MVP Dominick Raimato brings real-time intelligence to life using Microsoft Fabric and Raspberry Pi devices, making complex data concepts tangible, hands‑on, and accessible for everyone.
What Happens When Real‑Time Data Gets Hands‑On? MVP Dominick Raimato Shows Us
When you walk into a conference session and someone immediately pulls out a Raspberry Pi, you know you’re in for something fun. And when that someone is Microsoft MVP Dominick Raimato, you’re definitely about to learn something unforgettable.
At the PASS Data Community Summit, Dominick showcased in his session how real‑time intelligence becomes real‑world magic - powered by Microsoft Fabric, a few pocket‑sized devices, and a whole lot of creativity. His goal? Make real‑time data feel tangible, interactive, and exciting for everyone - no technical background required.
Dominick Raimato shows the Raspberry Pi devices that power his hands‑on real‑time intelligence demo with Microsoft Fabric
Why Raspberry Pi? Because Seeing Is Believing
Dominick didn’t choose Raspberry Pi because it’s trendy. He used it because people learn best when they can touch what they’re learning. Years ago, at The Hershey Company, he and a colleague built a portable IoT‑to‑ML solution that streamed predictions in real time so stakeholders could literally watch data come alive. That same idea - “let people touch the data” - is what inspired him to bring Raspberry Pi into the Microsoft Fabric world.
With Fabric, he rebuilt the experience so anyone in the room could influence the data themselves. Tap the device. Trigger events. Watch predictions stream instantly. It’s hands‑on learning meets high‑energy show‑and‑tell.
The Raspberry Pi devices Dominick Raimato used to bring real‑time intelligence to life during his Microsoft Fabric demo.
The Demo Challenge No One Sees Coming
Conference sessions move fast. Like - really fast. Dominick had just minutes between sessions to set up a network for six devices and connect to a projector. Re‑creating his old Ubuntu‑powered portable network didn’t go smoothly (RIP to the stability issues), but a recommendation for the perfect travel router saved the day. Because of course: behind every great demo is a great piece of travel gear.
Explaining Real‑Time Intelligence… Without the Jargon
If you’re new to the topic, Dominick has a way of making it all click immediately. Take this example he uses: You get alerts on your phone all day - messages, news, reminders. Now imagine getting a proactive heads‑up that you need an umbrella before stepping outside. That’s real‑time intelligence: constant, instant insights that help you decide what to do right now.
Why Real‑Time Data Matters More Than Ever
Businesses aren’t waiting for dashboards anymore - they need information as it happens. In healthcare, fraud detection, retail, and manufacturing, a 15‑minute delay isn’t acceptable. In some cases, it’s life‑or‑death. Real‑Time Intelligence enables immediate action: the moment something changes, your system knows - and responds.
How Fabric Makes It All Easier
Traditionally, real‑time architecture requires stitching together Event Hubs, Stream Analytics, storage containers, ML models, and more. With Microsoft Fabric? You can run the whole pipeline in one place, without spinning up any Azure resources. It’s simpler, faster, and far more accessible - perfect for demos, teaching, and prototyping bold ideas.
Real‑World Impact: From Weather Sensors to… Twizzlers?
One of Dominick’s favorite examples is a project from his time at Hershey. Using concepts like his demo, their team created a solution to predict Twizzlers product weights during extrusion - helping operators avoid underweights (rework) and overweights (giving away product). The goal wasn’t to replace workers; it was to empower them with real-time insights for better control. You can read more how Hershey used IoT for improved efficiency in making Twizzlers.
Want to Try It Yourself?
Dominick points newcomers to a few easy, approachable ways to start experimenting:
- A no‑cost Microsoft Fabric Real-Time Intelligence exercise using Santander Cycles data.
- His own Raspberry Pi series (in progress!) where you can replicate his demo step by step.
No engineering background required - just curiosity.
The Future: Data That Moves People
Dominick sees a world where event‑driven systems are core to modern analytics. Real‑time dashboards shouldn’t be “hotel art”—interesting to look at but driving no action. The future belongs to insights that trigger immediate decisions, escalating eventually into full automation as organizations mature their data strategy.
The Most Underrated Skills for This Work
Here’s the part that surprises many aspiring data pros: Dominick says the most important skills aren’t technical at all. Communication, project management, building business cases, and cross‑team collaboration often matter more than coding. Real‑time projects touch many parts of an organization, and success requires navigating that complexity with people skills.
One Last Piece of Advice
If you’re thinking of taking on a similar project: expect things to go wrong. Dominick’s demo has broken – spectacularly - mid‑presentation three times. But failures are part of innovation. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture and the long-term value your idea can bring.
About MVP Dominick Raimato
Dominick is a Microsoft MVP recognized for expertise in data analytics and cloud technologies. He’s passionate about making complex topics feel simple, approachable, and - most of all - fun. Through hands‑on demos, real‑world stories, and community contributions, he inspires data professionals to explore the future of real-time intelligence and IoT.
Photo credit of Dominick Raimato at Pittsburgh SQL Saturday: MVP Eugene Meidinger
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