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Today’s manufacturing and distribution teams are balancing more complexity than ever. With rapid advances in AI, automation, and data platforms, the pressure to modernize is mounting across every part of the business - from operations to talent to tech.  But while the opportunity is exciting, the path forward isn’t always clear.  Business Challenges Facing Manufacturing & Distribution  These industries are navigating a perfect storm of operational demands, shifting workforce expectations, and emerging technologies. Here are just a few of the most common roadblocks:  Systems Integration  Connecting critical platforms like CRM, ERP, Payroll, and Timesheets is essential for operational visibility—but it’s often complex, costly, and time-consuming to implement.  Emerging Technologies  Keeping pace with innovations like robotics, IoT, and AI can feel like a full-time job in itself, especially for mid-market teams without dedicated R&D.  Talent Management  Attracting and retaining skilled workers continues to be a challenge, particularly as experienced workers retire and expectations shift across generations.  Unplanned Equipment Downtime  When systems or machinery go offline, productivity and profitability take a direct hit.  Cybersecurity Threats  As reliance on digital tools and connected devices increases, so does vulnerability to cyber-attacks and data breaches.  Supply Chain Disruptions  Delays, shortages, and geopolitical friction are putting added strain on already fragile supply chains.    How Data & AI Can Help  While none of these challenges are new, the tools available to solve them are evolving fast. With the right data infrastructure in place, manufacturers can shift from reactive to proactive - spotting risks sooner, streamlining operations, and scaling smarter.   Here are three ways data and AI can move the needle:  Unified Data Platform  - A solution like Microsoft Fabric  brings all your data sources together - simplifying integration, enabling cross-functional visibility, and creating a single source of truth across the business.  Embedded Power BI Dashboards  - Make insights actionable by embedding real-time dashboards directly within your business applications. With Power BI integration, teams can track KPIs, spot trends, and make data-backed decisions without switching tools.  Smart Sync -  Interloop’s Smart Sync offering connects your operational tools to your data platform, surfacing key insights and attributes exactly where teams need them. No more digging for reports - just smarter decisions, faster.  Real Results in the Field  A material handling equipment company in Michigan faced a common issue: disconnected data between CRM and ERP systems made sales performance tracking manual, time-consuming, and reactive.  The Challenge :  Sales commissions were tied to different milestones depending on the equipment type, requiring data from multiple systems. Performance reporting was only available monthly, after hours of spreadsheet cleanup. Reps had no real-time visibility into their numbers and couldn’t proactively adjust course.  The Solution:  Interloop helped unify CRM and ERP data in Microsoft Fabric, then built a Power BI dashboard embedded within the CRM. This gave sales reps instant access to real-time performance data—no spreadsheets, no bottlenecks.  The Result:   What used to take days now takes minutes. Reporting is refreshed daily, reps are empowered to self-monitor and adjust in real time, and leadership has clear visibility across the board.  Need Support on this Data Journey?  Our Fast Dash  solution helps teams move from insight to impact - fast. Whether you need to streamline reporting, centralize data, or activate AI, we’ll help you stand up a real-time dashboard tailored to your business.  Ready to get looped in? Let’s get started .

By Tony Berry  Data ingestion is a foundational component of any modern data architecture, enabling raw data to be collected, imported, and processed from a variety of source systems into a centralized lake or warehouse.  Microsoft Fabric provides several robust options for data ingestion - each with its own strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases. Whether your team is focused on building pipelines, accelerating ETL, or supporting analytics and AI workflows, choosing the right approach is critical.  Below is an overview of the six key ingestion methods available in Microsoft Fabric, with insights on when and why to use each.  1. Data Pipelines  Data Pipelines in Microsoft Fabric offer a code-free or low-code experience for orchestrating ETL workflows. They enable users to copy data from source to destination while also incorporating additional steps, such as preparing environments, executing T-SQL, and running notebooks.  Best for:  Teams looking to automate and scale standard ETL processes with limited code requirements.  ✅ Pros   Code-Free or Low-Code  – Accessible to broader teams.  Workflow Automation  – Supports scheduling and orchestration.  High Scalability  – Capable of managing large volumes of data.  ⚠️ Cons   Initial Setup  – Requires some configuration.  