How ready are you for the OS NGD transition? Start with these 3 questions.

The Ordnance Survey National Geographic Database (OS NGD) is a complete redesign of how geospatial information is structured, accessed, and applied. For organisations that use OS data, the five-year window before the retirement of products like MasterMap Topography means you need to start preparing for OS NGD now.

At miso, we’re working with teams across sectors to assess and prepare for what’s coming. It’s complex work that needs a clear starting point, which in our experience, begins with three fundamental questions.

Question 1: What OS data do you currently hold?

You can’t plan a successful transition without understanding your existing OS data holdings. This means more than pulling together a list of datasets; you need a comprehensive audit of how OS data is used across your organisation.

Think about these questions…

• Which datasets are in use and where are they stored?
• Who owns them, and who depends on them?
• How are they accessed, and how frequently?
• What licensing arrangements are in place?
• What processes and workflows rely on this data?

This audit process always takes far more time than expected and often uncovers surprisingly complicated systems and structures that you didn’t know existed.

Question 2: What’s new and different in OS NGD?

OS NGD is not a like-for-like replacement for legacy products. To understand what this means for your organisation, you need to explore…

• How will you access data?
• What are the new features?
• What’s OS NGD’s schema?
• What are the licensing options?

To get a head start in answering these questions you should download and review the OS NGD sample data.

Question 3: What’s the gap between your current estate and OS NGD?

You’ve mapped what you have and explored what OS NGD offers, and now you need to assess the gap between them. This isn’t just about data mismatches, though they’re important, you need to consider everything that needs to change to make the transition work.

You need to ask…

• Where are your biggest mismatches?
• What’s your technical readiness gap?
• What are your operational gaps?
• What’s the commercial gap?
• What’s your timeline gap?

These three questions will give you a clear picture of where you stand, but answering them can be tricky and it’s just the beginning of the transition.

Make your OS NGD transition less overwhelming.

Most organisations find there’s significant work to do.  However, the operational advantages you’ll get from switching to OS NGD are huge.

Our clients have found that expert third-party help accelerates progress and delivers results much faster. Having the transition professionally facilitated and architected ensures you unlock genuine operational advantages rather than just replacing old systems.

As an Ordnance Survey Strategic Partner, we’ve already guided organisations through successful NGD transitions. We know exactly what works, what fails, and how to sidestep the costly mistakes that derail these projects.

We’re offering free OS data estate reviews where we apply this expertise to your specific situation. You’ll walk away with clarity on your transition and actionable next steps. Talk to us and book your place now.