Are you tired of wrestling with data that lives in silos across your business? Here's the truth: your data estate (every system from ERP to CRM, HR to finance) should be working for you, not against you.
Most senior leaders we speak to face the same problem. Different departments use different reporting tools, each holding their own version of the truth. IT gets requests for data exports that take days to fulfil. And when the board needs strategic insights, someone's manually combining information from multiple systems that were already out of date before the meeting started.
Raw data sitting in spreadsheets won't make you money. What you need is data transformed into actionable intelligence that drives real business decisions. That's where modernising your data estate comes in - and why Microsoft Fabric isn't just another platform, it's a game-changer.
What Stops UK Businesses from Modernising Data Infrastructure?
Three objections come up repeatedly when we talk to senior leaders about data modernisation:
"We've already invested in our current systems" - Sunk cost fallacy. Your legacy infrastructure is costing you more in manual workarounds, duplicate data entry, and missed opportunities than a modern platform would.
"Our team doesn't have the skills" - That's why implementation partners exist. Most organisations need guidance, not a complete IT transformation.
"It'll disrupt business operations" - Phased implementation means you can pilot with a single department, prove value, then scale. No big bang required.
The reality? Waiting costs more than acting. Every quarter you delay is another quarter of manual reconciliation, outdated reporting, and decisions based on incomplete information.
What is Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric is Microsoft's cloud-native data platform that unifies data engineering, data science, real-time analytics, and business intelligence in one Software-as-a-Service solution.
The key breakthrough? OneLake brings all your data together, creating a genuine single source of truth. No more hunting across systems or reconciling conflicting reports.
Here's what makes Microsoft Fabric different:
One Platform, Everything Unified: Fabric combines data engineering, data science, real-time analytics, and business intelligence in a single SaaS solution. OneLake becomes your central data repository - one place, one truth.
Power BI Integration That Works: Deep integration with Power BI means insights live closer to your data. No more fragmented tools or data duplication.
Self-Service Without the Chaos: Your teams can perform analytics independently while IT maintains proper governance, security, and scalability. Best of both worlds.
Automation That Saves Time and Money: Automated data pipelines reduce manual intervention, minimise errors, and free up your people for strategic work instead of data wrangling.
Security and Governance Built In: Microsoft Entra integration provides secure access and compliance management at scale. No bolted-on solutions or security gaps.
Company-Wide Analytics Adoption: From executive dashboards to frontline KPIs, Fabric breaks down silos and enables cross-functional insights across your entire organisation.
Connect Everything: CRM, HR, project systems, Excel files - Fabric integrates with all your data sources as a unified BI layer that scales with your business.
While any business can benefit from Microsoft Fabric, it's valuable for organisations that need unified data across departments, scalable analytics, and robust governance - typically medium to large enterprises or growing businesses with complex data needs.
Benefits of Migrating to Microsoft Fabric
Eliminates Tool Chaos and Reduces Costs
Microsoft Fabric stops the merry-go-round of disconnected data tools. Everything happens in one platform - ingestion, transformation, reporting. No more data moving between systems, no duplication, better collaboration.
The business impact? Simple operations, better data integrity, faster decisions. One operations director told us they eliminated three separate analytics subscriptions within six months of moving to Fabric, saving £47,000 annually while improving reporting quality across departments.
Self-Service Analytics IT Can Trust
Business users get independence, IT keeps control. Teams explore data and build reports without technical bottlenecks, but everything stays within secure, compliant boundaries. This balance creates data-driven culture where decisions happen faster.
Your department heads can build their own dashboards. Your operations team can track performance in real-time. Your leadership can pull board reports without waiting for IT. All governed, all secure, all auditable.
Performance and Predictable Pricing
Real-time dashboards, faster queries, reduced latency - even as data volumes grow.
Microsoft Fabric pricing gives you options:
Consumption-based pricing means you pay for what you use - ideal for variable workloads or testing the platform.
Capacity-based pricing gives predictable monthly costs - no surprises - because you pay for the capacity you choose. Budget holders prefer this model for forecasting.
Reservation pricing delivers up to 40.5% savings compared to pay-as-you-go, making scaling budget friendly for long-term commitments.
How Does Microsoft Fabric Implementation Work?