Performance Ceiling  – May not match code-rich options for extremely high-throughput.  Transformation Flexibility  – More limited for advanced data shaping or normalization.    Learn more about Data Pipelines   2. Dataflows Gen2  Dataflows Gen2 provides a visual, Power Query–based environment for data prep and transformation before ingestion. It’s designed for users who need custom, column-level transformations without writing code.  Best for:   Analysts and data engineers who need an easy way to prep and shape source data visually.  ✅ Pros   No-Code Interface  – Great for data prep without engineering support.  Custom Transformations  – Modify schemas, create calculated fields, and shape datasets.  Fabric Native  – Fully integrated into the Fabric ecosystem.  ⚠️ Cons   Source Limitations  – Bound to supported connectors.  Less Suitable for Scale  – Not optimized for massive or highly complex pipelines.  Flexibility Constraints  – May not support advanced ingestion logic.  Learn more about Dataflows Gen2     3. PySpark and Python Notebooks  For technically advanced teams, PySpark and Python notebooks offer unmatched flexibility and distributed processing capabilities. These notebooks are ideal for complex transformation pipelines, large datasets, and Spark-native workloads.  Best for:   Teams with Spark/Python expertise working on custom, high-scale data processing tasks.  ✅ Pros   High Performance  – Leverages Spark’s distributed compute engine.  Custom Logic  – Supports complex ingestion and transformation workflows.  Seamless Integration  – Connects to other Fabric components for end-to-end pipelines.  ⚠️ Cons   High Complexity  – Requires PySpark or Python expertise.  Manual Management  – Error handling, logging, and retries must be coded explicitly.  Setup Overhead  – More effort required than GUI-based tools.    Learn more about Notebooks in Fabric   4. Copy Job (New)  The new Copy Job  tool uses a visual assistant to move data between cloud-based sources and sinks. It’s a simplified option for users who want to ingest data quickly without building a full pipeline.  Best for:  Users who need a fast, lightweight ingestion option with minimal setup.  ✅ Pros   User-Friendly Setup  – Copy Assistant simplifies configuration.  Connector Support  – Works with a growing list of cloud sources.  Composable  – Can be included in broader pipeline workflows.  ⚠️ Cons   Gateway Restriction  – On-premises to on-premises transfers require a shared gateway.  Throughput Limitations  – May not match dedicated tools like the COPY statement.  Limited Connectors  – Support for sources is still expanding.  Learn more about Copy Job     5. COPY (Transact-SQL)  The COPY  statement is a high-throughput, T-SQL–driven method for ingesting data from Azure storage into Fabric. It’s best suited for engineering teams who need full control over ingestion behavior via SQL.  Best for:   Data teams already operating in a Transact-SQL environment and needing maximum performance.  ✅ Pros   Top-Tier Performance  – Delivers the highest available ingestion throughput.  Granular Control  – Tune performance, map columns, and control ingestion behavior.  ETL/ELT Integration  – Works seamlessly with existing T-SQL logic.  ⚠️ Cons   Azure-Only Source Support  – Currently limited to Azure storage accounts.  Code Requirement  – Requires SQL fluency; not ideal for all users.    Learn more about the COPY Statement   6. External Tools (e.g., Fivetran)  Fivetran offers a Managed Data Lake Service (MDLS)  that automates ingestion and normalization into Fabric and OneLake. With 700+ connectors and prebuilt logic, it’s a strong option for teams that prioritize automation and governance.  Best for:  Organizations seeking fast, governed ingestion from a wide variety of data sources—without building it all themselves.  ✅ Pros   Fully Managed  – Automates ingestion, normalization, compaction, and deduplication.  Extensive Connectors  – 700+ prebuilt source integrations.  Fabric-Native  – Supports OneLake and AI/analytics workloads.  Governance Ready  – Converts raw data into optimized formats (Delta Lake or Apache Iceberg).  ⚠️ Cons   Cost Consideration  – Fivetran licensing adds to overall project cost.  Learn more about Fivetran’s MDLS     Final Thoughts  Microsoft Fabric gives teams the flexibility to choose the right ingestion strategy based on technical maturity, scale, and existing architecture. Whether you're looking for no-code setup, full control via SQL or Spark, or fully managed ingestion, there’s an option designed to meet your needs.  Understanding the trade-offs of each method - and aligning them with your team’s strengths - sets the foundation for scalable, insight-ready data infrastructure.  Need help choosing the right data ingestion path?  At Interloop, we specialize in helping mid-market teams activate their data with clarity and confidence. Whether you're evaluating COPY vs. Pipelines, rolling out Fivetran, or just getting started with Microsoft Fabric - we can help you move from disconnected data to real-time insight.  Let’s get you from ingestion to action. Get looped in today .

