Microsoft Fabric is Not Just a Technological Solution,
but a Strategic One

Source: CAPITAL (www.capital.bg)
Many organizations struggle with data overload, lacking actionable insights and conclusions, and they don’t have an easy way to leverage Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning. How does Microsoft Fabric address this issue?
Margarita Naumova: Microsoft Fabric was created with the idea of turning an organization’s data into an asset that can be used not only by IT specialists but also by business users. Microsoft has always strived to make technology as easy to adopt and use as possible. This principle is also applied in Fabric.
Here, users can find everything they need to build an analytical platform, explore data, conduct statistical analyses, and create reports, all while having an AI assistant in the form of Copilot at every step.
Does this mean that Fabric is not just an expensive version of technologies like Apache Hadoop and Parquet, but rather an integrated, all-in-one platform?
Margarita Naumova: Fabric is a suite of solutions. These solutions or tools cover the entire process needed to turn data into an asset that generates value. They require relatively little effort, a short setup time, and a fast learning curve.
Fabric allows organizations to extract data from various sources, including information systems and thousands of scattered files within a company.
A major advantage of Fabric over other similar platforms on the market is that once extracted, data is stored in a single location—OneLake. This is one of Fabric’s most powerful innovations, significantly simplifying data management in terms of access control, classification, domain organization, workspace management, and computational resource allocation.
Can you provide a real-world example of how Fabric benefits organizations?
Margarita Naumova: Let’s say you’re an accountant. You primarily work with tabular data and are interested in whether numbers match, what the period-end sums are, and you want the results in a table. The challenge often involves handling numerous Excel files. Fabric allows you to easily upload your files to a Lakehouse and use them as a true database, while Copilot enables you to interact with this data in natural language. The result is impressive, and the time saved is significant.
If you’re a marketing specialist, you need trends and statistics. In that case, you’ll rely on Power BI. Even with minimal knowledge, you can instruct Copilot to generate an analysis, and you’ll receive a dashboard that you can further refine through natural language queries—without the need for expert intervention.
Similarly, sales professionals, business development specialists, business managers, and other business users—who typically have to “order” such analyses from trained experts—can directly use Fabric’s platform.
For data specialists with advanced expertise, the possibilities within Fabric are limitless, covering all aspects from designing a complete analytical system, data engineering solutions, data science, machine learning, and AI solution development.
There must be some challenges when implementing something as complex as Microsoft Fabric. What obstacles might organizations face?
Margarita Naumova: Technologies combine strategic ideas with tactical applications of scientific innovations. It’s a shifting landscape, making perfection difficult to achieve.
Fabric is a brilliant concept that integrates innovations in data platform technologies. However, the challenges in its implementation are not so much about the technological components as they are about optimizing their use to achieve business goals. It requires a shift in mindset—business users must transition from being passive consumers to active users of this platform to unlock the full potential of their data.
Is it about finding a balance between using Fabric’s built-in capabilities and customizing it to fit unique business needs?
Margarita Naumova: As a platform rather than an off-the-shelf product, Fabric is designed for tailor-made solutions that require customization for each organization and client. This is where our key role as technical experts and data engineers comes in. We discuss the business’s specific needs, develop a customized implementation strategy, and ensure a smooth transition to the Fabric platform.
Does this mean that Fabric is not just a technological solution but a strategic one that affects the entire organization?
Margarita Naumova: Fabric shortens the time needed to turn data into an asset for any organization. This, in turn, creates opportunities for competitive advantage. Any asset that provides a competitive advantage is strategic. In this sense—yes, Fabric falls within the domain of strategic decisions for an organization.