Info-Tech Research Group has published a blueprint arguing utilities should manage geographic information systems as a strategic asset for grid modernization, not treat them as a basic mapping tool. The Arlington, Virginia-based research and advisory firm released Develop a Business-Aligned GIS Strategy for Utilities on July 8, 2026, laying out a four-phase framework for closing the gap between a utility's current and target GIS maturity.
Utilities across the power sector are adopting more technology that depends on accurate location data, including AI, IoT, drones, smart meters, 3D modeling and field mobility. Info-Tech says many utilities still have not lined up their GIS capabilities with business priorities, which limits the value they get from that data.
GIS, short for geographic information systems, is the software utilities use to map and manage the physical location of poles, lines, pipes and similar assets. "GIS can no longer be treated as a back-office mapping function for utilities," said Bevin Chau, research director at Info-Tech Research Group.
Five gaps holding utilities back
Info-Tech's blueprint names five recurring obstacles: geospatial data scattered across separate systems, unclear ownership of GIS strategy and funding, thin GIS staffing and skills, inconsistent data and process standards, and governance that is either too centralized or too decentralized to support collaboration across teams.
A four-phase roadmap
The framework moves utilities through four stages. First, GIS managers, analysts and department leads assess current GIS maturity against target-state goals across six themes, from governance to workforce skills. Second, those gaps get translated into concrete initiatives. Third, utilities lay down foundational governance structures and use-case business cases. Fourth, initiatives are ranked by value, effort, feasibility and organizational need, then assigned owners and timelines.
A clear roadmap, Chau said, "helps utilities sequence investments, strengthen accountability, and make GIS a shared capability." Info-Tech built two companion tools alongside the blueprint: one for assessing current and target GIS maturity, and one for turning prioritized initiatives into a timebound roadmap.
