At Thomson, we pride ourselves on promoting best practice in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and advising our clients on the most effective ways to manage, analyse and present spatial data. As the GIS landscape evolves, so do the needs of our projects and clients.
Recently, our GIS team undertook a comprehensive review of our internal systems for field data collection, storage, analysis, and mapping delivery. The result was a strategic shift toward a more flexible hybrid GIS environment that combined proprietary and open-source technologies.
Why We Reviewed Our GIS Setup
Like many organisations, our original workflow relied heavily on well-known proprietary GIS software. While these tools are powerful, increasing licensing costs, usage restrictions, and the growing demand for more adaptable workflows prompted us to reassess our approach.
We asked ourselves a series of key questions:
- Does our current setup give us the flexibility we need?
- Are we making the best use of our team’s skills and expertise?
- How can we future-proof our GIS capabilities while continuing to deliver high-quality outputs for clients?
This review led us to explore the opportunities offered by open-source GIS software, particularly QGIS.
A Phased Approach to Change
Our GIS infrastructure is complex and supports several key functions, including field data collection, secure data storage and management, desktop spatial analysis and interactive web mapping.
Rather than attempting a full system change all at once, we chose a step-by-step transition.
Our data storage systems were already robust, and our field data collection workflows were tightly integrated into ongoing projects. Changing these immediately would have required significant effort and risked disrupting operations.
However, our desktop GIS environment offered the ideal starting point. It was also the area where greater flexibility would benefit the team and our clients the most.
We therefore adopted a hybrid setup:
- Open-source software for most desktop analysis and mapping tasks
- Existing licensed tools retained for field data collection and server infrastructure
This approach allowed us to modernise our workflow while maintaining stability across our wider systems.
Supporting the Team Through Change
One of the biggest challenges wasn’t technical—it was cultural.
Many members of the team had used the same GIS software throughout their academic studies and professional careers. Moving to a different platform initially felt like stepping away from familiar tools, and some worried it might even represent a downgrade in their skillset.
Instead, the transition has proven to be the opposite.
Through structured training, support from senior staff, and collaboration across the team, our GIS specialists have quickly built confidence in the new tools. Running both systems in parallel ahead of licence renewal gave everyone time to adapt without pressure.
We also migrated our most commonly used templates and reporting workflows in advance, ensuring a smooth transition with no disruption to project delivery.
Investing in Skills and Capability
Now several months into our hybrid setup, we are continuing to invest in targeted training from leading GIS training providers. This allows us to refine workflows, fill knowledge gaps, and further improve efficiency.
Importantly, the team has gained experience across multiple platforms, adding valuable skills to their professional toolkit while strengthening our overall capability as a consultancy.
What This Means for Our Clients
The shift to a hybrid GIS environment brings several benefits for our clients:
- Greater flexibility: We can select the best tools for each project rather than being tied to a single software provider.
- Improved efficiency: Open-source tools allow us to develop customised workflows and automate processes where needed.
- Better alignment with client systems: Many organisations are now adopting open-source GIS solutions, making data sharing and collaboration easier.
- Future-ready services: Our approach enables us to evolve our GIS infrastructure without costly, disruptive upgrades continuously.
- Looking Ahead: Our GIS environment is not static; it continues to evolve as new tools, techniques, and client needs emerge.
By embracing a more flexible software ecosystem and encouraging innovation within the team, we’ve created a workflow that is more agile, more resilient, and less constrained by software licensing limitations.
Most importantly, it allows us to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality spatial analysis and mapping that supports better environmental decision-making for our clients.
Looking for Flexible GIS Support?
Whether you are considering a move to QGIS, reviewing your GIS strategy, or need expert environmental spatial analysis, our team can help.
Contact Thomson to discuss how our GIS consultancy services can support your next project.
