We’re breaking new ground on Fabric Threads! We brought on a Microsoft insider for the first time on the Fabric Threads show.

Palak Sharma, Product Go-To-Market Lead at Microsoft, joined us to pull back the curtain on what’s next in the Microsoft Fabric universe. We chat about exclusive FabCon 2025 previews, the importance of Fabric training, and maximizing the power of Fabric Data Lake.

A Sneak Peek at FabCon 2025

Microsoft Fabric Community Conference, or FabCon as it’s usually referred to, is Microsoft’s flagship event for Fabric.
FabCon stands out from other tech conferences because it’s not just a developer conference or a thought leadership event—it brings everything together in one comprehensive experience. The sessions include product announcements, customer success stories, technical deep dives, and networking opportunities.

At FabCon 2025, Palak says attendees can expect an impressive lineup of over 200 sessions, along with workshops, keynotes, and lots of networking opportunities. For those who want extra hands-on experience, pre-conference workshops are scheduled before the main event, offering interactive training on data engineering, real-time analytics, and AI integration.

Putting the “Community” in Fabric Community Conference

Community is a big focus for the event—it’s the Fabric Community Conference, after all. One of the main goals for the event is to help data experts, whether they’re data practitioners, business decision-makers, or technical leaders, come together to share knowledge and dig into best practices.

And community plays a big part in shaping the FabCon sessions that attendees experience.
Every year, the event organizers lean heavily into community input. They make sure to integrate themes coming up among Fabric champions and content creators, new features that users can take advantage of, and most-anticipated releases.

FabCon 2025 Buzz: Fabric Databases

According to Palak, the community has been buzzing about Fabric Databases—and for good reason.

We talked about Fabric Databases on Fabric Threads right after it was announced at Microsoft Ignite. This new feature brings real-time analytics and transactional processing together in one unified system, eliminating the need for separate data lakes, warehouses, and operational stores.

What makes this a game-changer? Real-time write-back, built-in governance, and AI-driven performance tuning.

Instead of exporting data for updates or relying on third-party solutions, users can now modify and analyze data within the Fabric ecosystem. For finance, operations, and analytics teams, this means more accurate planning, faster decision-making, and a truly connected data strategy.

Training: The Key to Fabric Adoption Success

If an organization is looking to implement Microsoft Fabric, training is one of the most critical components for a successful implementation. Managing change and ensuring teams know how to use the platform effectively is a top challenge during Fabric adoption.

Palak emphasized how FabCon fits as one important part of this overall Fabric training journey. FabCon shouldn’t be viewed as just a one-time event but rather as part of a larger customer journey that includes preparation before the conference.

So, come prepared with topics you want to dig into and have an idea of the people you want to connect with, as well as follow-up steps to put your learning into action.

One of the best ways to double down on all the great things you learn at this year’s FabCon is to invest in a hands-on training workshop.

Fabric Analyst in a Day (FAIAD) and Collectiv’s Fabric Training

For organizations newer to Microsoft Fabric, Fabric Analyst in a Day (FAIAD) workshops have been a great starting point for understanding Fabric’s core features. These workshops typically include an overview of Fabric, hands-on demos, and guided labs covering key areas like data centralization, workflow automation, and report creation.

Collectiv has hosted three FAIAD sessions so far this year, and all were filled to capacity—demonstrating the growing demand for Fabric training.

Organizations looking for more hands-on learning can explore Collectiv’s 2-Day Fabric Training & Workshop. This private training goes beyond introductory concepts, providing teams with deep-dive sessions on Fabric architecture, governance, and real-world implementation strategies to accelerate adoption.

For teams who are serious about making an organizational impact with Fabric, investing in Fabric training should absolutely be a priority.

More Opportunities for Ongoing Education

We asked Palak about other resources for Fabric users looking to enhance their knowledge, besides FabCon, FAIAD workshops, and Collectiv’s 2-Day Fabric Training and Workshop. She shared a handful of valuable resources:

• Microsoft Learn: Curated learning paths and certification exams
• Fabric Partner Community: Engagement with Fabric teams and peers
• Live Learning Sessions: Free sessions to help prepare for certification exams

Maximizing Your Fabric Data Lake Implementation

While training prepares your team for success with Fabric, the technical implementation of your data lake requires equally thoughtful planning.

During conversations with Chief Data Officers, Palak frequently hears about the challenges of siloed systems that have evolved over years of disconnected growth. These legacy environments often create bottlenecks that prevent organizations from fully leveraging their data assets.

Here are Palak’s best tips on ensuring a smooth Fabric implementation:

Build on a Solid Foundation

The journey to a successful Fabric implementation begins with a thorough evaluation of your current data environment. This means looking beyond surface-level issues to identify the root causes of data silos and bottlenecks.
With this assessment in hand, you can design a comprehensive migration strategy that positions One Lake as your central data repository, optimizing data formats for maximum compatibility across your organization.

Streamline Data Operations

Your ETL pipelines are the backbone of your data operations, so recreating them using Fabric’s data engineering workload is a critical step.

The platform’s native connectors make integrating with various data sources simple, streamlining what used to be a complex and time-consuming process.

Throughout this migration, implementing proper governance and security through Microsoft Purview ensures your data remains protected with appropriate access controls and compliance policies.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Many organizations stumble during implementation by rushing into migration without adequate planning. Palak emphasizes that not everything needs to move to Fabric immediately—a phased approach often leads to better results than attempting a wholesale migration.

Equally important is avoiding poor data lake structure that might inadvertently create new silos, defeating the purpose of your migration.

Make Data Discoverable

Effective data cataloging deserves special attention because it directly impacts how easily users find and utilize data. Without proper cataloging, even the most well-designed lake becomes difficult to navigate.

This connects directly to our earlier discussion on training. Even the most elegantly designed Fabric implementation falls short if your team lacks the knowledge to use it effectively.

Looking Ahead to Better Data in 2025 and Beyond

Microsoft Fabric continues to evolve as one of Microsoft’s most significant product launches in recent years. The platform’s integration capabilities, user-friendly interface, and robust features make it a powerful solution for organizations looking to break down data silos.

Whether you’re new to Fabric or looking to expand your implementation, FabCon 2025 offers an unparalleled opportunity to deepen your knowledge and discover new ways to leverage the platform.

• If you’re looking to enhance your Fabric skills, check out Collectiv’s 2-Day Fabric Training & Workshop.
• If your goal is to maximize your Fabric Data Lake, Collectiv’s Fabric Data Lake Implementation is worth considering.
• If you’re attending FabCon 2025, be sure to stop by Booth 421 to meet the Collectiv team!

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