The Loopers are back from Las Vegas - recharged, inspired, and ready to help more organizations harness the power of Microsoft Fabric. The second annual Fabric Community Conference (FABCON 2025) brought together more than 6,000 attendees for six days of hands-on workshops, live demos, and deep-dive sessions focused on data, AI, and the future of business transformation.   As an event sponsor, Interloop had a front-row seat to all the action. Here are our biggest takeaways.  FABCON 2025 Keynote Highlights  OneLake Security: Define Once, Enforce Everywhere  Managing data security across multiple tools and engines is notoriously complex - and risky. Microsoft’s OneLake security model simplifies governance by allowing organizations to define access permissions once and have them enforced consistently across all Fabric workloads.   With row-and column-level access controls, security roles, and fine-grained permissions, data owners can securely share what matters and keep everything else protected - whether it’s being queried in SQL or visualized in Power BI.  Copilot Across All Fabric SKUs  AI is no longer an add-on - it’s embedded in the foundation. With Copilot now available across all Fabric SKUs, users at every tier can take advantage of natural language capabilities to explore data, create visualizations, automate workflows, and generate insights.   Fabric data agents take it a step further, understanding your organization’s unique data model to accelerate time to insight. The new Copilot capacity makes it easier to enable features and manage users, lowering the barrier to entry for teams of any size.  Synapse Migration Made Simple  For organizations currently using Azure Synapse Analytics, Microsoft announced a built-in migration experience (in preview) that makes the move to Fabric smoother than ever. This tool automatically converts schemas, transfers data and metadata, and offers AI-powered guidance throughout the process - helping organizations unlock the benefits of Fabric without disruption or heavy lifting.  Loopers' Favorite Features  From preview announcements to developer-first tools, the conference delivered. Here’s what stood out most to our team:  Meaghan:   “Direct Lake semantic models in Power BI Desktop are game-changing for analysts. By accessing OneLake data directly, you get high-performance query processing without data duplication or long refresh cycles—no complex setup required.”   Jordan:   “The Fabric Command Line Interface (CLI) gives developers a fast, flexible, scriptable way to work with Fabric from the terminal. It’s built on Fabric APIs, supports automation, and feels like navigating a file system—only smarter.”   Tony:   “AI functions in preview make it easy to integrate GenAI into data workflows. With just one line of code, you can summarize, classify, and generate text using Spark or pandas DataFrames—no complex setup or clunky syntax needed.”     Final Thought: Data Is the Fuel  Microsoft Fabric is driving the next wave of data and AI transformation. But as always, your insights are only as strong as the data beneath them. Garbage in still equals garbage out.  Siloed, outdated, and poor-quality data can undermine even the most advanced platforms.  That’s where Interloop comes in.  As a Microsoft-certified partner, Interloop helps organizations build a unified data foundation—ensuring your Fabric environment and AI solutions are powered by clean, organized, high-quality data.  Get Looped In  Want to accelerate your data transformation with Fabric and AI? Let’s build something powerful - together.  Get looped in today .

Author: Meaghan Frost In the dynamic landscape of modern business, the role of data in decision-making has become paramount. From C-suite executives to entry-level employees, harnessing the power of data is a critical component for scalability, repeatability, and sustainable success. By fostering a data-driven culture and utilizing robust dashboards powered by actionable KPIs, organizations can make informed decisions and gain a competitive edge in their respective industries. However, creating dashboards isn’t always straightforward. Often, it involves a lot of data wrangling and clean-up. So what is the best tool to support all of these needs? Microsoft Fabric! Let's delve into the crucial importance of being data-driven at all levels of an organization and how dashboards and reporting built in Fabric support these pivotal decisions. 1. Empower Informed Decision-Making: Instilling a data-driven approach at every level, organizations can empower their workforce to make decisions based on tangible evidence rather than intuition or hunches. Access to real-time data enables teams to identify trends and fosters an environment of proactive decision-making. Fabric has made data significantly more accessible with the creation of OneLake. Now, there is a centralized data lake for the entire organization that can be used for discovery and analysis. When using data from OneLake to make decisions, all levels of the organization are operating on the same source of truth. 2. Enhance Operational Efficiency: Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) through visually appealing and easy-to-understand dashboards, teams can identify operational bottlenecks, optimize workflows, and streamline processes. This leads to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and ultimately, a more agile and competitive business model. A new feature in Fabric allows dashboard creators to set alerts in the Power BI service when values change above or below limits set. A fantastic way to help automate monitoring operations. Check out the full tutorial on setting alerts here . 3. Enable Strategic Planning: With comprehensive reporting tools, leaders can gain a holistic view of the market landscape, competitor analysis, and consumer preferences. Microsoft Fabric took this one step further by integrating Copilot (AI) with Power BI. Now users can create and edit reports in seconds and ask questions about their data using conversational language. Copilot enables all levels of technical abilities to use data in their planning. This strategic foresight allows organizations to align their goals, allocate resources effectively, and adapt their business strategies to meet evolving market demands. 