Reducing GIS Migration Risk Through Smarter ArcGIS Online Item Management

Technology migrations are rarely simple. When multiple interconnected systems, cloud services, on-premise servers, and custom-built applications must be transitioned without disrupting operations, even well-planned projects can become complex. Geographic Information Systems are particularly sensitive to these challenges because they rely on tightly linked services, hosted items, and structured URLs.

The City of Austin recently faced this reality during a major GIS environment migration. Their objective was clear: move all GIS applications, workflows, and custom configurations to a new subdomain while ensuring uninterrupted service. However, years of accumulated ArcGIS Online content introduced an unexpected layer of complexity.

The Challenge of Updating ArcGIS Online Items

Over time, the City had created a substantial collection of ArcGIS Online items, each associated with various server endpoints, service URLs, and licensing references. These connections are foundational to GIS functionality; if even one link breaks, applications, dashboards, or web maps can fail.

During migration, every reference needed to be identified and updated to reflect the new environment. Manually locating these URLs across hundreds — or potentially thousands — of items would have required extensive effort and carried significant risk of oversight.

Discovering a Practical Solution

After initial experimentation and troubleshooting, City staff identified a tool capable of dramatically simplifying the process: VertiGIS Studio Item Manager. By leveraging this solution, they were able to efficiently locate and update embedded URLs across ArcGIS Online items without manually inspecting each configuration.

The impact was substantial. What could have required hundreds of labor-intensive hours was reduced to a streamlined workflow, minimizing downtime and protecting application integrity throughout the migration.

Recognizing the broader relevance of their experience, the City agreed to share their approach to help other organizations facing similar ArcGIS Online item management challenges.

What You Will Learn in This Webinar

This session explores how the City of Austin applied VertiGIS Studio Item Manager to significantly reduce the time and complexity associated with their GIS server transition. Attendees will gain insight into practical methods for identifying and replacing URLs within ArcGIS Online content.

The webinar also demonstrates how the same tool can be used proactively to manage ArcGIS Online and Portal items more efficiently. From bulk updates to structured item oversight, participants will see how better administrative control supports smoother migrations and long-term governance.

Additionally, viewers will learn operational tips designed to maximize efficiency when working with ArcGIS Online and Portal environments, particularly in organizations with large or evolving content libraries.

About VertiGIS

VertiGIS® develops GIS-focused software solutions that connect business processes with location-based technology. The company serves utilities, land management agencies, public sector organizations, energy providers, telecommunications firms, and manufacturing enterprises.

VertiGIS is the creator of VertiGIS Studio®, a platform used by thousands of organizations to extend and enhance applications built on Esri’s ArcGIS®. These solutions enable customers to deliver robust geospatial applications and high-quality user experiences to millions of end users worldwide.

A Free Opportunity to Explore Item Manager

Organizations interested in improving their ArcGIS Online management practices can explore VertiGIS Studio Item Manager at no cost. The product is currently available as a free-to-use tool. To try it, navigate to VertiGIS Studio, scroll to the Item Manager section, and launch the application directly.

For GIS administrators preparing for migration, auditing content libraries, or improving operational governance, tools that centralize and simplify item management can significantly reduce risk while preserving system stability.