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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 .

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.

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.

Microsoft’s AI Tour is more than just a showcase of cutting-edge technology—it’s a glimpse into the future of business. From AI-driven productivity to the critical role of data in fueling intelligence, the event reinforced a clear theme: AI success starts with a strong data foundation.  Interloop was on-site as a proud sponsor of the Detroit stop, braving the snow to connect with industry leaders and explore the latest advancements in Microsoft Fabric, Copilot, and Azure AI. Here’s what stood out.  Key Themes from the Keynote  Copilot is the UI for AI   Microsoft’s vision for AI is centered around Copilot as the primary interface between users and intelligent systems. With deep contextual understanding, Copilot doesn’t just assist—it anticipates, automates, and optimizes workflows.  Tools like Copilot Studio, Visual Studio, GitHub, and Azure AI Foundry give organizations everything they need to build custom AI-powered experiences.  Data is the Fuel for AI  Without data, AI is just a concept. Clean, curated, and connected data is what makes AI work. Companies that invest in their data estate today are the ones best positioned to harness AI’s full potential tomorrow.  The takeaway? AI isn’t a magic switch—it’s the result of a well-executed data strategy.  Microsoft Fabric: The Fast Track to AI Value  Microsoft Fabric is reshaping how organizations manage, unify, and leverage their data. As a fully integrated SaaS platform, Fabric removes silos and allows businesses to work with data no matter where it lives.  Organizations leveraging Fabric are accelerating their time to AI and BI insights, reducing complexity, and making data-driven decisions faster.  Emerging AI Macro Trends  Microsoft highlighted four major shifts AI is driving in business today:  Enhanced employee productivity and well-being  Reinvention of customer engagement  Reshaping business processes  Accelerating innovation at scale  AI is no longer a future ambition—it’s an operational reality. Organizations that embrace these shifts will set the standard for AI-powered success.  What the Interloop Team is Most Excited About  The event was packed with insights, but here’s what stood out most to our team:  Meaghan  – "With the imminent release of the OneLake catalog, the untapped potential for analytics within an organization's data estate is immense. These insights will pave the way for data to become a pivotal contributor to an organization's operations."  Jordan  – "AI is truly going to transform how organizations empower their employees, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation. With the Azure AI Foundry Agent Service, we're one step closer to making this a reality across businesses of all sizes."  Tony  – "The Copilot AI Stack is set to revolutionize the way we approach AI development and deployment. With its cutting-edge tools and seamless integration capabilities, the possibilities are endless. We're on the brink of a new era in AI, and the excitement is palpable."  Final Takeaway: AI Strategy Starts with Data Strategy  The biggest lesson from Microsoft’s AI Tour? You can’t have an AI strategy without a data strategy.  Organizations that invest in scalable, well-governed data architectures today will be the ones driving real AI impact tomorrow. That’s where Interloop comes in.  Need help setting your data strategy for AI? As a Microsoft Certified Partner, Interloop is uniquely positioned to help businesses unlock the full potential of Fabric, Copilot, and AI—faster.  Achieve more with your data. Get looped in today .

By Matt Poisson   At Interloop, we know that speed alone isn’t the key to success—precision is. That’s why we take an iterative and kitted delivery approach , ensuring every project moves from concept to outcome efficiently and effectively.  Whether it’s custom dashboards, integrations, or AI-powered copilots, our delivery process is designed to help organizations activate their data with confidence. By aligning with unique customer requirements—including specific data sources, key metrics, and business objectives—we ensure solutions that don’t just function, but fuel impact.  A Flight Plan for Smarter Data Decisions  Every engagement begins with a Flight Plan, our structured discovery process that maps out your current data strategy and future state goals. This deep dive results in a customized data roadmap that helps clients move forward with clarity, efficiency, and scalability while understanding potential risks and opportunities. z For many organizations, the next step after a Flight Plan is building a strong data foundation. Using Interloop’s Orbit architecture, we unify data from disparate sources, preparing it for seamless activation. z Take, for example, a recent client who needed a dashboard to track revenue trends, sales performance, and inventory levels across multiple systems, including NetSuite (ERP), Salesforce (CRM), and a proprietary Oracle-based inventory tool. With a completed Flight Plan in place, we aligned on future objectives and began executing against a structured path—allowing the client to reach their outcome faster, with fewer roadblocks. z From Data to Decisions: The Kitted Delivery Process in Action  As data integration begins, our team works in parallel to design the best way to represent insights visually. Data is transferred into a Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse, following our data foundation process, while business intelligence experts collaborate with the client to design dashboards and reporting structures that match real-world needs.  Through structured design sessions, we develop a visual mockup of dashboards, refining the concept before build-out. This iterative approach allows for feedback and refinement before development begins, reducing surprises and ensuring alignment from the start.  Once the dashboard design is confirmed, the build phase kicks off. Throughout this process, the client remains actively engaged, with ongoing touchpoints to fine-tune user experience, optimize functionality, and ensure every decision aligns with business goals. By the time development is complete, the client receives a fully realized solution that’s been shaped by their insights every step of the way—not a black-box final product.  Why Kitted and Iterative Delivery Works   Every Flight Plan is uniquely tailored, but the process we follow remains consistent. Over years of working with clients across industries, we’ve developed a kitted approach—structured outcome steps that eliminate friction, optimize efficiency, and maximize value.  By creating repeatable, dependable processes, we ensure that:  Our team delivers with precision and reliability  Clients gain faster, more predictable outcomes  Every solution is scalable, adaptable, and aligned with long-term success  This methodology isn’t just about execution—it’s about building trust, delivering impact, and helping organizations achieve more with their data.  Unlock the full potential of your data. Get looped in today .