Esri’s ArcGIS Desktop, a cornerstone of GIS for countless organizations, is approaching its end-of-life in 2026. This scheduled retirement, coupled with Esri’s shift from concurrent to named-user licensing, presents significant challenges and opportunities for organizations reliant on this powerful geospatial software.
Here, we delve into the aftermath of these transformations and illuminate how organizations can smoothly navigate this transition while optimizing their software investments.
ArcGIS Desktop retirement: What does it mean?
The retirement of ArcGIS Desktop signifies that Esri will cease development, updates, and technical support for the software. Only phone and chat support will be available until February 2026. By then, all users will have to switch to ArcGIS Pro named-user subscriptions.
Notably, ArcGIS Desktop features four applications—ArcMap, ArcScene, ArcGlobe, and ArcCatalog. And ArcGIS Pro has similar capabilities of the four ArcGIS Desktop applications combined.
Additional Read: Switch to SaaS Licensing Model: How It Can Impact Businesses
The changing licensing landscape
The retirement of ArcGIS Desktop also represents Esri’s permanent shift from concurrent licensing. Access to ArcGIS Pro will now only be available with named-used subscriptions to ArcGIS Online.
The overall impact: advantages, disadvantages and how to move ahead
With this decision of retiring ArcGIS Desktop, Esri is joining the bandwagon of software vendors going the cloud way. This change can have significant financial and operational implications for organizations, particularly those with large user bases or fluctuating software usage patterns.
While named-user licenses stand for enhanced customization, advanced data security and easy compliance tracking, there are challenges such as lack of clarity regarding exact license requirements (leading to overlicensing or overuse), complexity in reallocation, temporary users, and more.
However, with efficient SaaS management solutions such as OpenLM, the transition becomes smoother as you get functionalities such as
- License transition support: OpenLM’s team of experts can provide guidance and support as organizations swicth to ArcGIS Pro named-user licenses. This includes assistance with license inventory, usage analysis, and the development of a tailored licensing strategy.
- Usage tracking and reporting: OpenLM’s comprehensive reporting capabilities provide customers with deep insights into how ArcGIS Desktop is being used across their organization. During transition, this information can be used to make crucial decisions around license allocation, software procurement, and user training.
Additional Read: How To Survive A Software License Audit: A 6-Step Guide
Remember, ArcGIS Desktop is retiring on March 1, 2026. It’s high time you start planning for the transition, if you haven’t already. Contact OpenLM today to learn how we can help you optimize your ArcGIS license usage, ensure compliance, and navigate the licensing transition with confidence.
