APAC Fabric Engineering Connection Call
After a two‑week pause for FABCON & SQLCON - The Microsoft Fabric & SQL Community Conferences, we’re excited to welcome partners back for our first Fabric Engineering Connection call since the conference. Welcome back—and what a great way to restart the conversation! 🙌 This week’s sessions bring partners closer to the people building Microsoft Fabric, with timely insights and takeaways straight from FabCon. 🎙 What’s on the agenda: Fabric AI‑Powered Automation for Pro‑Developers (Americas & EMEA) presented by Evelina Alroy-Brin and Hasan Abo-Shally Recap of Data Warehouse announcements from FabCon presented by Rakesh Krishnan and Tino Tereshko 🇺🇦 🌍 Session times: Americas & EMEA: Wednesday, March 25 | 8–9 AM PT APAC: Thursday, March 26 | 1–2 AM UTC / Wednesday, March 25 | 5–6 PM PT These calls are a great opportunity to reconnect after FabCon, hear directly from engineering, and dig deeper into what’s new—and what’s next—for Microsoft Fabric. 👉 Participation is open to members of the Fabric Partner Community. Join here: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunityAmericas & EMEA Fabric Engineering Connection
After a two‑week pause for FABCON & SQLCON - The Microsoft Fabric & SQL Community Conferences, we’re excited to welcome partners back for our first Fabric Engineering Connection call since the conference. Welcome back—and what a great way to restart the conversation! 🙌 This week’s sessions bring partners closer to the people building Microsoft Fabric, with timely insights and takeaways straight from FabCon. 🎙 What’s on the agenda: Fabric AI‑Powered Automation for Pro‑Developers (Americas & EMEA) presented by Evelina Alroy-Brin and Hasan Abo-Shally Recap of Data Warehouse announcements from FabCon presented by Rakesh Krishnan and Tino Tereshko 🇺🇦 🌍 Session times: Americas & EMEA: Wednesday, March 25 | 8–9 AM PT APAC: Thursday, March 26 | 1–2 AM UTC / Wednesday, March 25 | 5–6 PM PT These calls are a great opportunity to reconnect after FabCon, hear directly from engineering, and dig deeper into what’s new—and what’s next—for Microsoft Fabric. 👉 Participation is open to members of the Fabric Partner Community. Join here: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunityThis Week on the Fabric Engineering Connection
After a two‑week pause for FABCON & SQLCON - The Microsoft Fabric & SQL Community Conferences, we’re excited to welcome partners back for our first Fabric Engineering Connection call since the conference. Welcome back—and what a great way to restart the conversation! 🙌 This week’s sessions bring partners closer to the people building Microsoft Fabric, with timely insights and takeaways straight from FabCon. 🎙 What’s on the agenda: Fabric AI‑Powered Automation for Pro‑Developers (Americas & EMEA) presented by Evelina Alroy-Brin and Hasan Abo-Shally Recap of Data Warehouse announcements from FabCon presented by Rakesh Krishnan and Tino Tereshko 🇺🇦 🌍 Session times: Americas & EMEA: Wednesday, March 25 | 8–9 AM PT APAC: Thursday, March 26 | 1–2 AM UTC / Wednesday, March 25 | 5–6 PM PT These calls are a great opportunity to reconnect after FabCon, hear directly from engineering, and dig deeper into what’s new—and what’s next—for Microsoft Fabric. 👉 Participation is open to members of the Fabric Partner Community. Join here: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunity🚨 Partner‑Exclusive Event: AMA with Fabric Leadership
We’re excited to invite Fabric Partner Community members to a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Fabric leadership—a rare opportunity to get direct answers and insights from the team shaping Azure Data and Microsoft Fabric. Featured Guest Shireesh Thota CVP, Azure Data Databases Tuesday, March 24 8:00–9:00 AM PT With FabCon + SQLCon wrapping just days before, this session is designed for partners who want to go deeper—ask follow‑up questions, pressure‑test ideas, and understand what’s next as they plan with customers. Topics may include: What’s next for Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, and PostgreSQL Guidance on SQL Server roadmap direction Deep‑dive questions on SQL DB in Fabric Questions about the new DP‑800 Analytics Engineer exam going into beta this month Partners can submit any questions—technical, roadmap‑focused, certification‑related, or customer‑scenario driven. This event is exclusively available to members of the Fabric Partner Community. Not a member yet? Join the Fabric Partner Community to attend this AMA and unlock access to partner‑only events like this: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunity🚨 Partner‑Exclusive Event: AMA with Fabric Leadership
We’re excited to invite Fabric Partner Community members to a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Fabric leadership—a rare opportunity to get direct answers and insights from the team shaping Azure Data and Microsoft Fabric. Featured Guest Shireesh Thota CVP, Azure Data Databases Tuesday, March 24 8:00–9:00 AM PT With FabCon + SQLCon wrapping just days before, this session is designed for partners who want to go deeper—ask follow‑up questions, pressure‑test ideas, and understand what’s next as they plan with customers. Topics may include: What’s next for Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, and PostgreSQL Guidance on SQL Server roadmap direction Deep‑dive questions on SQL DB in Fabric Questions about the new DP‑800 Analytics Engineer exam going into beta this month Partners can submit any questions—technical, roadmap‑focused, certification‑related, or customer‑scenario driven. This event is exclusively available to members of the Fabric Partner Community. Not a member yet? Join the Fabric Partner Community to attend this AMA and unlock access to partner‑only events like this: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunity
