>>I don't know much about Azure, but would tools like Red Gate SQL Compare and SQL Data Compare help? I started using those at my last job instead of database backups for technical limitations and it ended up being a lot easier once I got used to the tools.
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>What does it do exactly?

SQL Compare quickly and easily compares the structures of two database, tells you what's different, generates a script, and allows you to run it right there. I'd use that to move my DB changes from dev to test to prod, etc.

SQL Data Compare does that same, but for data. Instead of working with database backups it would generate CRUD (well, CUD I guess) statements.

Both well worth the money.