A New Era of Data Engineering with Microsoft Fabric

Many organisations still struggle with operational data scattered across different systems such as CRMs, ERPs, spreadsheets and everything in between.

When each system holds its own version of the truth, it becomes hard to get a clear view of performance or identify what is really working day to day.

Traditionally, tools like Azure Data Factory and Databricks have been used to bring all this data together through ETL. This involves extracting, transforming and loading information into a central platform for reporting. It works, but it can be complex and it often introduces delays before data is ready for use.

With Microsoft Fabric, things are starting to change. Fabric brings ETL pipelines, data engineering notebooks and analytics into one workspace, making it easier to build a clear and consistent view of your data estate.

One of the most interesting developments is OneLake Mirroring. This new capability provides an ETL-less, near real time connection to operational databases such as Azure SQL, Cosmos DB and Snowflake. Changes in source systems are automatically mirrored into Fabric, which means fresher insights without waiting for scheduled refreshes.

At F-Tek, we have been investigating how these new capabilities can simplify and accelerate the data journey for our clients. We are exploring how a mirrored, near real time approach could complement or even replace traditional ETL in certain scenarios.

It is an exciting time for data engineering and we are keen to see how OneLake Mirroring shapes the next generation of reporting and analytics.

Have you started exploring Fabric yet, or are you still running separate pipelines and ETL tools? If you’d like to explore how Fabric can transform your data engineering journey, get in touch with the F-Tek team.