How to Change collation for production Azure SQL databases
Azure SQL Database only supports changing collation by modifying the model.xml file for .bacpac files. Schedule a maintenance window for your application during the process and stop the workload to prevent loosing updates on your database. Do the export/import to/from databases with a high service tier to boost the operation. Use a VM in the same region to save latency time. If your database is/was used for Data Sync Service, consider removing DSS object before exporting the database. Check: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-database-support-blog/exporting-a-database-that-is-was-used-as-sql-data-sync-metadata/ba-p/369062 If your database is a part of Geo-DR replication, consider removing the Geo link and delete secondary database before starting the operation in order to create a new Geo replication and sync the new database with the new collation to the secondary server.
