ESRI don't have it
Current ESRI world does not have a existing tool allow you to do OMNI Search, search everything all in one place, 1 click.
Current ESRI search widget does allow you search multiple layers and multiple sources. But you have to choose which layer you want to search for, or you have to first select the source that you want to search against.
Here the problem comes, assuming I am a public user, I just get a project number, I know I want to search a project number, but I don't know which layer ( 30+ layers) should I search on? I don't know which source should I use for search. Current caltrans project map has so complex search form as see below picture, however it can not even complete this simplest request.
The more is less, the less is more, isn't ?
current caltrans CA California department of transportation
project map https://odp.dot.ca.gov/sb1/
Caltrans program manager first had the idea, he want user go here, search what they want and get what they want.
That is the simplest request, get what you want from a single place, single button, single click.
Simple is beauty
I like this idea, this is very unique design, stands out from all current ESRI product.
Current ESRI off the shelf product, out of box product, does not allow you to do omni search. You can only configure ESRI product to search by layers or by sources. The drawback is obvious as I stated before, user don't know which source, which layer to choose.
ESRI don't have such product, I never see such things before. Not even heard of it. No one think about it. You have to do it on your own, first time, to make it very unique nature, obviously it will not be "another" ESRI product.
Do you want to see a sample of ordinary ESRI product?
That has been used by all 3300 county, 30k cities, 50 states, 11 federal agencies, it is ESRI's off the shelf product "dashboard". Only difference is color, widget position, chart position, don't believe it? just search keyword "dashboard" on this website, you will see it. They all looks like siblings.
Users are tired of seeing everybody wearing the same uniform.
Caltrans program manager didn't want it to be "another" uniform
Sometimes, uniform does not fit your body well, but the good things is uniform is low cost, 0 cost, you can setup an uniform in 10 minutes. Don't believe it? Search for my previous post 'how to setup experience builder in 10 minutes for idiot'. Or search "dashboard" on this website to learn how to quickly setup a dashboard in less than 30 minutes.
Sometimes, you want a unique design specially fits your unique request.