(Updated: Oct 9, 2024 – This article is frequently updated to provide the most up–to–date information. Users are encouraged to revisit this blog article as it will continue to be updated with detailed transition information as it becomes available.)
ArcGIS Community Analyst is being deprecated entirely, including ArcGIS Community Analyst’s inclusion in ArcGIS Hub Premium subscriptions. For ArcGIS Hub customers, please view the ArcGIS Hub Premium subscription section.
The final release of Community Analyst will align with the ArcGIS Online November 2024 update. Community Analyst will remain accessible to users until their first Community Analyst license term end date after the migration period begins on December 1, 2024.
Frequently Asked Topics:
- Community Analyst Deprecation
- Migration to Business Analyst Web App
- Community Analyst vs. Business Analyst Functionality and Features
- Community Analyst and Business Analyst Licensing
- ArcGIS Hub Premium and American Planning Association (APA) Customers
- Choosing a Business Analyst Web App Product
- Business Analyst Web App Product Feature Comparison
Community Analyst Deprecation
Why is Community Analyst being retired?
Community Analyst was originally designed as a community intelligence tool specifically for government agencies, policy makers, and civic organizations to better understand communities for policy planning and decision-making purposes. When Community Analyst was introduced fourteen years ago, it contained different data and workflows from ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App, but over time, the data and capabilities in both products have advanced and are now redundant. Going forward, Esri will focus on development and innovation in Business Analyst products.
When is the last release for Community Analyst?
The final release of Community Analyst will coincide with the ArcGIS Online November 2024 update. This will be the last release before the migration period begins on December 1, 2024, and it will include important functionality to automatically display project content from Community Analyst in both Business Analyst Web App products.
Migration to Business Analyst Web App
What is the recommended transition and next step?
Customers should migrate to either Business Analyst Web App Advanced or Standard starting December 1, 2024. During this migration period, existing customers will receive renewal notices with incentivized pricing containing Business Analyst Web App Advanced. User access to Community Analyst will be terminated upon the customer’s license term end date. Customers will also have the option to move to Business Analyst Web App Standard.
Once a Business Analyst license is purchased, the ArcGIS Online subscription administrator will need to assign the Business Analyst license to a user. Users can expect to have all project content from Community Analyst accessible in their Business Analyst Web App product of choice.
Read this blog article to learn how to assign Business Analyst licenses to users in your ArcGIS Online organization.
What is the earliest date I can migrate from Community Analyst to Business Analyst Web App Advanced or Standard? Can I purchase a Business Analyst Web App license before the migration window begins?
The migration period begins on December 1, 2024. The Business Analyst team is working to ensure a smooth transition to Business Analyst Web App, in that project content from Community Analyst will be automatically displayed in both Business Analyst Web App products. All software enhancements will be completed by November 2024.
For existing customers who would like to migrate prior to December 1, 2024, it is important to note that Community Analyst project content will not appear in Business Analyst Web App Advanced nor Standard. Also, renewal notices will not contain the incentive pricing for Business Analyst Web App Advanced until December 1, 2024. We recommend waiting until the migration period begins.
Community Analyst vs. Business Analyst Functionality and Features
Will all the functionality in Community Analyst be available in Business Analyst Web App?
All functionality in Community Analyst is available in Business Analyst Web App Advanced. There is also additional Advanced functionality, such as the inclusion of Business Analyst Mobile App, hexagons as a mapping option, and Business Analyst Assistant.
Please keep in mind that Business Analyst Web App Advanced and Business Analyst Web App Standard differ in terms of capabilities and workflows. Depending on budgetary and functionality requirements, customers have the option to move to Business Analyst Web App Standard. We will continue to release exciting features in our upcoming releases for both Business Analyst Web App products.
What will happen to all my saved project content in Community Analyst?
The Business Analyst team is working to ensure a smooth transition to Business Analyst Web App, in that project content from Community Analyst will be automatically displayed in both Business Analyst Web App products by November 2024. Community Analyst project content will be visible in both Business Analyst Web App products on December 1, 2024, accessible once a license is purchased and assigned. The Community Analyst projects will be clearly differentiated from Business Analyst projects.
What will be the impact of infographics exported as HTML and hosted on ArcGIS Hub sites or other websites?
Infographics exported as HTML and hosted on websites will continue to work, and the Community Analyst deprecation will have no impact. If users wish to update the infographic or data once the Community Analyst license has expired, users may do so in Business Analyst Web App Advanced.
What will happen to my custom infographics, custom data, and analysis results? Will they be migrated to Business Analyst Web App Advanced and Standard?
If users choose to migrate to Business Analyst Web App Advanced, all custom infographics, custom data, and advanced analysis results will be migrated to Business Analyst Web App Advanced. Users can continue to access, customize, and add additional data to existing infographic templates in Business Analyst Web App Advanced. Saved Suitability Analysis layers can continue to be opened, and users can continue to make edits.
