In this post I will compare the two ArcGIS Desktop applications: ArcMap & ArcGIS Pro. There is a big discussion around this for the last 2-3 years, so I will try to give a comparison matrix to be very fast and straightforward.
The most important comment I believe is that according to ESRI documentation, ArcGIS Pro will eventually replace ArcMap. ESRI will continue to support and maintain ArcMap. There are still some capabilities of ArcMap that are not yet in ArcGIS Pro, so some ArcGIS Desktop users will be using both ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap till Pro has everything you need to fully support your work.
While Esri has moved most of its development efforts to ArcGIS Pro, ESRI will continue to provide support and minor bug fixes in ArcMap for a long time (you can find the ArcMap Product Life Cycle on the Esri website).
Comparison Matrix
ArcMap vs ArcGIS Pro Matrix
FUTURE IN ARCGIS DESKTOP TECHNOLOGY
It is worth it to spend some time and read the Esri User Conference 2018 Q&A (check here). Find below what it is mentioned in the sub-section titled as “What is the future of the ArcGIS Desktop technology?”
[…] Over the last several years, we have been migrating the capabilities of ArcMap into ArcGIS Pro, and with the recent 2.2 release, most of the commonly used capabilities have been implemented in ArcGIS Pro. Over the next year, we expect ArcGIS Pro to provide virtually all the commonly used capabilities found in ArcMap.
[…] ArcGIS Pro represents a major enhancement in capabilities for our users because it is fully integrated into the ArcGIS platform and the Web GIS pattern of working on and with web layers, web maps, and web scenes. This means that in common workflows where a user generates a high-quality map or 3D visualization, he or she can author a 2D or 3D map and share it to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise to make it immediately available as web maps for other users in their organization.
ArcGIS Pro also has a new and modern user interface, 2D and 3D views, multi-threaded geoprocessing, support for multiple layouts, and many of the features and functions requested by users for many years. ArcGIS Pro can also be easily virtualized in cloud environments. Currently, over 12% of ArcGIS Pro users have deployed it in this manner. Esri is working on new innovations in ArcGIS Pro in the “connected desktop” and the services architecture, including many apps that complement and extend the desktop environment and capabilities of our users.
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