Read the story

  • Build a Strong Geospatial Foundation for Your Organization

    ArcUser article

    Read the story
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Talk with a GIS expert

Connect with us to discuss your geospatial strategy.