Explicit Measures Podcast 495: Do You Really Need Fabric?
Jan 21, 2026
Mike and Tommy dive into the intricacies of Microsoft Fabric, questioning its necessity and warning against over-provisioning. They explore intriguing case studies revealing significant cost savings by switching to more suitable solutions. The duo also discusses data preparation for Gen AI, the limitations of Azure tools, and the importance of aligning AI capabilities with business needs. With insights on managing skill gaps and cautioning overestimations of Fabric, they provide practical advice for organizations navigating complex tech landscapes.
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GenAI Needs Data Fundamentals First
- Being GenAI-ready requires clean data, governance, and clear business context before adding models.
- Without defined definitions, AI will misinterpret similarly named columns across teams.
Use OneLake Catalog For Practical Governance
- Do prefer OneLake Catalog for practical governance if you're already on Fabric since it's included.
- Avoid buying separate governance tools unless you need Purview's advanced upstream scanning features.
Automating Lead Triage With AI
- Mike built an automated demo-request pipeline using Nan and Azure AI Foundry to triage leads.
- The system filters junk, drafts emails with GPT-4.1, and notifies Mike in Teams for quick follow-up.