Article

Modernizing the data estate with the Microsoft Data Platform

November 04, 2021
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Digital transformation Managed cloud and IT
Digital evolution Microsoft Azure Digital & data innovation Microsoft

Organizations collect data in every function, from product development and manufacturing to operations, sales and customer experience. Yet most never realize the full potential of that bounty because they struggle to convert it into actionable insights.

Optimizing your data for advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) is essential to successful digital transformation. Modernizing the data estate on the Microsoft Data Platform can help.

Learn more about leveraging emerging technology such as artificial intelligence with RSM’s Strategy and Management Consulting services

Drowning in data?

For most middle market companies, the challenge isn’t a shortage of data; it’s how best to benefit from the mountains of data they collect. Information from multiple sources typically resides in various formats including Excel, ERPCRM, industry-specific apps, inventory management, databases, emails, social media and many more. A modern data and analytics platform can unite data from across your organization, making it discoverable, trustworthy, understandable and trackable no matter its volume, format or source.

The key to modernizing the data estate is intelligent data analytics capabilities that can reveal new information for better-informed forecasting, planning, process improvement and more. The Microsoft Data Platform offers all the tools you need: Azure databases, secure development tools and Azure AI. 

Easily migrate to the cloud with Azure databases

Migrating data to the cloud can be a complex and time-consuming process. Azure databases make it easier to migrate to the cloud without changing code, so you can unlock valuable insights and make accurate predictions more quickly. While some cloud platforms require an all-or-nothing approach, Azure lets you run a hybrid environment so you can leverage both your existing assets and Azure’s functionality.

Once your data is in the cloud, Azure’s databases simplify database management by automating tasks such as configuring and managing high availability, disaster recovery, backups and data replication across regions. Your IT team can focus on application development instead of database management, saving time and resources for more strategic work while reducing complexity and cost. 

Accelerate development with Azure Machine Learning

In today’s competitive environment, you can’t wait months to develop and launch new applications. Azure Machine Learning gives everyone from business users to developers and data scientists the tools they need to accelerate time to market and launch new solutions in days, rather than months.

Azure makes machine learning available to nearly anyone no matter their skill level. Business users can employ visual drag-and-drop and zero-code automated models.

On the other hand, data scientists and developers will find a robust set of tools to help them develop full models and algorithms; train and deploy machine learning models at scale; and bring diverse teams together to collaborate. 

Enable data-driven decisions with Azure AI

AI is native to the Microsoft data platform, which means you can unlock insights faster from all your data, both on-premises and in the cloud. It becomes possible to combine enterprise data with third-party datasets to make data-driven decisions and improve the customer experience. Azure AI works with non-Microsoft solutions, so you can easily integrate the product of your choosing when developing solutions.

As a scalable, built-in solution, Azure can reduce the cost, complexity and security risks of multiple solutions. With fewer resources required to maintain infrastructure, your team can focus on developing solutions instead of managing servers and disk space. Finally, it becomes possible to deploy new functionality with minimal, if any, downtime. 

Unleash the full potential of your data with Azure

Successful companies don’t just collect data; they learn from and apply it. Modernizing the data estate can uncover new ways to optimize business processes, save time and money, enhance the customer experience and improve organizational agility.

By arming middle market companies with enterprise capabilities that might otherwise be out of reach, Azure can help unleash your data’s full potential.

For best results, companies contemplating Azure should enlist an experienced provider to streamline implementation. As an established Microsoft partner, RSM has extensive experience implementing Azure for clients in a wide range of industries. We can guide you through every step of the process, creating a plan for modernizing your data estate that supports your business goals and can evolve with your organization.