The Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference (IMGIS) brought together telecom, utility, and infrastructure professionals looking to build smarter, more connected networks.
For 3-GIS, this year marked a milestone. With the addition of our full utility product line, both telecom and utility teams came together under one roof for the first time. That shared presence reflected what’s happening across the industry as fiber and utility networks converge, facing the same challenges in data accuracy, field coordination, and system integration.
From the plenary stage to booth conversations, one theme stood out: organizations are ready for connected tools that bridge the field and the office and make work faster, simpler, and more accurate.
Esri’s vision for what’s next
The plenary spotlighted where Esri is heading:
- Smarter visuals. More intuitive maps and dashboards.
- AI-driven workflows. Intelligent tools that can automate decisions and simplify processes.
- Stronger field integration. Tighter connections between mobile apps and enterprise systems.
- Telecom Domain Network (TDN). A new model built for growing fiber networks.
The TDN introduces a shared data model that ties telecom workflows into the Utility Network framework. That means a clearer, unified way to manage connectivity, assets, and service readiness.
- For utilities, unified management of electric, gas, and fiber assets in a single model.
- For telecom, faster design to activation and smoother coordination with contractors.
Real results, real stories
Utilities everywhere are trying to reduce inspection delays and cut down on manual tracking without replacing the systems they rely on. Two IMGIS sessions showed what that looks like in practice.
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) transformed inspections for 192,000 distribution assets using a mobile and portal-based workflow. The result: inspection timelines dropped from more than a year to just three months, and reporting work was reduced by 75%.
- Modesto Irrigation District replaced spreadsheets and manual repair tracking with an automated workflow, improving communication across departments and speeding up maintenance cycles.
Both examples proved a simple truth: automation works best when it strengthens existing operations, not when it replaces them.
Where 3-GIS fits in the conversation
Throughout the week, our team heard many of the same priorities.
For utilities
What are utilities focused on right now?
Reducing repetitive work, eliminating inefficient steps, and ensuring data accuracy between field and office teams.
Why does it matter?
Disconnected systems and manual updates slow down inspections, increase reporting errors, and make compliance harder to maintain. A connected, real-time GIS workflow helps teams capture field data once and trust it everywhere.
Mobile solutions built and configured specifically for the job-at-hand, like 3-GIS | MIMS, make that possible. Helping crews perform inspections and redlines in the field, update GIS records, and sync data instantly to keep everyone aligned.
For telecom
What are telecom operators trying to solve?
Connecting design, construction, and activation while coordinating across multiple contractors and keeping service delivery on schedule.
Why does it matter?
As fiber builds grow in scale and complexity, data silos can lead to design delays, construction errors, and costly rework. Real-time visibility helps operators keep every project on track from planning to activation.
That kind of coordination depends on a connected system, like 3-GIS | Web, enabling telecom teams to work from the same up-to-date information and to keep projects aligned from design through activation.
What the market is saying
Across sessions and side conversations, the same themes kept coming up.
- Utility Network migrations are moving forward, but teams need tools to streamline editing, simplify administration, and automate repetitive tasks.
- AI adoption is careful and focused, with leaders looking for automation that saves hours, not generate headlines.
- Security and integration reviews are taking longer, which is expanding interest in proven, reliable systems.
- Telecom and utility workflows are blending quickly, and organizations now expect web-based tools that work the same way across departments.
Key takeaways for network teams
- Eliminate manual steps with tools that simplify everyday work.
- Standardize web editing and field capture to close the gap between design and activation.
- Keep automation practical so teams can focus on decisions, not data entry.
- Tell one story that connects telecom and utility workflows through accurate, shared data.
Closing thoughts
Esri IMGIS 2025 confirmed what’s already happening across the industry: connected data, real-time collaboration, and automation are becoming the standard.
At 3-GIS, we’re committed to delivering utility and telecom solutions that integrate seamlessly into our customers’ workflows and make them better. Our product development is guided by direct customer feedback, ensuring we continue to build tools that support the critical infrastructure work happening in communities everywhere.