Choosing Your Implementation Partner
Here's what matters when selecting who implements your data platform:
Microsoft partnership credentials - Look for Solutions Partner designations. TSG holds multiple Microsoft Solutions Partner credentials because we've delivered successful implementations, not just passed exams.
Industry experience - Generic IT consultants don't understand your sector's specific challenges, regulatory requirements, or operational pressures. Choose partners who've worked with businesses in your industry.
Implementation methodology - Phased rollouts reduce risk. Avoid partners who propose big bang deployments with six-month timelines before you see value.
Post-implementation support - Platform deployment is the beginning, not the end. You need ongoing support as your organisation's needs evolve and Microsoft releases new capabilities.
The Implementation Process
Here's what modernising your data estate with Microsoft Fabric looks like:
Assessment (2-3 weeks): We evaluate your current data landscape honestly. Which systems hold business-critical data? What manual processes exist? Where are the integration gaps? This isn't box-ticking - we're identifying where Fabric delivers the most value for your organisation.
Planning (2-4 weeks): Clear goals, realistic timelines, measurable success metrics. We map dependencies, identify quick wins, and get stakeholders aligned before any technical work begins. Poor planning kills more projects than poor technology.
Pilot (6-8 weeks): Start with a focused use case - often departmental reporting or operational dashboards. Your team gets hands-on experience, we validate assumptions, and you see value quickly. Success here builds momentum for wider rollout.
Rollout (3-6 months): Scale implementation across departments using lessons from the pilot. We optimise performance, address adoption challenges, and ensure governance remains robust as more users access the platform.
Microsoft and partners like TSG offer migration accelerators, governance templates, and workshops to support this journey and reduce risk.
Start small, think big: A focused pilot builds momentum for confident scaling across your organisation.
The Bottom Line on Microsoft Fabric
Modernising with Microsoft Fabric isn't just a technical upgrade - it's a strategic move that unlocks agility, insight, and innovation across your business.
Fabric transforms your data estate, streamlines operations, and empowers teams with unified analytics and real-time intelligence. The question isn't whether you should modernise your data infrastructure - it's whether you can afford not to.
Ready to see what Fabric can do for your business? Book a workshop, request a demo, or schedule a consultation to see it in action and understand how it fits your specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric pricing depends on several factors:
- Your chosen SKU tier (F2 to F2048)
- Whether you opt for pay-as-you-go, capacity-based, or reserved capacity
- Additional services like Power BI Pro and OneLake storage
For planning deployments or budgeting, use the Fabric Capacity Estimator or review your current Azure/M365 agreements for bundled options. Most mid-sized organisations start around £3,000-£5,000 monthly depending on user count and data volumes.
Need help making the most of your Microsoft licences? Speak to us.
Where do I find Microsoft Fabric licensing?
Microsoft Fabric licensing is available through:
- Microsoft Volume Licensing
- Microsoft Direct
- Microsoft Partners (TSG is a trusted Microsoft partner)
Volume licensing typically offers better rates for organisations with 50+ users. We can help you navigate the options and structure licensing that aligns with your budget cycle.
Is Microsoft Fabric data sharing easy?
Yes. Microsoft Fabric data sharing is designed to work across departments and teams through workspaces and shortcuts. It's:
- Simple - users share data without IT intervention
- Secure - built-in governance and identity-based access controls
- Scalable - works across teams and subsidiaries
- Efficient - eliminates duplication and manual file transfers
Different departments can access the insights they need while working from the same trusted source.
What's the difference between Microsoft Fabric and Power BI?
Power BI is business intelligence and reporting. Microsoft Fabric is the complete data platform that includes Power BI plus data engineering, data science, and real-time analytics capabilities.
Think of it this way: Power BI creates the dashboards. Fabric provides the unified data foundation, transformation tools, and governance framework that makes those dashboards possible at enterprise scale.
Can Microsoft Fabric replace our existing data warehouse?
Yes. Microsoft Fabric includes data warehousing capabilities through OneLake and can replace traditional data warehouses. The key question is migration strategy - most organisations run parallel systems during transition rather than immediate cutover.
We recommend starting with new use cases in Fabric while maintaining your existing warehouse, then migrating workloads systematically based on business priority and technical dependencies.