In a Day (xIAD) Partner Events Program - Train the Trainer Events (DIAD/FAIAD/RTIAD/CDIAD)
We invite you to attend an upcoming Train the Trainer session for Microsoft Partners to learn more about the Microsoft In a Day (XIAD) Partner Events Programand how to lead workshops that empower customers to use and adopt Microsoft products. Our Train the Trainer events are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver successful Microsoft In a Day (XIAD) sessions. *Please note, participation is restricted to individuals representing a Microsoft Partner organization. You must register using your corporate email address that is associated with your Partner ID. Personal emails will not be approved. ✨ Why Attend? Expert Guidance: Learn from experienced trainers and get your questions answered. Comprehensive Resources: Access all the content and support you need to succeed. 📅 Upcoming Events: Dashboard in a Day This is a one-day, hands-on workshop for business analysts, covering the breadth of Power BI capabilities. April 17th, 2026 - EMEA - CEST time zone April 23rd, 2026 - Americas - PT time zone May 8th, 2026 - Americas - CT time zone June 4th, 2026 - APAC - SGT time zone Sign up here: https://aka.ms/TTTSignUp Fabric Analyst in a Day This is an intermediate-level training designed for Power BI Data Analysts who have at least one year of experience on Power BI but are new to Microsoft Fabric. April 17th, 2026 - EMEA - CEST time zone April 23rd, 2026 - Americas - PT time zone May 8th, 2026 - Americas - CT time zone June 4th, 2026 - APAC - SGT time zone Sign up here: https://aka.ms/TTTSignUp Real-Time Intelligence in a Day This is an intermediate-level training designed for Power BI developers looking to extract insights and visualize streaming and time sensitive data. April 17th, 2026 - EMEA - CEST time zone April 23rd, 2026 - Americas - PT time zone May 8th, 2026 - Americas - CT time zone June 4th, 2026 - APAC - SGT time zone Sign up here: https://aka.ms/TTTSignUp Chat with your Data in a Day This is an intermediate-level training designed for Power BI data analysts and developers to help get their models chat-ready and unlock instant insights using natural language. CDIAD TTT - April 9th, 2026 - EMEA - CEST time zone CDIAD TTT - May 5th, 2026 - APAC - SGT time zone CDIAD TTT - May 20th, 2026 - Americas - CT time zone CDIAD TTT - June 2nd, 2026 - EMEA - CEST time zone CDIAD TTT - June 8th, 2026 - APAC - SGT time zone CDIAD TTT - June 26th, 2026 - Americas - CT time zone Partner with us! Are you a Microsoft Partner interested in the opportunity to join the program and deliver Microsoft In a Day (XIAD) events? 🔍 Learn more about the program and review partner eligibility criteria: https://aka.ms/xiadpartneropportunity. 📧 Contact the XIAD Program team: xiadevents@microsoft.com 📤 Submit requests to deliver events: https://aka.ms/xIAD/PartnerEvents
Data Driven Analytics for Responsible Business Solutions, learning how to work with Power BI
Introduction In this blog post, we will be showcasing the project that we have worked on for the last couple of weeks. Here, we analysed a dataset using Power BI and its machine learning capabilities. For this, we were given the fictitious case of VenturaGear. The company was faced with the challenge of new competition, and it was our job to provide a data-driven insight into customer behaviour, feedback, and preferences. The objective was to support more effective customer targeting by identifying patterns and segments that could inform strategic decision-making, while ensuring ethical and responsible use of data. Before we jump into the course and our final results, we would like to introduce ourselves and the roles we had. Product Owner: Kylie Eggen Hello everyone! My name is Kylie, and I'm currently busy finishing my Master Responsible Digitalisation. During the DARBS course, I had the role of the product owner. This allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of both data analysis and the ethics of handling sensitive data. The course provides you with skills that could be useful in your future career, which is very nice. I liked the learning experience a lot and will definitely use it in the future! Kylie Eggen | LinkedIn Data Analyst: Ha Nguyen I am currently in the final stage of my Master’s degree in Responsible Digitalisation, focusing on the ethical and strategic use of data-driven technologies. With five years of experience using Excel for data analysis, I have developed a strong foundation in data handling and visualisation. This course allows me to expand my skills by learning to create interactive dashboards and generate actionable insights using Power BI. These competencies strengthen my ability to support responsible, data-driven decision-making in my future professional career. Ha Nguyen | LinkedIn Data Analyst: Rianne van Ee Hello! My name is Rianne, and I am currently in the process of completing my Master’s degree in Responsible Digitalisation. I chose this specialisation because I am very interested in new technologies and different perspectives. I am very interested in data analysis and learning about new software, so the DARBS course was very interesting to me. I am excited to apply my new skills in a professional