Introduction
A leading South African enterprise responsible for compliance and operational efficiency across the agricultural value chain turned to Mint Group to modernize its legacy data warehouse. The organization needed a cloud-ready solution that could unify fragmented systems, integrate with Microsoft Dynamics 365, and strengthen reporting with Power BI for both internal and external stakeholders.
The Challenge
The enterprise relied on outdated, on-premises SQL Server systems that limited scalability and slowed down analytics. With the rollout of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and Finance & Operations, a scalable and integrated solution became essential. However, the shift to modern cloud-based data management presented challenges: legacy compatibility issues, strict governance requirements, and a lack of in-house expertise with cloud technologies. These constraints made it difficult to achieve accurate, real-time insights across business units.
The Solution: Azure Synapse and Dynamics 365 Integration
Mint Group designed and implemented a modern cloud-adaptable data warehouse using Azure Synapse Analytics. By leveraging Synapse Link to Dataverse and automated pipelines, Dynamics 365 data was seamlessly ingested, transformed, and prepared for analytics. The solution also introduced a new methodology for data ingestion and transformation, reducing maintenance costs and improving development speed.
A critical part of the engagement was upskilling the client’s BI team. Through knowledge transfer and embedded best practices, the enterprise gained the skills needed to manage, maintain, and extend the new cloud-ready solution independently.
Implementation Journey
The transformation was phased to minimize disruption. The first milestone was the integration of Dynamics 365 into the BI landscape, followed by the redesign of ingestion processes for scalability and compliance. Mint Group also built a roadmap for future migration of legacy systems to Azure Synapse Data Warehouse, ensuring long-term sustainability and scalability of the solution.
The Results: Cloud Readiness and Faster Reporting
The initiative delivered measurable improvements. The migration from the legacy data warehouse to a modern, integrated system provided a streamlined foundation for advanced analytics. Reporting became faster and more reliable, supported by Power BI dashboards that offered real-time insights. The adoption of new methodologies reduced ongoing maintenance and established a foundation for full cloud migration, enabling the enterprise to adapt quickly to future needs.
Client Perspective
Business leaders emphasized that the partnership with Mint Group “drastically simplified how we handle data, making our reporting more accurate, timely, and future-ready.” The move to a cloud-first analytics approach increased confidence in decision-making and laid the groundwork for digital transformation.
Looking Ahead
With the foundation in place, the enterprise is continuing its journey by migrating remaining legacy systems and integrating additional applications, including HR data, into the new architecture. These next steps will expand the value of Azure Synapse and Power BI, ensuring the organization remains scalable, compliant, and ready to unlock the full potential of its data.