If users choose to migrate to Business Analyst Web App Standard, previously set up custom data is still available in the data browser; however, the data cannot be updated or edited. Customized reports and infographics can be run; however, there will no longer be editing capabilities. Threshold areas (sites) will be available to be added to a map, but the Threshold Areas workflow is unavailable. Saved Suitability Analysis layers cannot be opened.
Standard Infographics and Gallery Infographics (if enabled in app preferences) libraries will be available in both Business Analyst Web App products.
What will happen to the apps I created using the Business Analyst widget in ArcGIS Experience Builder? Will the Community Analyst deprecation have any impact?
The Community Analyst deprecation will have no impact on the apps created using the Business Analyst widget in ArcGIS Experience Builder.
Is the online data in Community Analyst, Business Analyst Web App Advanced, and Business Analyst Web App Standard the same?
The online data in Community Analyst, Business Analyst Web App Advanced, and Business Analyst Web App Standard is the same. Users will continue to have access to the most up to date global and demographics data with over 15,000 variable options, across more than 130 countries in both Business Analyst Web App products.
Community Analyst and Business Analyst Licensing
How do I decide which Business Analyst Web App product (Advanced or Standard) is best for my organization?
Community Analyst does not have an equivalent Business Analyst product in terms of exact functionality and like-pricing, so careful consideration should be taken when determining which Business Analyst Web App product to select. It is recommended to review the topics below when considering which Business Analyst Web App product is best suited.
- Required features and functionality
- Budget
- Number and types of Community Analyst and Business Analyst licenses across an organization
For additional details, view the Choosing a Business Analyst Web App product section.
Can I purchase additional licenses of Community Analyst if I am an existing Community Analyst user?
Existing customers may continue to purchase and renew Community Analyst licenses until the migration period begins on December 1, 2024. Starting on that date, no new sales of Community Analyst will be permitted, and all renewals will be quoted Business Analyst Web App Advanced. Depending on budgetary and functionality requirements, customers also have the option to migrate and purchase to Business Analyst Web App Standard. To purchase Business Analyst Web App, please reach out to Esri Customer Service (1-888-377-4575, opt 5).
ArcGIS Hub Premium and American Planning Association (APA) Customers
What will happen to the Community Analyst licenses included in my ArcGIS Hub Premium subscription?
Community Analyst is being deprecated and will no longer be provided as part of new Hub Premium subscriptions or renewals starting December 1, 2024.
- For new Hub Premium customers who purchase their subscriptions before December 1, 2024, a trial of Community Analyst (with five licenses for internal use and constituent advisement) will be included and available for use until the customer’s next license term end date.
- Existing Hub Premium customers whose subscriptions come up for renewal before December 1, 2024, may renew and maintain access to their previously included five Community Analyst licenses until their next license term end date.
For all Hub Premium customers, upon the first renewal date after December 1, 2024, if they wish to continue to use Community Analyst functionality, they will need to separately purchase and migrate to ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App Advanced or Standard as their five Community Analyst licenses will no longer be included in their subscriptions at that time. There will be incentive pricing for existing Hub Premium users (Community Analyst license holders) to migrate to Business Analyst Web App Advanced for a limited time through an approved discount after the migration period begins on December 1, 2024. Please reach out to Esri Sales (1-800-447-9778) or your dedicated Esri account manager with questions about pricing.
What is the renewal/migration process for APA members with a current Community Analyst license?
APA free-trial customers with a current Community Analyst license will follow the same process as outlined for all Community Analyst customers.
- Existing APA customers with a renewal date prior to December 1, 2024, can continue to renew their Community Analyst licenses for one additional year.
- For existing APA customers with a renewal date after December 1, 2024, the first renewal notice will include Business Analyst Web App Advanced at an incentivized pricing for a limited time.
We recommend users to migrate to Business Analyst Web App Advanced, after the migration period begins on December 1, 2024. For existing customers who would like to migrate prior to December 1, 2024, it is important to note that Community Analyst project content will not appear in Business Analyst Web App Advanced nor Standard until after the migration period begins. Also, we are offering incentive pricing for a limited period which will appear on the first renewal notice after December 1, 2024.
Choosing a Business Analyst Web App Product
As previously stated, Community Analyst does not have an equivalent Business Analyst product in terms of exact functionality and like-pricing, so careful consideration should be taken when determining which Business Analyst Web App product to select.
It is recommended to gather information on the topics below to determine which Business Analyst Web App product is best.
User Requirements
We recommend each user take an inventory of the most-used features and what features will be needed moving forward. A prioritized list should be shared with the organization’s ArcGIS Online administrator to determine which Business Analyst Web App product is best.
