Microsoft Fabric is a cloud-based SaaS data platform that unifies all of an organisation's core data workloads into a single integrated environment: data integration, data engineering, data warehousing, data science, real-time analytics and business intelligence. Developed by Microsoft and generally available since 2023, Fabric solves the structural problem of modern data architectures - the patchwork of isolated tools, parallel data stores and inconsistent governance models.
At its heart is OneLake: a single, logical data lake for the entire organisation on which all fabric workloads work together. Data no longer needs to be copied, synchronised or transferred to separate systems. It is available once and is immediately ready for pipelines, analyses, reports and AI models.
Many companies now operate Azure Data Factory for data integration, Azure Synapse for analyses, Power BI for reports, Azure Machine Learning for AI models and separate database services for different use cases side by side. Each tool has its own costs, administration and security concepts. Microsoft Fabric replaces this patchwork with a standardised platform with a common compute model, a common governance layer via Microsoft Purview and a standardised user interface for all roles - from data engineer to business analyst.
Microsoft Copilot is firmly integrated into all Fabric workloads. It generates SQL queries, creates data pipelines, writes code to notebooks, builds Power BI reports from voice input and summarises data analyses. Teams that previously relied on specialised technical staff can now use Copilot to complete data tasks independently - without having to wait for IT resources.
The introduction of Microsoft Fabric is an architectural decision that fundamentally changes existing data landscapes. Anyone operating Synapse pipelines, Power BI datasets and Azure Data Factory workflows needs to understand what can be migrated, what should be rebuilt and how OneLake can be integrated into existing data flows. As a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner, collana supports companies with the introduction, migration and ongoing operation of Microsoft Fabric.
Fabric offers a complete data engineering environment with Spark-based notebooks, data pipelines and the lakehouse concept, which combines the strengths of data lakes and data warehouses. Data from ERP, CRM, IoT and external sources is loaded into OneLake in a structured manner, transformed according to the Medallion architecture and made available for all downstream workloads. collana develops data engineering solutions on fabric: from data architecture and ingestion pipelines to clean modelling.
The Fabric Data Warehouse is a fully managed, elastic data warehouse optimised for SQL workloads and structured data analysis. Thanks to direct-lake mode, Power BI reports can access OneLake data directly, without importing or redundant data storage. Analysts work in familiar SQL environments, while Fabric takes care of all the infrastructure overhead.
Relevant for: Wholesale & Foreign Trade, process industry, E-Commerce, NPOs & associations, process industry, Healthcare
Fabric Real-Time Intelligence processes streaming data from IoT devices, web logs, production facilities and transaction systems in real time. Event streams, KQL databases and Data Activator can be used to create real-time dashboards, monitor threshold values and trigger automatic actions when defined events occur. For manufacturing companies, this is the basis for predictive maintenance and real-time operational control.
Fabric provides an integrated data science environment with Spark notebooks, MLflow and Azure machine learning functionalities. Data scientists train models directly on OneLake data without having to export data to separate systems. Predictive analytics models, anomaly detection and demand forecasts are created on the same platform on which the data is stored and analysed.
Power BI is fully integrated into Fabric and accesses OneLake data directly via Direct Lake mode. Reports and dashboards are created faster, memory limits are eliminated and data is always up-to-date without manual updates. Copilot creates initial reports from voice input and explains data trends in natural language. collana develops fabric-based power BI solutions - from semantic modelling to company-wide BI architectures.
Relevant for: All sectors, especially Wholesale & Foreign Trade, Production & Manufacturing, E-Commerce, NPOs & associations, Healthcare
Fabric is fully integrated into Microsoft Purview. Data catalogue, data lineage, access policies and compliance requirements are managed centrally for all workloads. Companies gain a complete view of what data is located where, who has access and how data flows through the entire platform - the basis for GDPR-compliant data processing and regulatory verification.
Relevant for: Healthcare, Authorities & public sector, process industry, Food industry, all regulated industries
Not because they have more data. But because their data finally fits together. Those who introduce Microsoft Fabric do not gain new BI software, but a new way of dealing with data: one source instead of many systems, one governance instead of parallel concepts, one platform for everyone who works with data. The following companies have taken this step with collana and show what is possible.
Most companies thinking about Microsoft Fabric today know the problem from their own experience: Power BI reports pull data from different sources that are not consistent. Azure Data Factory pipelines deliver data into Synapse, from there into another system and finally into Power BI. Every interface is a potential error location, every data copy a governance risk.
The switch to Microsoft Fabric is not a classic migration project in which the old is simply replaced by the new. It is an architectural decision: Which existing pipelines and data sets will be migrated to Fabric workloads? What will be rebuilt to fully utilise the possibilities of OneLake? And how will the transition be organised so that ongoing operations are not interrupted? collana analyses the existing data landscape, develops a target architecture on a fabric basis and accompanies the migration in a structured manner through to productive operation.
