Case study · Workskil Australia
Workskil Australia: migrating to Microsoft Fabric for cost optimisation and AI readiness
Comprehensive data platform migration enabling scalability, cost efficiency and future AI capabilities.
Helped cut Synapse costs by around $60k a year, close audit gaps, and migrate 100+ Power BI assets to a governed Microsoft Fabric platform ready for AI implementation.
- ~$60kannual Synapse cost reduction
- 100+Power BI assets migrated to Microsoft Fabric
- AI-readygoverned Microsoft Fabric foundation
- 27+source systems with automated ingestion and orchestration
About Workskil Australia
Workskil Australia is a leading not-for-profit registered training organisation providing apprenticeships, traineeships and workforce development programs across multiple industries. With a mission to create pathways to employment and career success, Workskil serves thousands of learners and employers throughout Australia.
Operating in a highly regulated environment, Workskil requires robust data management, compliance reporting and analytics capabilities to deliver quality training outcomes while maintaining cost efficiency as a not-for-profit organisation.
The challenge
Workskil Australia was operating on an ageing Azure Synapse Analytics platform that presented several critical challenges.
- High operational costs: dedicated SQL pools running 24/7 were generating significant ongoing expenses that strained the not-for-profit's budget.
- Limited scalability: the platform struggled to handle growing data volumes and complex analytical workloads efficiently.
- Technical debt: legacy architecture and outdated practices made it difficult to implement modern data engineering best practices.
- Compliance complexity: manual processes for managing sensitive student and employer data increased risk and administrative overhead.
- AI readiness gap: the existing infrastructure was not positioned to leverage emerging AI and machine learning capabilities for predictive analytics and automation.
The nexwave solution
nexwave designed and executed a comprehensive migration to Microsoft Fabric, transforming Workskil's data platform into a modern, cost-effective and AI-ready solution.
Platform migration and modernisation
- Migrated from Azure Synapse dedicated SQL pools to Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse architecture.
- Implemented medallion architecture (Bronze, Silver, Gold) for structured data management.
- Rebuilt data pipelines using Fabric Data Factory and Dataflow Gen2.
- Established automated ingestion from source systems including student management, learning platforms and human resources systems.
Cost optimisation strategy
- Eliminated expensive dedicated SQL pools in favour of serverless compute.
- Implemented intelligent caching and query optimisation.
- Established usage monitoring and cost governance frameworks.
- Reduced licensing costs by consolidating to the Fabric capacity model.
Security and compliance enhancement
- Implemented comprehensive row level security and column level security across the migrated Power BI reports.
- Established a data governance framework with Microsoft Purview integration.
- Created audit trails and compliance reporting capabilities.
- Implemented secure data sharing with external partners.
AI and analytics readiness
- Established the foundation for Microsoft Copilot integration and generative AI capabilities through Fabric AI services.
- Prepared data structures for machine learning and predictive analytics.
- Created semantic models optimised for AI powered insights.
- Enabled real-time analytics capabilities for operational intelligence.
Team enablement and change management
- Delivered hands-on training for data engineers and analysts.
- Created comprehensive documentation and best practice guidelines.
- Established DevOps practices for continuous deployment.
- Provided ongoing support during the transition period.
Results and impact
Cost savings
- Annual savings from eliminating Azure Synapse licensing.
- Reduced compute costs through serverless architecture.
- Lower administrative overhead with a simplified platform.
Technical excellence
- Zero data loss during migration.
- Improved query performance and user experience.
- Enhanced data quality and governance.
Security and compliance
- Comprehensive security controls implemented.
- Audit capabilities for regulatory compliance.
- Protected sensitive student and employer data.
Future capabilities
- A platform ready for AI and Microsoft Copilot integration.
- Scalable architecture for future growth.
- A modern data stack enabling innovation.
“It never felt like working with a traditional delivery partner. nexwave acted as a strategic advisor and change agent.”
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