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 modernisation.

The Smith Family recognised 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.

Find out more about how we’re empowering nonprofits through digital technology.