Workskil Australia: Migrating to Microsoft Fabric for Cost Optimization and AI Readiness
Comprehensive data platform migration enabling scalability, cost efficiency, and future AI capabilities
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 organization.
The Challenge
Workskil Australia was operating on an aging 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- •Technical debt: Legacy architecture and outdated practices made it difficult to implement modern data engineering best practices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.
1. Platform Migration & Modernization
- • Migrated from 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 27+ source systems including student management, learning platforms, and HR systems
2. Cost Optimization Strategy
- • Eliminated expensive dedicated SQL pools in favor of serverless compute
- • Implemented intelligent caching and query optimization
- • Established usage monitoring and cost governance frameworks
- • Reduced licensing costs by consolidating to Fabric capacity model
3. Security & Compliance Enhancement
- • Implemented comprehensive row-level security (RLS) and column-level security (CLS) across 100+ Power BI reports
- • Established data governance framework with Microsoft Purview integration
- • Created audit trails and compliance reporting capabilities
- • Implemented secure data sharing with external partners
4. AI & Analytics Readiness
- • Established foundation for Copilot integration and generative AI capabilities through Fabric AI Services
- • Prepared data structures for machine learning and predictive analytics
- • Created semantic models optimized for AI-powered insights
- • Enabled real-time analytics capabilities for operational intelligence
5. Team Enablement & 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 transition period
At a glance
$60K/yr
Synapse licensing cost removed
27+
Pipelines
Automated ingestion & orchestration
100+
assets
Power BI reports migrated to Fabric
AI-ready
Platform prepared for Copilot & GenAI
Results & Impact
Cost Savings
- • $60,000+ annual savings from eliminating Synapse licensing
- • Reduced compute costs through serverless architecture
- • Lower administrative overhead with simplified platform
Technical Excellence
- • Zero data loss during migration
- • Improved query performance and user experience
- • Enhanced data quality and governance
Security & Compliance
- • Comprehensive security controls implemented
- • Audit capabilities for regulatory compliance
- • Protected sensitive student and employer data
Future Capabilities
- • Platform ready for AI and Copilot integration
- • Scalable architecture for future growth
- • Modern data stack enabling innovation
"nexwave's focus on enablement alongside education was a clear differentiator - they didn't just deliver solutions, they helped our team truly understand the principles of Microsoft Fabric and AI. That knowledge transfer built the confidence and capability we needed to take ownership of our data transformation. Throughout the engagement, it never felt like working with a traditional delivery partner; nexwave acted as a strategic advisor and change agent, ready to tackle any challenge while keeping Workskil firmly in the driver's seat."
Glen Blundell
Chief Information Officer, Workskil Australia
Technologies & Services
Microsoft Fabric
Power BI
Azure Data Factory
Microsoft Purview
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