Esri ended support for ArcGIS Desktop and ArcMap on March 1, 2026 [1]. If your staff still works in ArcMap, the maps your crews rely on now live in software its maker no longer supports, and Esri’s own notice warns that unsupported software can expose an organization to security risks [1].
A cloud GIS replacement for ArcGIS Desktop takes one of two forms. Esri’s path is ArcGIS Pro, which you can pair with ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise for the cloud side [1]. The other is a public works operations system with GIS built in, where the map sits beside work orders and asset records. Both can serve a community well, but the right choice for your local government comes down to how your team uses maps.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- How the main replacement options compare for local governments
- How to list what your team actually uses before you switch
- What a map looks like when it’s part of daily public works
- Questions to ask any vendor, and answers to common questions about ArcMap
Your Options to Replace ArcGIS Desktop
No one option fits every community. A full-time GIS analyst has different needs than a three-person public works department that mostly wants to find a valve and close a work order.
Start With What You Actually Use
Most ArcMap setups grow over years, and some of what they do is often known by only one person. Esri’s own planning advice starts with counting who uses ArcGIS Desktop, what each person does with it, and which custom tools, add-ins, or scripts they depend on [1].
Before you talk to any vendor, write down:
- Who opens ArcMap, and what they use it for
- Which maps other departments or council members depend on
- Any custom tools, add-ins, or scripts you currently use
- Where your layers and records are stored, and who keeps them current
The resulting list shows whether your work is mostly building maps, or using them. If your staff builds maps and runs analysis, ArcGIS Pro is made for that, with or without ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise for sharing. If most of your people use maps to find assets, assign work, and answer residents, a public works operations system may fit better.
When the Map Is Part of Daily Work
Picture a resident calling about water pooling near a hydrant. In a public works operations system built for local government, the request lands on the map at that address, a supervisor turns it into a work order, and the crew opens the hydrant’s record on a phone. When the job closes, the map and the asset’s history update together. Nobody calls the office to ask where the valve is.
That’s how gWorks Operations works. Its GIS module puts assets, work orders, 311 requests, permits, and inspections on one map that field staff can open on a phone, and it supports Esri-compatible layers. Asset management and work orders sit in the same system, so a repair becomes part of the asset’s record. This functionality scales from small villages to large counties.
WebGIS lets staff publish only the layers they choose for residents and council members. The public map draws from the same data staff use, while internal layers such as active work orders stay private.
If your team needs advanced spatial analysis or custom GIS tools, ask exactly what the system covers before you switch.
Questions to Ask Any Vendor:
- Can you review a sample of our layers and records before quoting a plan?
- What will our staff do during setup, data conversion, and training?
- Who answers when something breaks after launch, and how quickly?
- What does the total cost include after the first year?
A vendor who truly understands local government should be able to answer these in plain terms and put the answers in writing, which gives your team something concrete to compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What replaces ArcMap?
Esri’s successor to ArcMap is ArcGIS Pro, which it now offers through user types or as a Standalone license [1]. ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise extend ArcGIS to the web and mobile [1]. Some local governments instead move their maps into a public works operations system such as gWorks Operations, where GIS sits beside work orders and asset records.
Can we run GIS without a full-time GIS analyst?
Generally yes, depending on what your team does with the map. If most of your staff uses maps to find assets, assign work, and answer residents, an operations system like gWorks Operations is built around that kind of daily use. For example, staff can turn public WebGIS layers on and off without writing code. Building custom maps or running spatial analysis is different work, so ask any vendor who would handle that after launch.
Can we use ArcGIS Pro without a user type?
Yes. Esri offers ArcGIS Pro Standalone for organizations where user types are not the right fit [1].
Will our existing maps and data transfer over?
That depends on your formats, layers, permissions, and workflows. gWorks supports Esri-compatible layers, but ask any vendor to review your data first and put the plan in writing.
Choose the Software That Fits the Work
The retirement of ArcMap is a good moment to decide what you want your department’s maps to be capable of. If the answer is helping crews find assets, close work orders, and follow up on resident requests, gWorks Operations is worth a look.
Learn More About gWorks Operations
Last updated: November 2026
Sources
- Esri. “ArcGIS Desktop Retirement.” https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-desktop/overview
- Trimble. “What happened to Cityworks.” https://www.trimble.com/en/blog/construction/article/what-happened-to-cityworks