environment. Rianne van Ee | LinkedIn Data Visualisation Consultant: Aya Torqui Hello! My name is Aya Torqui, and I am a Master’s student in Responsible Digitalisation at Radboud University. One of the reasons I chose this specialisation is my strong interest in how companies transform raw and sometimes ambiguous data into valuable business decisions. The DARBS course, therefore, provided the perfect opportunity for me to gain new and deeper insights into this process. In my role as a Data Visualisation Consultant, I developed new skills not only in designing visually attractive and interesting dashboards, but also in communicating a meaningful and coherent story through them. I am grateful for the opportunity to have developed these skills during the course, and I look forward to further broadening and strengthening them in my future career. Aya Torqui | LinkedIn Data Visualisation Consultant: Ting Yu Hi! My name is Ting Yu. I am currently a Master’s student of Civil Law and Responsible Digitalisation. I found the DARBS course quite interesting, and it was a whole new experience for me, because I learned that numbers are not boring. With a dashboard, it is possible to tell a story and help organisations. What I also really liked about this course was the creative side. Not only was it fun to play around with different charts and colour schemes for the dashboard, but also the video we had to make! I am curious to see what the future possibilities are. Ting Yu | LinkedIn Project Overview The goal of this project was to provide data-driven managerial recommendations to the fictitious company, VenturaGear. Eventually, it was our task to deliver a final report and a video blog in which we discussed their data and gave them recommendations on how to improve. Our focus was on supporting more effective customer targeting by identifying patterns and segments that could inform strategic decision-making. During the process, one of our main goals was to keep the data analysis responsible and ethical. Project Journey The course followed a nice structure, allowing us to learn about PowerBi gradually and expand our skills and knowledge over a couple of weeks. We started off by completing lab work. Every week we completed several online courses, and spent one lecture applying the knowledge from these courses in a lab work assignment. After a few weeks, we applied our knowledge in a milestone assignment. This was the first time we really applied our newfound skills in a practical manner. This was a really nice opportunity to see whether we could actually apply what we learned. This also came with a machine learning aspect. Even though we had a short introduction to the topic in class, none of us had worked with machine learning before. We were able to apply the knowledge we gathered about learning how to use a new system, like Power BI, on another system, in this case, machine learning. While we really struggled here at the start, after some time we figured it out and were able to work with the technology. This milestone assignment was the perfect preparation for the actual final assignment, which also had this machine learning aspect. We now knew where to start, what data to include, etc. We now also knew what to consider when looking at the ethical side of things. Like what information needs to be anonymised, or left out completely. Eventually, all our newfound knowledge was combined into making the final assignment and video blog. Technical Details Microsoft Power BI served as the main analytical environment throughout the project. We began by importing multiple CSV datasets into Power BI and preparing the data using Power Query. This involved cleaning duplicate records, correcting formatting inconsistencies, and transforming variables to ensure accurate calculations and reliable analysis. We then created a relational data model connecting key tables such as sales transactions, product information, customer behaviour, and sales reasons. Establishing these relationships allowed us to analyse data across multiple dimensions and generate deeper insights into customer activity and online purchasing patterns. Interactive dashboards were developed using Power BI’s visualisation tools, accessible colour themes, and slicers, allowing users to explore insights dynamically. Rather than presenting static results, the dashboard encouraged managers to interact with the data and investigate patterns independently. In addition to descriptive analytics, we applied a machine learning model (XGBoost) to identify factors influencing the sales of the top revenue-generating products. This introduced us to predictive analytics and highlighted the importance of feature selection, handling missing values, and critically interpreting model outputs. Combining visualisation with machine learning enabled us to move beyond reporting toward data-driven decision support. Results and Outcomes Before we could analyse our data, we ran into a few problems. Firstly, our unit prices seemed to be inflated in the dataset. The decimal was removed, leading to unreasonably high prices. To solve this, we recalculated the LineTotal, using the formula that can be seen below. Another problem we ran into was that we seemed to have a lot of missing data. We noticed this while looking at the sales reasons. A third of the data ended up blank. We ended up excluding the blank values, so that we were still able to analyse the remaining data. To really effectively target customers, we felt it was important to analyse the reasons people made their purchases. Through our analysis, we found that for VentureGear, the biggest contributor was price. We found that VenturaGear mainly made its sales in Australia. Lesson Learned Working with new systems The main lesson that we learned is how to start using a new system. The way in which we were taught how to use Power BI showed us a nice way of approaching new things. We believe this can be useful in other areas of our professional lives. 