Copy data from sharepoint list to azure SQL

[Syndicate_Admin]

Hi all,

I have a requirement where client wants to migrate all data from several SharePoint lists to azure SQL. We have set up the azure SQL database (there are no tables created yet). I found several articles on achieving it using dataflows, azure data factory and power automate. What would be the best to accomplish it? 

** NOTE: One SharePoint  list has around 3 lakhs records.

[larsheinemann · Accepted solution]

1. Dataflows in Power BI:

   • Pros:
     • Integrated with Power BI, making it suitable if you are already using Power BI for your analytics.
     • Can transform data using Power Query, which provides a user-friendly interface for data transformation.
   • Cons:
     • More suited for analytical scenarios rather than straightforward data migration.
     • Less scalable compared to Azure Data Factory.

2. Azure Data Factory (ADF):

   • Pros:
     • Highly scalable and designed for complex ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.
     • Provides more granular control over the data integration process.
     • Supports fault tolerance, monitoring, and logging.
     • Can handle large volumes of data and complex transformations.
   • Cons:
     • Might be overkill for simple, one-time migrations.
     • Has a steeper learning curve.

3. Power Automate:

   • Pros:
     • User-friendly interface with a low-code environment.
     • Good for real-time or near-real-time data integration scenarios.
     • Can trigger flows based on SharePoint list events.
   • Cons:
     • Not designed for large scale ETL processes.
     • May encounter limitations with data volume and execution frequency.

Recommendation:

• If this is a one-time migration and you're looking for the simplest solution, Power Automate might be the easiest way to go, especially if you don't have any complex transformations.

• If you anticipate regular data migrations in the future, or if the data volume is large, or if there's a need for complex transformations, Azure Data Factory would be a more robust choice. ADF is especially powerful for setting up repeatable, scalable, and complex ETL processes.

• Dataflows would be a middle ground, especially if you're already using Power BI and need to transform the data for analytics purposes.