4. Cultivate a Culture of Accountability and Collaboration: When data becomes the cornerstone of decision-making, accountability naturally follows. Microsoft Fabric improves accountability because it enables cross-functional collaboration. With the ability to house an entire organization’s data in a centralized place like OneLake, organizations can create dashboards and reporting mechanisms that help employees understand the importance of their contributions to the broader strategic objectives. The transparency provided by data-driven insights fosters accountability, encourages a sense of ownership, and promotes a culture of continuous improvement across all levels of the organization. 5. Drive Customer-Centricity and Growth: Data-driven insights derived from customer feedback, purchasing patterns, and engagement metrics enable organizations to tailor their offerings to meet customer expectations accurately. Microsoft Fabric enables organizations to grow while maintaining a strong customer focus because analytical models used for data-driven insights can be built in a scalable and repeatable way. Additionally, Fabric-powered dashboards offer unparalleled flexibility to accommodate diverse reporting requirements. So, w ith the help of intuitive dashboards and scalable models, businesses can create personalized experiences, build lasting relationships, and foster customer loyalty. Conclusion Data is a valuable asset in all levels of an organization and can help to align employees to the same goals. From strategic planning to day-to-day operations, the insights derived from data empower organizations to navigate challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth in the digital age. Interloop is a Microsoft ISV Partner at the forefront of helping organizations achieve more with their data. Leveraging the best in data technology, Interloop can help you get started with Microsoft Fabric. Curious how your organization could benefit from using a tool like Fabric? Let’s loop you in. Book your intro call with our data experts today.

How OneLake and the Unified Analytics Platform can Modernize your Data Estate  Accessing data for analytics and AI initiatives can be challenging when it is dispersed across various clouds, databases, and formats. Microsoft Fabric offers the ultimate solution. At the core of Fabric is a multi-cloud data lake, OneLake, which serves as a centralized hub for discovering and accessing data across your entire data estate, regardless of its source location. On top of OneLake, Microsoft created a seamlessly integrated and optimized SaaS environment that offers a robust suite of data analytics and AI capabilities. It encompasses comprehensive functionalities for data integration, engineering, science, warehousing, real-time intelligence, visualization, and overall data management.   Choosing Microsoft Fabric as your organization’s unified data platform will undoubtedly create a competitive advantage because it addresses the perpetual data problem of access barriers. Organizations that centralize their data estate to increase accessibility will have the capability to keep up with the demanding speed of business as the technology landscape continues to modernize. As customers of Fabric ourselves, we at Interloop have identified four key features that make Fabric the optimal choice for data unification.  Support of Open Formats like Delta Parquet and Iceberg   Interoperability : By supporting open formats, Microsoft Fabric ensures compatibility with a wide range of data sources and tools, making it easier for organizations to integrate their existing data infrastructure  Flexibility : Open formats like Delta Parquet and Iceberg allow users to choose the best storage and processing solutions for their needs, enhancing flexibility and reducing vendor lock-in  Advanced Features : These formats support advanced features like ACID transactions and time travel, which are crucial for maintaining data integrity and enabling complex analytics. Shortcuts   Centralized Data Access : Shortcuts in OneLake allow users to create a single virtual data lake that unifies data across different domains, clouds, and accounts. This simplifies data access and management.  Reduced Latency : By eliminating the need for edge copies of data, shortcuts reduce process latency and improve performance  Ease of Use : Shortcuts behave like symbolic links, making it easy to manage and access data without affecting the original source.   Mirroring   Real-Time Replication : Mirroring enables near real-time replication of data from various systems into OneLake, ensuring that the most up-to-date data is available for analysis  Simplified ETL : It reduces the complexity of ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, allowing users to integrate data seamlessly into Fabric  Enhanced Collaboration : Mirroring breaks down data silos, facilitating better collaboration and faster decision-making across teams    Data Factory Connectors   Wide Range of Connectivity : Data Factory offers a rich set of connectors that support various data stores, including cloud, on-premises, and online sources. This ensures that users can connect to and transform data from virtually any source.  Scalability : The connectors support high-scale data movement and transformation, making it suitable for enterprise-grade data integration scenarios  Ease of Integration : With over 145 different connectors, Data Factory simplifies the process of integrating diverse data sources into Fabric    Microsoft Fabric's comprehensive suite of features, including support for open formats, shortcuts, mirroring, and Data Factory connectors, makes it an unparalleled choice for modernizing your data estate. By centralizing and unifying your data, you can unlock new levels of efficiency, collaboration, and innovation. Depending on the data and AI needs of your organization, you'll likely use these techniques to different extents. Ultimately, whichever method is used to connect data, Microsoft makes it available with minimal latency.     Does your organization need help modernizing their data estate? Learn how Interloop can help you achieve more with Microsoft Fabric. No matter where you are on your Microsoft Fabric journey - our experts can help guide you. Get started today!     To stay up to date on all the new features coming to Fabric, read Microsoft’s blog here .

