Unified Data Architecture with Databricks Unity Catalog – Part 1
At CloudFronts Technologies, we are implementing a Unified Data Architecture powered by Databricks Unity Catalog to bring together data from multiple business systems into one governed, AI-ready platform. This solution integrates five major systems — Zoho People, Zoho Books, Business Central, Dynamics 365 CRM, and QuickBooks — using Azure Logic Apps, Blob Storage, and Databricks to build a centralized Lakehouse foundation.
Objective
To design a multi-source data architecture that supports:
– Centralized data storage via Unity Catalog.
– Automated ingestion through Azure Logic Apps.
– Dynamic data loading and transformation in Databricks.
– Future-ready integration for AI and BI analytics.
Architecture Overview
Data Flow Summary:
1. Azure Logic Apps extract data from each of the five sources via APIs.
2. Data is stored in Azure Blob Storage containers.
3. Blob containers are mounted to Databricks for unified access.
4. A dynamic Databricks notebook reads and processes data from all sources.
Each data source operates independently while following a governed and modular design, making the solution scalable and easily maintainable.
Role of Unity Catalog
Unity Catalog enables lineage, and secure access across teams. Each layer — Bronze (raw), Silver (refined), and Gold (business-ready) — is managed under Unity Catalog, ensuring clear visibility into data flow and ownership. This ensures that as data grows, governance and performance remain consistent across all environments.
Implementation Preview:
In the upcoming blog, I will demonstrate the end-to-end implementation of one Power BI report using this unified Databricks architecture. This will include connecting the gold layer dataset from Databricks to Power BI, building dynamic visuals, and showcasing how the unified data foundation simplifies report creation and maintenance across multiple systems.
To conclude, this architecture lays the foundation for a unified, governed, and scalable data ecosystem. By combining Azure Logic Apps, Blob Storage, and Databricks Unity Catalog, we are enabling a single source of truth that supports analytics, automation, and future AI innovations.
