The Smith Family – a national, independent Australian nonprofit – believes that supporting children’s learning is the best way to help break the cycle of poverty. It also believes in the importance of innovation to support its goal, starting with data modernization.

The Smith Family recognized that its legacy on-premise Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) lacked the scalability, accessibility and security that it needed to expand its reach. To kick off a comprehensive digital transformation, it developed a Microsoft-first cloud strategy that will help create new ways to reach more children in need. A new Microsoft Azure cloud platform would unlock data-driven decision-making capabilities and provide operational efficiency. It needed a trusted adviser to help guide the migration and share best practices. Thanks to our expertise both with the Microsoft cloud and the nonprofit sector – through our Tech for Social Good program – it partnered with Avanade.

This project began with a short discovery phase, during which The Smith Family worked closely with us to build out its Azure migration strategy. Shortly afterward, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, requiring the implementation to be completed virtually using collaboration tools that included Microsoft Teams. Using our cloud experience, we provisioned the Azure environment with proprietary Avanade tools, collectively known as “Avanade Assets”. Our experts also provided guidance to ensure a successful and secure migration.

This solution has laid a foundation for more ways to enhance The Smith Family’s ability to support disadvantaged children across Australia and provide a real human impact. With a data platform that is secure, scalable and accessible in the cloud, the organization will be able to better support volunteers, engage with donors, and understand patterns in the way people donate that will aid in fundraising initiatives. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven the importance of operational flexibility and resilience, and the cloud provides both.