By Jordan Berry  In today’s data-driven universe, organizations are racing to unify fragmented systems and fuel advanced analytics and AI initiatives. One of the most effective ways to do this? Creating a managed data lake with OneLake, Microsoft Fabric and   Fivetran  - a powerful combination that elevates your data strategy from fragmented to future-ready.  This trio delivers a streamlined, scalable solution that ensures your data is always accurate, accessible and analytics-ready - so you can focus less on firefighting and more on unlocking insights.  Why OneLake + Microsoft Fabric?  OneLake, a core component of Microsoft Fabric, serves as a unified, logical data lake - a single source of truth for all your analytics data. It eliminates the need for complex data movement or duplication, supporting multiple analytical engines from a single copy of data.  This not only reduces overhead and infrastructure sprawl but also promotes cross-team collaboration, giving every department real-time access to consistent, governed data.  Microsoft Fabric builds on this foundation with an integrated suite of analytics services for processing, visualization and governance - all within a single platform. With built-in security, compliance and monitoring, your data is protected while remaining accessible and actionable.  Where Fivetran Fits In  Fivetran’s Managed Data Lake Service is the automation engine that brings it all together. With prebuilt connectors to over 700 data sources, Fivetran automatically ingests, normalizes, compacts and deduplicates data - delivering it directly into your data lake in Delta Lake or Apache Iceberg open table formats.  That means no more manual pipeline maintenance, no more outdated datasets - just clean, query-ready data, always on and always optimized.  Key Benefits of a Unified Managed Data Lake  Unified Data Management  Consolidate all your analytics data into a single lake - no more silos, no more sync issues.  Cross-Org Collaboration  Enable consistent access across teams and departments with a shared, governed source of truth.  Automated Ingestion & Optimization  Fivetran handles data ingestion and prep behind the scenes - freeing your team to focus on insights, not infrastructure.  Scalability & Flexibility  Grow confidently with support for multiple formats, cloud environments and analytical engines.  Governance & Security   Built-in compliance and role-based access controls ensure your data remains secure, accurate and audit-ready.  Interloop is now an official Fivetran Partner  - read the announcement .  We’re proud to help clients leverage Fivetran’s managed data lake service to bring their data strategy into sharper focus.  Whether you're optimizing your existing pipelines or launching a new data platform from scratch, we’re here to help.  Ready to Take Off?  Explore the stack:  OneLake Overview   Microsoft Fabric Documentation   Fivetran Managed Data Lake Service   Or check out the Interloop Resource Hub  for more insights.  Want to accelerate your journey? Get looped in today.

By Jordan Berry & Matt Poisson   Modern businesses rely on data to drive decisions, optimize operations, and power AI initiatives. Whether it’s advanced analytics shaping strategic insights or Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) AI unlocking new efficiencies, the foundation of success lies in unifying and managing data effectively.  With a growing web of data sources, evolving formats, and shifting business requirements, staying ahead can feel overwhelming. Data Operations (DataOps) provides the framework and toolset to keep up with business demands, ensuring data products remain accurate, efficient, and scalable.  This guide maps out key DataOps tools to help your team build a high-performance, AI-ready data strategy.  Defining Data Operations (DataOps)  When organizations first engage with data and AI, the initial steps are often straightforward:  Build data pipelines  Generate dashboards  Develop AI models  Deliver insights to stakeholders  At first, these efforts seem successful—until operational realities set in. Data teams quickly find themselves in a cycle of maintaining, troubleshooting, and firefighting issues instead of driving innovation.  Common challenges include:   Broken pipelines disrupting analytics and AI models  Stakeholders questioning data accuracy and freshness  Scaling issues as data environments become more complex  This is where DataOps tools become mission-critical.   Key Capabilities of DataOps Tools  An effective DataOps strategy enhances four critical areas :  Productivity  – Reduces time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on high-value, strategic initiatives.  Monitoring  – Provides real-time observability, ensuring data is fresh, accurate, and reliable—before stakeholders notice an issue.  Orchestration  – Ensures data workflows are executed in the correct order, preventing data mismatches, stale reports, and AI model failures.  Optimization  – Tracks query performance, system reliability, and cost efficiency, providing actionable insights to improve operations over time.  When integrated effectively, these capabilities create a robust, AI-ready data ecosystem.  Top DataOps Tools to Consider  Selecting the right DataOps tool depends on your existing data infrastructure (Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, Databricks, etc.), team size, and specific business needs. Consider factors like automation, monitoring capabilities, and scalability when evaluating solutions.  