Esri - Staying under the Radar
- Arpit Shah
- Jul 6, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 4
I admire businesses that have endured over long periods of time—those that have built a legacy based on quality products, timeless values, and stable performance.
However, times have changed, and how! Innovation, growth, and fundraising are the buzzwords dominating today’s business sphere. Beyond the rigours of running a brick-and-mortar venture, one now has to deploy Digital Marketing just to gain decent mass visibility (hence this professional blog 😊).
New businesses seem to appear on the horizon like firecrackers—spectacular, dazzling, and noisy. Unfortunately, most disappear like firecrackers too, leaving no trace. The likes of Google, Amazon, and Uber are exceptions: enduring, dynamic, almost like everlasting firecrackers—continually churning out products and experiences customers can’t do without, and at lightning speed.
That said, one does occasionally stumble upon businesses from a bygone era—those that have managed to persist to this day. Some have evolved and continue to grow at an appreciable pace, while others meander or appear to have reached the end of their journey.
Esri is one such company, firmly in the former category. What makes its success especially fascinating is that it belongs to the Technology/IT sector—a space replete with short life cycles.
"It (Esri) has survived five tectonic shifts in technology" — Forbes.
Having known and experienced what Esri does—it produces the world’s best Geospatial Software (technically known as Geographic Information System or GIS)—I believe it is well-positioned to survive a few more tectonic shifts. The organization has operated under the radar for decades, quietly and consistently building deep domain expertise in location analytics which enables their customers to solve real-world problems that matter.
Esri commands over a >40% global market share and more than >70% in India. Mapping Professionals eagerly await its annual Technology Conferences held across the world.
More people are taking note of the geospatial sector because of another technology giant—Google. After all, when we think of mapping, the first thing that comes to mind is Google Maps, isn’t it?
Google Maps is indispensable. Need to locate something? Use Google Maps. Lost and want to find your way? Use Google Maps. Planning an itinerary? Again, Google Maps. Its APIs power countless web and mobile applications we use every day. The utility it provides is simply unmatched.
Esri, meanwhile, has earned its reputation by providing world-class, Industrial-grade Mapping technology for corporations, institutions and governments. It contributes immensely to environmental conservation—the name Esri is an acronym for Environmental Systems Research Institute. it was even initially incorporated as so. Over the years, its focus on delivering solutions powered by location intelligence has led to a rebranding—positioning itself as the global leader in The Science of Where. With mapping use-cases set to grow rapidly, I am certain more people will begin to notice and admire this company.
Think about Amazon, Uber or Zomato. While they are known as ecommerce, taxi, and food-delivery companies, at their core they are navigation specialists. Wherever there is movement, there is inevitably geospatial technology powering it.
Personally, I’d prefer Esri to remain under the radar—like a silent guardian… a watchful protector. In that case, perhaps I should stop writing about it, shouldn’t I? 😊
My firm—Mapmyops / Intelloc Mapping Services, Kolkata—is, at this moment, a tiny speck of nobody. Yet I aspire to make it a sustainable and enduring business, just like Esri. It is an honour to partner with them, deploy their GIS platform at organizations, and help them reap the tremendous benefits of powerful mapping technology.
ABOUT US - OPERATIONS MAPPING SOLUTIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONS
Intelloc Mapping Services, Kolkata | Mapmyops.com offers a suite of Mapping and Analytics solutions that seamlessly integrate with Operations Planning, Design, and Audit workflows. Our capabilities include — but are not limited to — Drone Services, Location Analytics & GIS Applications, Satellite Imagery Analytics, Supply Chain Network Design, Subsurface Mapping and Wastewater Treatment. Projects are executed pan-India, delivering actionable insights and operational efficiency across sectors.
My firm's services can be split into two categories - Geographic Mapping and Operations Mapping. Our range of offerings are listed in the infographic below-
A majority of our Mapping for Operations-themed workflows (50+) can be accessed from this website's landing page. We respond well to documented queries/requirements. Demonstrations/PoC can be facilitated, on a paid-basis. Looking forward to being of service.
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