For organisations already using Power BI, Azure Synapse or Azure Data Factory, Fabric is the natural next step. For organisations building a modern data platform for the first time, Fabric is the most direct route to an architecture built for the AI era. And for organisations using Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain or Business Central, Fabric bridges the gap between operational ERP data and analytical intelligence.
A fabric implementation is as individual as the data world it is intended to unite. No two companies have the same source systems, the same analysis requirements or the same governance specifications. What is needed is a partner who not only knows the platform, but also understands what data really means in a company - and what happens if it is not right. This is precisely the approach that collana takes when supporting companies with the introduction and further development of Microsoft Fabric.
collana is a six-time certified Microsoft Solutions Partner and fulfils the requirements in several areas of expertise: Business Applications, Data & AI, Digital & App Innovation, Infrastructure, Security and Modern Work. These certifications are not an end in themselves. They prove that we not only know the Microsoft platform, but that we have mastered it at enterprise level and are continuously developing it further.
What distinguishes collana from a pure technology service provider is its understanding of what data really needs to achieve in a company. Whether it's an international BI platform for production companies, marketing data architecture for retailers or centralised data controlling for research institutes: We know the requirements, the typical data quality problems and the points at which standard architectures reach their limits. This knowledge flows into every fabric project right from the start.
collana not only supports companies right up to the go-live. The aim is a long-term partnership: from the initial data strategy analysis, through the fabric architecture and implementation, to ongoing operation and continuous further development of the platform. More than 1,000 customers in Germany, Switzerland and other European markets rely on this collaboration for projects of all sizes and complexities.
Not every company needs a complete fabric implementation right away. collana offers targeted introductory formats that quickly create clarity and deliver concrete added value without a great deal of upfront commitment. Those who are still in the orientation phase will find the Data Intelligence Workshop a structured first step. Those who are ready can start directly with the implementation.
Microsoft Fabric is a cloud-based SaaS data platform that combines data integration, data engineering, data warehousing, data science, real-time analyses and Power BI in a single environment. At its centre is OneLake, a unified data lake on which all workloads work together. Companies use Fabric to break down data silos, modernise data architectures, underpin Power BI reports with a more reliable database and build AI applications on clean, integrated enterprise data.
Azure Synapse Analytics is a PaaS solution for big data analyses and data warehousing. Microsoft Fabric is the further development and simplification: a complete SaaS offering that combines Synapse functionalities, Power BI, Azure Data Factory and Azure Machine Learning in a standardised platform. The key difference is the model: Synapse requires independent administration and integration with other Azure services. Fabric provides everything from a single source, with a shared data store (OneLake), a standardised capacity model and a central governance layer.
OneLake is the unified, logical data lake that serves as shared storage for all fabric workloads. It is based on Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, is set up automatically for each organisation and stores data in open delta parquet format. The key thing about OneLake is the principle: data is stored once and is immediately available for pipelines, notebooks, SQL analyses, Power BI reports and AI models - without copies, without synchronisation, without data loss between systems.
Microsoft Fabric is billed via so-called Fabric Capacities - SKUs such as F2, F4, F8 to F2048, which provide different computing power and cover all workloads. Power BI Premium customers can use their existing capacities for fabric. The total costs depend on the capacity used, the data volume and the workloads deployed. Compared to the separate operation of Synapse, ADF, Power BI Premium and Azure ML, the consolidated fabric costs are more favourable for many companies. A reliable cost estimate can be obtained from a structured requirements analysis with collana.
Yes, Microsoft Fabric has extensive connectors for external source systems, including SAP, Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Oracle and many more. Database mirroring allows operational databases to be mirrored to OneLake in real time without having to set up individual pipelines. Dynamics 365 data from Finance, Supply Chain and Business Central can be integrated directly into Fabric - creating the basis for reporting that brings together operational ERP data and analytical analyses.
Yes, and Fabric's SaaS model makes it particularly attractive for medium-sized companies. Eliminating the separate administration of data engineering, warehouse and BI services significantly reduces IT costs. Companies start with the Fabric capacity that meets their current needs and scale up as their requirements grow. Full integration with Power BI and Microsoft 365 means teams work with familiar tools on a modern data foundation - without a steep learning curve.
Power BI is part of Microsoft Fabric - the business intelligence and visualisation layer of the platform. Fabric is the more comprehensive framework: the data integration, data warehouse, AI modelling and real-time analysis on which Power BI is built. If you only use Power BI, you are working with a subset of Fabric. Introducing Fabric gives Power BI a much stronger, more consistent and easier to maintain database.