Data visualisation & reporting

Integrating SAS with Microsoft Azure

Many organisations rely on SAS as a trusted engine for analytics, reporting and modelling. At the same time, business users increasingly expect the modern flexibility of Microsoft Fabric and Azure Databricks. They want interactive dashboards, faster access to insights and a unified view across teams. This creates a gap between what the organisation already depends on and what the business now requires.

By integrating SAS with Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, organisations gain the best of both worlds: a governed analytics engine on one side and a streamlined approach that minimises migration investment and accelerates change adoption on the other.

The challenge

SAS remains a powerful platform for processing and modelling, yet it was not built for today’s expectations around real time insights, cloud scalability and self service analytics. As a result, organisations end up switching between a central data warehouse (SAS DI) and end-user compute (SAS EG), manually exporting data and recreating reports. This leads to inconsistent versions, slow refresh cycles and a clear divide between technical teams and business users.

The challenge is not choosing one platform over the other. It is creating a landscape where they reinforce each other.

The solution

LACO helps organisations build a seamless bridge between SAS, Databricks and Microsoft Fabric.

The journey begins with a thorough scan of the existing SAS environment to understand dependencies, data sources and reporting processes.
Once there is clarity, we design an hybrid architecture where SAS outputs land securely and automatically in Databricks and Microsoft Fabric as certified datasets. These datasets follow shared governance and metadata principles so that access rules, terminology and lineage remain consistent across platforms.
We then automate the data flows to ensure that business users always work with up to date information. Manual exports disappear and data refreshes run on predictable schedules. Throughout this process, analysts and business users receive practical training so they can explore SAS outputs in Power BI with confidence.

The (gradual) transition becomes smooth, governed and supported by clear communication.

Results

The organisation gains one connected data landscape instead of two separate tools.

SAS continues to provide the analytical strength and validated outputs that teams rely on, while Power BI and Synapse deliver the flexibility and speed business users expect. Duplicate work disappears because data is prepared once and reused across the entire ecosystem. Reports refresh faster, users adopt the new environment more easily and IT teams spend far less time supporting manual tasks.

Most importantly, insights become both governed and accessible. Business users explore information in real time without recreating models or manipulating data manually, and leadership gains a trusted, consistent and audit ready view of the organisation. By connecting SAS with Microsoft’s cloud platform organisations modernise without replacing what still works and create a future ready foundation for analytics, AI and decision making.

Want to connect SAS and Microsoft Azure in a single data landscape?

We help you build the bridge — safely, efficiently and at your own pace.

Keep the strength of SAS. Add the flexibility of Microsoft Azure. And bring everyone onto the same page.

Let us talk about your integration roadmap

ESG reporting with solid data governance

ESG reporting has entered a new era. With CSRD and ESRS, organisations are now required to treat sustainability information with the same level of rigour, traceability and reliability as financial data. This shift demands more than templates or new reporting tools. It requires a strong data foundation, clear ownership and a governance model that unites people and processes across the organisation.

For many organisations, this exposes long-standing weaknesses. ESG data is often fragmented, inconsistent and managed through spreadsheets or informal processes. Metrics do not align, definitions vary by team and nobody fully owns the quality or the outcome.

ESG reporting only becomes credible when the data behind it is governed, repeatable and trusted. That is where LACO makes the difference.

The challenge

ESG reporting is no longer optional. Under CSRD and ESRS, organisations must report on more than eighty indicators that cover environmental, social and governance themes. Each of these indicators must be reliable, audited and traceable back to its source.

However, most organisations are not ready for this level of scrutiny. ESG data is scattered across HR, finance, procurement, operations and sustainability teams. Each department works with different definitions, different formats and different processes. Key metrics live in silos, ownership is unclear and reporting relies heavily on manual, error-prone Excel files.

Without proper governance, ESG becomes chaotic. Indicators conflict, data lineage is missing, validation does not happen and engagement stays low because teams see ESG as administrative work rather than an essential part of business strategy.

The challenge is not the regulation itself. It is the lack of a stable, governed data foundation that can support consistent and meaningful ESG reporting.

The solution

LACO helps organisations build ESG reporting that is credible, consistent and sustainable by focusing first on governance, ownership and structure. Technology only becomes relevant once these foundations exist.

We begin by clarifying scope and responsibility. Together with internal teams, we map the CSRD obligations and define clear ownership for every ESG data domain. This gives structure to input, validation and review.
Next, we design a practical ESG data framework based on LACO’s expertise in data strategy. This model brings together existing systems, manual sources and business rules into one logical structure that aligns reporting requirements with organisational goals.
Once governance and definitions are in place, we standardise and automate data flows within a modern data architecture. Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Azure or Databricks can be used as part of this foundation, but it is never the starting point. The structure follows the governance principles, not the other way around.
Throughout the process, we work on adoption. Sustainable ESG reporting depends on people who trust the data and understand their role. LACO’s change management practice supports communication, collaboration and the training of data stewards so that the process becomes part of daily operations.
Finally, ESG frameworks are refined over time through continuous improvement sessions, ensuring that the organisation evolves with new indicators, regulatory changes and internal expectations.

Results

With governance, ownership and adoption in place, ESG reporting becomes a reliable and repeatable process. The organisation moves from fragmented and manual work to a structured system where data quality is high and reporting is audit ready.

Teams work with aligned definitions and shared responsibility instead of isolated spreadsheets. Manual effort decreases as data flows become standardised and automated.

Most importantly, ESG transforms from a compliance obligation into a strategic capability. Trusted indicators support decision making, non-financial insights gain credibility and leadership can act on clear, consistent and validated information.

The organisation becomes ready for both current and future reporting requirements, with a flexible ESG data system that grows as regulations evolve.

Ready to make ESG reporting a business strength?

LACO helps you build ESG frameworks that are credible today and flexible enough for tomorrow. From first steps to full automation, we make ESG reporting practical, trusted and manageable.

Get in touch!

Integrating SAS with Microsoft Azure

The challenge

The solution

Results

Want to connect SAS and Microsoft Azure in a single data landscape?

ESG reporting with solid data governance

The challenge

The solution

Results

Ready to make ESG reporting a business strength?

Our expertise

Let’s talk