2. Data analysis Most of us were a little intimidated when we first heard that we were going to be analysing data through a new program. However, once we started, we noticed that when we all put our minds to it, it is quite manageable. We have all gained some understanding of data analysis and how to visualise this. 3. Teamwork A big factor during this project was teamwork. Our team was divided up into different roles. That meant that there was teamwork between the two data analysts and data visualisation consultants, but also between different roles. We found it to be really important to have teamwork between all these actors. We noticed that the further we got into the project, the smoother this interaction went. Collaboration and Teamwork On this project, we worked as a team. Our team consists of five people. Kylie Eggen was the Product Owner. Her role was to take care of the overview of the project. Ha Nguyen and Rianne van Ee were the Data Analysts for this project. Aya Torqui and Ting Yu were the Data Visualisation Consultants. We mostly stuck to our roles, but noticed that everything needed to happen in collaboration. So even though we were all mainly busy with our own roles, we were all involved in each other as well. We noticed this really helped in making the project a coherent whole. Future Development While this project generated valuable insights, there are several opportunities for further development. A potential next step would be integrating real-time data into Power BI. Expanding the dashboard with automated data refresh will allow managers to track performance continuously and respond more quickly to changing customer behaviour. Another area for future development involves extending the machine learning component. Rather than focusing only on identifying predictors of key revenue-generating products, the model could be expanded to include customer segmentation, such as grouping customers into categories like high-value customers, discount-sensitive buyers, or frequent online shoppers. In addition, the model could be developed further to support purchase prediction, enabling forecasts of seasonal demand, identifying customers likely to make repeat purchases, and determining which products are most preferred by specific customer groups. These enhancements would provide a more dynamic understanding of customer behaviour and support more targeted, data-driven decision-making. Incorporating more complete behavioural data or improving survey participation rates would also help reduce missing values and increase the reliability of insights. And finally, for future research, the organisation could consider introducing clear consent options on the web shop to help customers better understand what data is being collected. These options would also allow customers to choose what information they want to share, improving transparency and strengthening customer trust. Conclusion This project allowed us to learn how data analytics can help organisations make smarter and more responsible business decisions. Using Power BI, we transformed complex customer and sales data into clear, interactive insights that help managers better understand online behaviour, purchasing motivations, and performance trends. Beyond building technical skills, we also learned how important data quality, transparency, and ethical considerations are when working with sensitive customer data. Throughout the project, we discovered that data analysis is an iterative process that requires continuous evaluation, critical thinking, and careful interpretation of results. Most importantly, we realised that meaningful analytics is never an individual effort but a collaborative process, where teamwork and shared problem-solving play a key role in turning data into valuable insights. Overall, this project strengthened our ability to bridge technical analytics with responsible digitalisation principles. By combining business understanding, visualisation skills, and ethical awareness, we gained a clearer perspective on how tools like Power BI can enable professionals to create meaningful, data-driven solutions that are both impactful and responsible. Call to Action After experiencing this learning journey, we encourage you to engage with tools such as Power BI. As our teacher told us, ‘‘You are going to hit a wall.’’ That is exactly what happened to us, but pushing through those moments allowed us to create a deeper understanding and develop new skills. At the same time, we tried to stay aware of the ethical implications of working with data. During the project, we always ensured to stay transparent and responsible in our analysis. We encourage you to challenge yourself! Experiment with new technologies and step outside of your comfort zone. What we also think you should remember is that a strong analysis is not only dependent on technical skills, but it is also about staying transparent, responsible, and trustworthy. On behalf of group 3, thank you for taking the time to read our summary. Wehope it has been useful. Feel free to reach out for any remaining questions!