Below are some of the leading DataOps tools that can enhance data management and analytics performance:  Unravel   Best for:  Big Data Observability & Performance Optimization  Unravel provides AI-driven monitoring and optimization  for big data pipelines, helping teams improve performance and cost efficiency.  ✅ Strong observability features  ✅ AI-powered issue detection and resolution  ➖ Initial setup and configuration may require time  IBM Data Band   Best for:  Enterprise Data Observability & Anomaly Detection  IBM Data Band automatically builds historical data baselines, detects anomalies, and streamlines data quality issue resolution.  ✅ Comprehensive data observability  ✅ Strong IBM ecosystem integration  ➖ Can be complex to implement, with higher costs for smaller teams    Monte Carlo Data   Best for:  Data Reliability & Automated Lineage Tracking  Monte Carlo enhances data visibility, lineage tracking, and root-cause analysis , reducing downtime and errors.  ✅ Automated data lineage tracking  ✅ Effective root-cause analysis tools  ➖ Customization may be needed for unique use cases    Bigeye   Best for:  Real-Time Data Monitoring & Quality Control  Bigeye offers real-time monitoring and anomaly detection  to maintain high data accuracy.  ✅ Easy to use with strong automation features  ✅ Proactive data health monitoring  ➖ May require additional integrations for broader coverage    Anomalo   Best for:  AI-Powered Data Quality Assurance  Anomalo’s  AI-driven monitoring  ensures data integrity, compliance, and security.   ✅ Automated quality assurance with proactive alerting  ✅ Seamless integration with multiple data platforms  ➖ May require fine-tuning for optimal performance    Composable DataOps   Best for:  End-to-End Data Management & Integration  Composable DataOps provides a full suite of data integration, discovery, and analytics tools.   ✅ Strong integration capabilities  ✅ Comprehensive data management features  ➖ Initial setup complexity may be a consideration    Interloop Mission Control   Best for:  Microsoft Fabric DataOps & AI-Ready Workflows  Interloop’s Mission Control  is purpose-built for Microsoft Fabric , enabling data teams to:  ✅ Connect to 500+ sources   ✅ Orchestrate and optimize entire data estates   ✅ Monitor and ensure always-fresh, high-quality data   ➖ Currently exclusive to Microsoft Fabric (not yet available for Snowflake or Databricks)   Final Approach: Choosing the Right DataOps Tool  The right DataOps strategy can transform your data management and AI workflows, making them more scalable, efficient, and resilient.  Whether you’re optimizing for data reliability, automation, or workflow orchestration, these tools provide the foundation needed to navigate a data-driven future.  Ready to chart your course?  Get looped in today .

Charleston, March 17, 2025  – Interloop, a leader in data and AI-driven solutions, is excited to announce an expanded partnership with Fivetran, transitioning into a reseller relationship that enhances our ability to deliver best-in-class data connectivity and integration.  At Interloop, we believe that the true power of technology lies in its ability to transform business operations. This philosophy is embedded in the robust solutions we deliver within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem, and our deepened relationship with Fivetran further strengthens this commitment. Fivetran’s best-in-class ELT technology automates and streamlines data movement across sources, ensuring businesses have instant access to reliable, high-quality information. We know this firsthand—because we’re Fivetran customers ourselves.  Now, as an official reseller, we’re extending that firsthand expertise to our customers, helping them unlock the full potential of a powerful tech stack: Interlo op, Fivetran , an d Microsoft Fabric. This combination provides a seamless, cost-effective approach to data integration, reducing complexity while maximizing efficiency.  As trusted experts in data and AI, Interloop is always looking ahead - seeking the most innovative solutions to help businesses gain a competitive edge. Our expanded partnership with Fivetran marks another step forward in our mission to equip organizations with scalable, future-ready data management solutions.  Stay tuned for more as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Together with Fivetran, Interloop remains committed to driving the future of data integration - empowering businesses to move faster, operate smarter, and reach new heights.  About Interloop  Interloop specializes in empowering organizations to harness the full potential of their data through innovative integration and automation solutions. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem, Interloop enables businesses to transform data into actionable insights, driving efficiency and competitive advantage in today's digital landscape.     Ready to achieve more with your data? Get looped in today .    About Fivetran  Fivetran is the global leader in modern data integration, making access to data as simple and reliable as electricity. Built for the cloud, Fivetran enables data teams to effortlessly centralize and transform data from hundreds of SaaS and on-premises sources into high-performance cloud destinations. Fast-moving startups to the world’s largest companies use Fivetran to accelerate analytics and drive business growth.  Learn more about FiveTran .

