Oh, you thought this was a baseball themed blog? Kidding...
DynamicsDad is back (took a Tuesday off), ready to take you on another wild ride through the world of D365. Today, we’re diving into the magical realm of the Common Data Model (CDM) and how it’s like the MVP of exporting data from D365 to Azure Data Lake.
Buckle up, because we're about to hit a data home run! Yes, the baseball puns don't stop.
What’s CDM? A Baseball Analogy
Imagine you're at a baseball game. You've got your favorite team, the D365 Dynamos, playing against the Azure Aces. You’re rooting for the Dynamos, but in order to win, they need a solid strategy to get the ball (data) from their home base (D365) to the outfield (Azure Data Lake) where it can be put to good use. Spoiler alert, they need to hit the ball. Stay with me....
Enter the CDM. Think of it as the star player, the Mike Trout of your team. Think of this as Mike Trout in his prime on year 1 of his new contract and not this year. Just like Mike can hit that ball with precision and power, the CDM ensures your data is transferred accurately and efficiently. It's not just about power; it's about finesse and ensuring every base is covered.
Step Up to the Plate: CDM’s Role
The Perfect Swing (Data Consistency): CDM standardizes your data like a pro. It's the player who hits the ball in just the right way every time, ensuring it lands where it needs to. No wild pitches or foul balls here – just clean, consistent hits.
Covering All the Bases (Data Integration): With CDM, your data isn't just thrown randomly into the Azure outfield. It covers all the bases, integrating seamlessly. Whether it's finance data, manufacturing metrics, or warehousing wonders, CDM makes sure every piece of data is ready for play.
Scouting Report (Data Understanding): Just as a good scout knows the strengths and weaknesses of players, CDM provides a clear understanding of your data. It uses a shared data language, making it easier to interpret and use effectively once it’s in the Azure Data Lake.
Smooth Double Play (Data Transformation): The CDM can turn a tricky situation into a double play. It transforms your data to fit the format Azure Data Lake prefers, making sure the transition is as smooth as a well-executed double play.
Grand Slam Benefits
*Disclaimer, this sounds sales-y but is really calling out the business benefits to translate to your business partners. By using CDM to export data from D365 to Azure Data Lake, you’re setting your team up for a grand slam. Here’s why:
Enhanced Data Accessibility: Just like a well-hit ball is easier to field, well-structured data is easier to access and analyze.
Improved Data Quality: No more errors or inconsistencies – your data is as clean as a perfectly mowed outfield.
Faster Time to Insight: With data ready for analysis, you can make decisions as quickly as a fastball reaches the catcher's mitt.
Unified Data Strategy: Like a well-coached team, your data strategy is cohesive and effective, ready to take on any challenge.
Getting Data from D365 F&O and Salesforce to a BI Tool
One effective strategy for integrating data from both D365 F&O and Salesforce into a BI tool involves leveraging the Common Data Model (CDM). Start by extracting data from both D365 F&O and Salesforce into the Azure Data Lake using CDM. This ensures that the data from both sources is standardized and unified. Once in the Azure Data Lake, utilize Azure Data Factory to orchestrate the data flow and prepare it for analysis. Finally, connect your preferred BI tool (such as Power BI) to the Azure Data Lake. This seamless integration not only consolidates your data but also allows for rich, cross-functional insights, empowering you to make data-driven decisions with ease.
Steps for those who like that instead of paragraphs of text:
D365 F&O and Salesforce: Source data from both D365 F&O and Salesforce.
Extract Data: Extract the data from both sources.
CDM: Utilize the Common Data Model to standardize and unify the data.
Azure Data Lake: Load the standardized data into the Azure Data Lake.
Azure Data Factory: Use Azure Data Factory to orchestrate the data flow and prepare it for analysis.
Dad Joke Dugout (told you the baseball puns wouldn't stop)
Why don't baseball players get arrested?
Because they always make it home!
Play ball!
DynamicsDad
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