Local governments rely on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to manage land records, public safety, infrastructure, and more. But as technology advances and demands increase, outdated systems can hold you back, costing time, accuracy, and efficiency.
Modernization means more than installing the latest software. It’s about ensuring your data is clean, creating cohesive workflows, driving organizational vision, and integrating GIS with all your business systems to empower better decision-making.
If you recognize these five signs, your county may be ready for a GIS upgrade.
1. Your Land Records Data Is Inconsistent or Outdated
When parcel boundaries, addresses, and similar datasets are maintained in outdated systems, or are in GIS but are inaccurate, many related processes, from tax assessment to emergency response, can be compromised. A GIS upgrade includes data cleanup, standardization, schema validation, and migration to a modern GIS platform ensure the accuracy and reliability of your Enterprise GIS.
2. Your Workflows Rely on Manual Steps or Multiple Disconnected Systems
If staff must enter the same information into multiple platforms or depend on manual ETL processes, bottlenecks and errors are inevitable. Staff won’t have the right information when and where they needed, as they wait for others to complete their tasks. Modernized GIS means upgrading to consolidated and streamlined workflows, and it automates them using ArcGIS Workflow Manager.
3. You’re Struggling to Integrate with Other Departments or Agencies
If your Assessors, planners, public works, and emergency services staff are working in silos, and your systems don’t communicate, collaboration doesn’t happen. All these departments need access to shared, accurate data. As Esri always says – GIS interconnects everything. A GIS upgrade enables seamless data sharing, by ensuring GIS is integrated into all your existing business systems. This way everyone is working from the same System of Record.
4. Your GIS Platform or Extensions Are No Longer Supported
Legacy systems which rely on ArcMap, such as 911 Dispatch, CAMA, Elections, and permitting, are still prevalent but reaching end-of-life. Continuing to rely on them limits your ability to take advantage of new capabilities in ArcGIS Pro and other Esri solutions. Not only is it time to consider upgrading to best practices with ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro, but also to upgrade those legacy systems. Leading providers in these areas currently offer solutions that are fully integrated with ArcGIS Pro. Upgrading ensures compatibility, security, and access to innovative geospatially-enabled business systems.
5. You’re Missing Opportunities for Public Engagement and Transparency
Modern GIS isn’t just for internal use. Do you have a rudimentary public facing Web GIS that leaves you wanting more flexibility to share GIS data and information products with the public? Are you reliant on a vendor who hosts your Web GIS and who forces you to use a one-size-fits all solution? Does that vendor control updates to your data and that limits your options to tailor specific products to your needs? An upgrade to ArcGIS Online, and backed by ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro, enables you to deploy virtually any type of public facing HUB, Portal, and interactive Web GIS product you desire. This is a modernized System of Engagement, which improves transparency, builds community trust, and enhances delivery of public services.
Why Upgrade Now?
The longer outdated systems remain in place, the more costly and complex the eventual transition becomes; remember the saying ‘the longer you stay on the wrong train the more costly it is to return’? By addressing data quality, workflow efficiency, system connectivity, and public engagement now, your county can save time, reduce risk, and deliver better service to your community.
Is Your County Ready to Upgrade?
Sidwell has been helping local governments modernize their GIS for nearly a century. As an Esri Gold Partner, we bring proven solutions, from ArcGIS Pro migrations to fully integrated land records systems.
Take the first step toward modernization.
Schedule Your GIS Modernization Needs Assessment Today