How modern operations systems complement GIS
Infor’s operations platform strengthens the value of GIS through connected data, field mobility, and service delivery
In recent years, there’s been a growing misconception among organizations—especially in the public sector and regulated industries—that a Geographic Information System (GIS) can singlehandedly replace the need for robust operational platforms like Infor™ Operations and Regulations (O&R), formerly known as Infor Public Sector Suite or Hansen. While GIS excels at managing spatial data and visualizing asset locations, it’s not built for the full breadth of operational workflows, compliance, asset management, and financial controls required by today’s complex organizations.
In this post, we’ll clarify the distinct-yet-complementary roles of GIS and O&R, highlight the strategic value of Infor’s partnership with Esri®, and show why Infor’s approach —combining spatial, operational, and financial capabilities on one secure AI-powered platform in the cloud —offers unmatched value for future-ready enterprises.
Addressing the GIS vs O&R misconception
At the root of the confusion is the notion that GIS platforms are a “one-stop shop” for managing assets, work orders, and regulatory processes. However, GIS is fundamentally designed for spatial data—mapping, visualizing, and analyzing the location of assets, infrastructure, land parcels and the world around them. These capabilities are critical, but only one side of the coin.
O&R is purpose-built for the “what, why and how” of operations—coordinating compliance, asset and work management, utility billing, procurement, and more. GIS and O&R are designed to work in tandem, amplifying each other’s strengths rather than competing.
GIS and O&R working together for clearer insight and stronger operations
Infor integration with Esri® and what comes next
Currently, O&R’s integration with Esri® is transactional—data syncs between systems and maps display asset locations within O&R, but users only get basic visualization, not a fully immersive spatial experience.
Recognizing the need for richer interaction, our immediate roadmap focuses on embedding Esri® tools directly within O&R. This will support Esri® user types, single sign-on, and unlock ArcGIS capabilities natively, enabling real-time mapping, advanced spatial analysis, and seamless workflows that blend geospatial and operational data.
O&R isn’t built on Esri® but harnesses its spatial power, letting O&R innovate independently while staying stable as GIS evolves. Using Esri® as a complementary tool delivers top-tier spatial analytics and keeps your core operations flexible and resilient—minimizing integration risks, future-proofing investments, and ensuring ongoing compliance.
From spatial data to operational intelligence
A truly effective enterprise solution encompasses much more than spatial data. O&R, as a cornerstone of Infor solutions built for the public sector industry, delivers a comprehensive suite of operational capabilities essential for modern organizations:
- Capital and corporate investment planning: Plan, prioritize, and fund asset projects using condition data, lifecycle costs, and long-term service needs.
- Purchasing and procurement: Manage requisitions, purchase orders, contracts, and supplier relationships, all with full auditability and integration to financials.
- General ledger and financial management: O&R connects seamlessly with Infor’s financial modules, supporting complex billing, journal outputs, asset valuation, and reporting. CloudSuite Public Sector is #1 in Core Financials according to recent analyst research.
- Infor Industry Cloud Platform: Prebuilt best practices, process automation, and configuration toolkits accelerate implementation and reduce reliance on custom development.
- Industry AI and automation: Embedded AI (including GenAI for text, predictive analytics, and automation) helps organizations make better decisions and streamline operations.
Connected workflows across ERP, O&R and GIS
Infor CloudSuite aligns ERP, O&R, and GIS together so agencies can manage finance, assets, work, and location-based information through connected processes without relying on custom integrations. O&R and GIS together support end-to-end business processes:
- Asset management and field operations: Field teams use O&R mobile tools, with synchronized Esri® map data, to locate assets, receive assignments, complete inspections, and update records in real time. As enhanced spatial experiences roll out, expect greater interactivity, real-time updates, and spatially informed decision-making within the same workflow.
- Regulatory processes: Permitting, licensing, code enforcement, and inspection results are managed in O&R, with spatial data visualization and address validation powered by Esri®. Forthcoming advances will embed these spatial tools ever more deeply in the regulatory process, increasing auditability and efficiency.
- Financial and customer service excellence: O&R’s robust modules handle utility billing, service requests, procurement, and reporting—delivering critical a-spatial functionality that GIS platforms cannot.
Features such as the upcoming Esri®-powered real-time map experiences, responsive user interfaces, advanced reporting, notification center for assignments, and formula-driven API creation will further integrate spatial intelligence across your workflows.
Why GIS and O&R work best together
- End-to-end visibility and control over assets, operations, and regulatory processes
- Deeper, more actionable integration of spatial and operational data for informed decision-making
- Enhanced efficiency, compliance, and customer experience through unified workflows
- Future-ready innovation powered by Infor Industry Cloud Platform tools and advanced AI
Infor encourages all existing and prospective O&R customers to see GIS and ERP as complementary pillars of your technology strategy. To unlock the full promise of your geospatial investments, leverage all three—integrated today, and even more deeply connected tomorrow.
For more information and a glimpse at what’s next, please contact your Infor representative or visit the Release Center on Infor Concierge.