🚀 FabCon + SQLCon Partner Social Sprint
A 4‑Day LinkedIn Challenge for Partners Attending FabCon + SQLCon in Atlanta If you’re joining us in Atlanta this March for FabCon + SQLCon 2026, we’ve got a new way for you to amplify your impact: the Partner Social Sprint — a daily LinkedIn challenge designed to spotlight partner voices, share real‑world insights, and have some fun along the way. Whether you’re presenting, staffing a booth, or attending sessions, this is your chance to tell your story and connect with the global Microsoft Fabric & SQL community. 🔥 What Is the Partner Social Sprint? A 4‑day LinkedIn posting challenge running during FabCon + SQLCon 2026 in Atlanta. Each day has a theme, and every post earns you entries to win exclusive Fabric SWAG, including the fan‑favorite Fabric Kicks. 🗓 Daily Themes (Conference Week) Tuesday, March 17 – Day 0 (Travel / Partner Day) Why I’m going / why I’m here Wednesday, March 18 – Day 1 One big learning Thursday, March 19 – Day 2 Build your practice Friday, March 20 – Day 3 Customer impact ✅ How It Works If you’re a partner attending FabCon + SQLCon in Atlanta: Post once per day on LinkedIn during the event, following the daily theme. Use the hashtags: #FabConSQLCon26 #PartnerSocialSprintSweepstakes #MicrosoftPartner Tag the FabCon & SQLCon – The Microsoft Fabric & SQL Community Conferences LinkedIn page. Submit all your LinkedIn post URLs via the entry form. 👉 Each post = 1 entry, and if you post all 4 days, you’ll get 1 bonus entry. 🏆 What You Can Win Fabric SWAG Fabric Kicks Recognition in the Fabric Partner Community and across our channels 🌐 Who Should Join? Microsoft partners attending FabCon + SQLCon in Atlanta Partner sellers, architects, engineers, and community champions who want to: Share key learnings in real time Highlight their Fabric & SQL practices Showcase customer success and impact 👉 Ready to Sprint With Us? Get all the details and submit your posts here: https://aka.ms/PartnerSocialSprint Let’s light up LinkedIn with the stories, insights, and innovation coming out of FabCon + SQLCon. We can’t wait to see your posts from Atlanta!APAC Fabric Engineering Connection
Excited to share what’s ahead for this week’s Fabric Engineering Connection sessions — your weekly opportunity to hear directly from the Microsoft Fabric engineering teams and stay ahead of what’s coming next in the platform. 🎙️ Featured Topics & Speakers: 🔧 Updates on DBT Job Abhishek Narain, Principal PM Manager 🤖 Upcoming Capabilities in Fabric Data Agents Misha Desai, Principal Product Manager Virginia Roman, Senior Product Manager Shreyas Canchi Radhakrishna, Product Manager 🌍 Americas & EMEA 📅 Wednesday, February 25 ⏰ 8:00–9:00 AM PT 🌏 APAC 📅 Thursday, February 26 ⏰ 1:00–2:00 AM UTC (Also available Wednesday, February 25, 5:00–6:00 PM PT) Whether you're deep in deployment, scaling customer workloads, or exploring new Fabric capabilities, these sessions are packed with insights to help you accelerate your practice. 👉 Not yet part of the Fabric Partner Community? Join here: https://lnkd.in/g_PRdfjt Let’s keep learning, building, and shaping the future of Fabric—together. 💡Americas & EMEA Fabric Engineering Connection
Excited to share what’s ahead for this week’s Fabric Engineering Connection sessions — your weekly opportunity to hear directly from the Microsoft Fabric engineering teams and stay ahead of what’s coming next in the platform. 🎙️ Featured Topics & Speakers: 🔧 Updates on DBT Job Abhishek Narain, Principal PM Manager 🤖 Upcoming Capabilities in Fabric Data Agents Misha Desai, Principal Product Manager Virginia Roman, Senior Product Manager Shreyas Canchi Radhakrishna, Product Manager 🌍 Americas & EMEA 📅 Wednesday, February 25 ⏰ 8:00–9:00 AM PT 🌏 APAC 📅 Thursday, February 26 ⏰ 1:00–2:00 AM UTC (Also available Wednesday, February 25, 5:00–6:00 PM PT) Whether you're deep in deployment, scaling customer workloads, or exploring new Fabric capabilities, these sessions are packed with insights to help you accelerate your practice. 👉 Not yet part of the Fabric Partner Community? Join here: https://lnkd.in/g_PRdfjt Let’s keep learning, building, and shaping the future of Fabric—together. 💡
