Embracing a proactive approach not only minimizes disruptions but also fosters a culture of adaptability within teams. It's essential to have contingency plans ready, such as backup workflows and comprehensive training on the new features. Frequent communication with the software provider can also help identify potential issues early. By establishing a feedback loop within the team, you can continuously refine processes and enhance the overall effectiveness of your GIS operations. Remember, every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and improvement in our workflows!

Software updates breaking workflows? Seen it too many times. The first step is containment—isolating a test environment to see what’s actually changed before it wreaks havoc on live operations. Next, automate the fixes—scripting out repetitive adjustments rather than manually untangling the mess. If key functions are broken, version rollback is always Plan B while working on long-term adaptation. Training materials? They get updated after the real fixes are in place—no point in teaching workarounds that won’t last. And support? Sure, but I’d rather reverse-engineer the issue than sit in a queue waiting for an answer I probably already know. Adaptability isn’t about reacting, it’s about designing workflows that don’t break in the first place

Consistently track the quarterly system releases and their impact on the system. Always verify the source of information in the system with the release tag and monitor any changes. Communicate with dependent service providers to obtain their annual/quarterly release cycles for monitoring purposes. If any impact occurs due to a release, understand the implications and mitigate the risk by creating and executing a risk mitigation plan to avoid affecting other systems.