Author: Jordan Berry Microsoft Fabric is a comprehensive data management and analytics platform designed to unify and simplify data processes across organizations. Think of it as the mission control for your data—bringing together essential tools like data lakes, data engineering, and business intelligence into one seamless platform. For companies looking to streamline operations and harness advanced analytics, Microsoft Fabric is the perfect launchpad. Key Features and Business Challenges Solved Microsoft Fabric offers several key features that make it a standout solution for modern data management: Unified Data Platform: Fabric integrates data lakes, engineering, and analytics, bringing all your data under one roof and eliminating the need for a fleet of disparate tools. AI-Powered Insights: With its AI capabilities, Fabric helps you mine your data for insights faster than ever, putting actionable intelligence at your fingertips. Real-Time Analytics: Real-time data processing ensures your team can make decisions at light speed, without waiting for yesterday’s data. Enhanced Collaboration: By fostering collaboration between data engineers, data scientists, and business users, Fabric ensures your entire crew is aligned and working from the same source of truth. These features help organizations overcome common data challenges like silos, complex integration, and the demand for real-time insights. By providing a unified platform, Fabric simplifies data processes, enhances data governance, and improves overall data quality. Projected Growth and Industry Comparison Microsoft Fabric is on a fast trajectory, driven by its advanced capabilities and the growing demand for integrated data solutions. According to a Forrester study, companies using Fabric have experienced a 379% return on investment over three years. This ROI is fueled by productivity boosts, cost savings, and enhanced business outcomes. Compared to other platforms, Fabric sets itself apart by seamlessly integrating with Microsoft 365 and Azure services, making it a natural fit for organizations already orbiting the Microsoft ecosystem. Who Benefits the Most? Certain industries and business types are primed to benefit most from the stellar capabilities of Microsoft Fabric: Mid-Market Enterprises: Companies managing vast data sets and complex analytics will find that Fabric provides the fuel to streamline operations and achieve deeper insights. Industries with High Data Volume: Sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail benefit from Fabric’s real-time analytics and AI-powered intelligence. Manufacturing: Fabric optimizes operations by integrating data from production lines and other sources, providing real-time insights for predictive maintenance and quality control. Energy and Utilities: Fabric helps these industries monitor infrastructure efficiently, supporting grid monitoring and predictive maintenance for greater operational stability. Transportation and Logistics: By enabling real-time tracking and route optimization, Fabric can help transport companies stay on course while improving customer satisfaction. Sustainability: Organizations focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data can harness Fabric to standardize and analyze their sustainability metrics, propelling their initiatives forward. Interloop Client Story: Transforming Manufacturing with Microsoft Fabric A standout case of Microsoft Fabric’s transformative power comes from a major manufacturing and industrial processing company. After adopting Fabric, they unified their data processes and enhanced their reporting capabilities. Fabric enabled them to create near real-time dashboards, ad hoc reporting, and a custom copilot, allowing their team to interact directly with their data—quickly accessing the insights they need to drive smarter decisions. With these innovations, their data operations have reached new heights, improving decision-making and operational efficiency across the business. Microsoft Fabric is for You If… Here’s a quick checklist to see if Microsoft Fabric is the right choice for your business: You have multiple data sources and need a unified platform to manage them. Your organization requires real-time data processing and analytics. You aim to leverage AI for predictive analytics and deeper insights. Collaboration between data teams and business users is essential to your success. You want to reduce costs and improve productivity with integrated solutions. Benefits from IT and Business Perspectives From an IT standpoint, Microsoft Fabric simplifies data management, enhances security, and reduces the complexity of maintaining multiple tools. For business users, it provides easy access to data insights, enabling better decision-making and fostering a data-driven culture . The Wrap Up Microsoft Fabric is a versatile platform designed to enhance data management and analytics across industries. If your organization struggles with data integration, requires real-time insights, or seeks to leverage AI, Microsoft Fabric could be the right solution to elevate your data operations. Ready to learn more?  Dive into the official documentation for all the details: Explore Microsoft Fabric . Looking to achieve more with your data?   Get looped in with one of our data experts today and discover how Microsoft Fabric can transform your business.