Below we have listed a brief description of both Business Analyst Web App products.
- Business Analyst Web App Standard
This product license comes with tools for quick analysis, maps, reports, and infographics for site analysis alongside Esri’s expansive global data. This license enables users to find optimal sites that meet their criteria for success, access to 100+ out-of-the-box infographic templates and reports, and the ability to create study areas based on rings, driving, or walking distance or walking time.
Please note that this license does not have all the analytical workflows nor the ability to create custom reports and infographics.
- Business Analyst Web App Advanced
This product license includes all the features in Business Analyst Web App Standard and Community Analyst plus additional features, such as suitability analysis, void analysis, utilizing hexagons for mapping and analysis, the ability to add custom data, as well as the ability to create custom infographics and reports to meet business or community needs. This license enables users to dive deeper to see gaps or surplus of businesses, rank sites based on variables, and customize existing infographic templates for the rest of the organization.
Please find below a quick reference chart comparing the two license levels. Note this is not a full inventory of all product features, but rather a list of features which mostly differentiate the two products. This can be used as a reference guide to compare each users’ Community Analyst prioritized feature list.
| Feature | Business Analyst Web App Standard | Business Analyst Web App Advanced |
| Define areas workflow: Find location, Select geography, and Draw Polygon | x | x |
| Create maps workflows: Color-coded maps, Smart map search, Points of interest search | x | x |
| Business Analyst Assistant: In-app AI productivity tool that guides users through workflows, assists with in-app interactive guided tours, and answers frequently asked tech support and product documentation questions | x | x |
| Ready-to-use infographics and report templates | x | x |
| Benchmark comparison reports | x | x |
| Custom data setup for addresses and geographical areas | x | x |
| Share results: PDF, Image, ArcGIS web map | x | x |
| Business Analyst Mobile App | x | x |
| A variety of online global data including business, demographic, and Points of Interest (POI) data | x | x |
| Suitability analysis: Identify the best location by ranking and scoring numerous sites that meet your specific criteria | x | |
| Void analysis: Detect voids and gaps in specific business and services, compared to another area | x | |
| Threshold areas: Create rings or drive times around a site that contain a specified amount of a variable | x | |
| Infographic and report creation and customization | x | |
| Custom data setup for customer, community, and other industry–specific data | x | |
| Hexagons for mapping and analysis | x | |
| Share results: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS StoryMaps | x |
Budget
To accommodate budgeting cycles, the Business Analyst team has been providing timely notices of the Community Analyst deprecation to users so they can plan accordingly. We understand that there are times when there is no flexibility in budgets; for that reason, Community Analyst is priced the same as Business Analyst Web App Standard.
To differentiate itself in the market, Business Analyst Web App Advanced includes leading-edge new features such as hexagons as a mapping option, Business Analyst Assistant (an in-app AI productivity tool), expansion of new datasets, and early previews for beta features. Due to the continuous evolution of Business Analyst Web App Advanced, this product is priced competitively, but higher than Community Analyst. For existing Community Analyst license holders that want to migrate to Business Analyst Web App Advanced, we are offering incentive pricing for a limited period through an approved discount which will appear on the first renewal notice after December 1, 2024.
Please visit the Business Analyst pricing page for more information and reach out to Esri Customer Service (1-888-377-4575, opt 5) or your dedicated Esri account manager with questions on pricing.
Number and Types of Licenses
If an organization has more than one license, it is recommended to consider a combination of both Business Analyst Web App Advanced and Business Analyst Web App Standard licenses.
This option would be ideal for any multi-user organization where at least one user can take advantage of the advanced features and customization capabilities of Business Analyst Web App Advanced features, allowing other users to hold the lower-priced Business Analyst Web App Standard license. All Business Analyst users can share information, infographics, and reports across the two products regardless of license type. For more information on how to collaborate across license levels in Business Analyst Web App, read this blog article.
As always, we are here to support you. If you need additional assistance, reach out to Esri Customer Service (1-888-377-4575, opt 5) or your dedicated Esri account manager with questions on pricing.
Conclusion
We understand that this change may raise questions and we are here to support you. Should you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Esri Customer Service (1-888-377-4575, opt 5) or your dedicated Esri account manager.
We value your continued partnership and appreciate your trust in Esri products. We look forward to serving you in the coming year and beyond and thank you for your continued use of ArcGIS Business Analyst.
Additional Resources
- Business Analyst product overview page
- Join our LinkedIn Business Analyst User Group
- Join our Business Analyst Esri Community
- Follow our weekly #BATipsandTricks posts on social media
- Read more Business Analyst blog articles on ArcGIS Blog
- Watch Business Analyst Web App videos
- Watch Business Analyst Mobile App videos
- Visit the Business Analyst Resources page
- Visit the Community Analyst Resources page
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