8 years → 18 months – Accelerated modernization roadmap using Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework
600+ backlog items cleared – AI automation eliminated years of tech debt in weeks
1,821 work items completed – Delivered across the platform, plus 890 bugs resolved
“For the first time, we had a clear path to modernization. We cleared years of technical debt, accelerated our roadmap, and finally delivered features our customers had been asking for.” — CTO, Leading Dental Software Provider
Client Background
A leading distributor in the dental, veterinary, and orthodontic markets, this company equips practices with the supplies, equipment, and software they rely on every day. Their flagship solutions include a trusted on-premise practice management system and a modern cloud-based platform that streamlines scheduling, billing, insurance, and patient engagement for dental practices.
The Challenge
Although the company was an industry leader in on-premises software, transitioning to cloud solutions presented significant hurdles. Their cloud platform had been developed as a monolith: a tightly coupled architecture where scheduling, patient records, and insurance data were all intertwined. This created performance issues, limited scalability, and made even small changes risky.
Other key challenges included:
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Lack of clear documentation for critical features, such as scheduling
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Limited Azure expertise and difficulty implementing best practices
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Rigid Agile adoption, with rituals enforced but little flexibility for true iterative development
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Severe backlog and performance issues with 7,000+ open items
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Overwhelming tech-debt
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Poor platform performance frustrating customers and eroding market share
The Solution
Emergent was brought in to modernize the platform’s most critical capability: the scheduling system. The approach focused on both technical modernization and organizational enablement:
1. Modernizing Architecture
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Developed a roadmap for deconstructing the monolith into microservices, beginning with scheduling
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Introduced APIs to replace direct database calls, improving scalability and performance
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Built a new, ADA-compliant scheduling UI to enhance accessibility and user experience
2. Driving Agile Transformation
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Modeled true Agile practices by prioritizing delivery over ceremony
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Empowered teams to move past blockers and collaborate effectively
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Helped 17 interdependent teams adopt better Agile methods by example
3. Building Technical Capability
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Trained internal teams on Azure infrastructure, pipelines, and QA automation
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Introduced testing standards, including unit, component, and performance testing
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Partnered with Microsoft to unlock funding for modernization and AI adoption
4. Accelerating Backlog Resolution with AI
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Analyzed 7,000+ backlog items and identified modernization opportunities using Microsoft Fabric
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Built an AI-powered “Daily Huddle” proof of concept that automated staff prep tasks, resolved 600+ backlog items in weeks, and showcased the power of Azure AI services
This combination of hands-on engineering, team coaching, and Microsoft partnership delivered both immediate wins and a scalable path to modernization.
Technologies Used
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Microsoft Fabric: for data unification and modernization.
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Azure AI Services: powering the proof-of-concept AI agent.
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Azure DevOps: backlog management, pipelines, and Agile workflows.
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Terraform: infrastructure as code for repeatable environments.
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Intune & AVD (Azure Virtual Desktop): supporting secure, scalable corporate IT needs.
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Agile & QA Tooling: unit testing, component testing, and performance testing frameworks.
Results & Impact
“This engagement was a turning point. We finally had a path forward that didn’t just fix the tech. It changed how our teams worked and delivered real business value in months instead of years.” — CTO, Leading Dental Software Provider
Over the 18 month engagement, Emergent guided the client through a full platform transformation, re-architecting core systems, clearing years of backlog, and shifting delivery to a more adaptive model. The results showed measurable improvements in speed, scale, innovation, and user experience:
Speed
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Reduced an estimated 8-year modernization roadmap to just 18 months by aligning with Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework
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Delivered a working AI-powered “Daily Huddle” proof of concept in 2 weeks, compared to a typical 6-month delivery cycle
Scale
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Completed 1,821 work items and resolved 890 bugs across the platform
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Cleared more than 600 backlog items in weeks using intelligent automation
Innovation
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Built and deployed an AI agent that automated daily prep tasks and demonstrated practical use of Azure AI services
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Partnered with Microsoft to unlock funding for modernization and future AI adoption
Experience
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Rebuilt the scheduling UI to be ADA-compliant, ensuring accessibility for all users
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Enhanced usability and performance, positioning the platform to better compete in a crowded market
Business Impact
Modernizing the platform and introducing intelligent automation significantly reduced operational risk and improved delivery efficiency. Accelerating the modernization roadmap from 8 years to 18 months enabled teams to shift focus from technical debt to innovation, resulting in better customer outcomes and a stronger competitive position.
Looking Ahead
While future strategic decisions altered the company’s long-term product plans, Emergent’s engagement left lasting value: stronger cloud practices, better Agile adoption, and a proven blueprint for accelerating modernization with Microsoft technologies.