In the ever-evolving world of manufacturing, companies must continuously optimize operations, reduce downtime, and stay ahead of the competition. As manufacturing processes become more data-driven, the ability to unify and leverage data from multiple sources is critical. This is where Microsoft Fabric comes in—a comprehensive data platform designed to streamline operations, provide real-time insights, and enable advanced analytics across the manufacturing sector. Just like a spacecraft needs a well-coordinated flight deck, your manufacturing data requires a central hub for seamless navigation. Microsoft Fabric serves as that control center, integrating data lakes, engineering, and analytics to keep all systems on track and your data operations running smoothly. Real-Time Insights for Enhanced Efficiency Manufacturing is all about timing, and Microsoft Fabric delivers near real-time visibility into every aspect of operations—from production lines to supply chains to quality control. By centralizing this data into one platform, companies can optimize production schedules, identify bottlenecks, and make timely decisions based on the most up-to-date information. For instance, a manufacturer using Microsoft Fabric can monitor machine performance in near real time. If any equipment begins to show signs of wear, predictive analytics alert the team, allowing for preemptive maintenance before a costly breakdown occurs. This ensures manufacturers keep operations running smoothly, just like a well-coordinated space mission. To learn more about how Fabric is driving change in the industry, explore Industry Solutions in Microsoft Fabric . Predictive Maintenance with AI-Powered Insights A standout feature of Microsoft Fabric is its AI-driven capabilities , enabling manufacturers to perform predictive maintenance on their machinery. With predictive analytics, companies can forecast when equipment is likely to fail, allowing them to address potential issues before they lead to costly downtime. For example, in the automotive manufacturing industry, a company using Fabric might analyze data from production lines to predict the optimal time for machine maintenance. Instead of reacting to a breakdown after it happens, AI-driven insights enable the team to act proactively, extending the lifespan of their equipment and reducing overall repair costs. By leveraging AI-powered analytics, manufacturers can keep their production lines humming, just as astronauts rely on precise technology to keep their ship on course. Dive deeper into how Fabric leverages AI by checking out UnlockReal-Time Insights with AI-Powered Analytics in Microsoft Fabric . Enhanced Collaboration Across Teams Manufacturing processes require close collaboration between multiple teams—engineers, production managers, and quality control personnel. Microsoft Fabric fosters this collaboration by providing a unified data platform, ensuring that every team member works with accurate, up-to-date information. This reduces data silos and fosters more cohesive decision-making. For example, data engineers can create dashboards for near real-time production monitoring, while business leaders access high-level reports to inform strategic decisions. By ensuring all teams are operating with the same information, Fabric functions as a well-coordinated space crew, aligning goals and keeping operations on course. Real-World Example: How Microsoft Fabric Transforms Manufacturing Operations One of the best examples of Microsoft Fabric’s transformative power comes from a leading manufacturing and industrial processing company. With Interloop’s support, they adopted Microsoft Fabric to unify data operations and enhance reporting capabilities. Using Fabric, they developed near real-time dashboards and ad hoc reporting, enabling their team to make data-driven decisions quickly and efficiently. One of the most innovative features they implemented was a custom copilot—a tool that allows team members to interact directly with their data, asking questions and receiving real-time insights. This transformation significantly improved decision-making and operational efficiency, helping them stay ahead of the competition and reduce downtime across their operations. This success story illustrates how Microsoft Fabric can elevate manufacturing businesses, providing them with the tools needed to thrive in a data-driven industry. Competitive Advantage for Manufacturers For manufacturers, Microsoft Fabric offers a clear competitive edge. By integrating production data, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and real-time insights, Fabric helps companies optimize their operations, reduce downtime, and remain agile in an increasingly competitive market. A Forrester study found that organizations using Microsoft Fabric saw a 379% return on investment (ROI) over three years. This ROI highlights the platform's ability to enhance productivity, lower costs, and drive better business outcomes. Read more about the study here . The Wrap Up Microsoft Fabric offers manufacturers a robust solution for navigating the complexities of modern data management. By providing near real-time insights, enabling predictive maintenance, and fostering collaboration across teams, Fabric empowers manufacturers to elevate their operations, reduce costs, and stay ahead of the competition. Want Some FaceTime? Join us at the South Carolina Manufacturing Expo on November 7-8, 2024 ! Stop by our booth #223 to discuss how Microsoft Fabric is transforming the manufacturing space and discover how Interloop can help launch your data strategy. We’d love to chat— find out more about the event here . Get Looped In Ready to achieve more with your data? Contact Interloop today to schedule your consult and learn more about the upcoming release of Mission Control projected for Q1 2025.