Switched On: A Bowdark Podcast

Want to learn more? Check out these related blog posts from James:

Is Microsoft Fabric Right for You? A Practical Guide for Power BI Customers | Bowdark

Unused Data Is Killing Your Business Performance | Bowdark

Buying business software is about more than features, demos, and subscription prices. In this episode of Switched On, Kevin Endres and James Wood discuss some of the less obvious factors organizations should consider before making a software purchase, from fit/gap analysis and integration capabilities to data access, security, extensibility, compliance, and hidden costs. Whether you're evaluating a major ERP platform or a smaller SaaS solution, the goal is simple: know what questions to ask before you sign.

What We Cover

Many organizations enter transformation initiatives with genuine commitment — and still go nowhere. In this episode, we dig into why so many leaders find themselves ready to move but stuck in place, and what it actually takes to break through organizational gridlock.

We explore one of the most common and costly mistakes in transformation: treating it like a side project layered on top of everyone's day job. Real transformation requires a dedicated team capable of leading an end-to-end effort — from research and design through build and rollout. Buying technology, it turns out, is not the same as building capability.

The data backs this up. A recent McKinsey study found that 70% of large-scale digital transformation efforts fail due to lack of resource availability and insufficient investment in the right foundations. CIO.com reports that 67% of transformation projects are delayed because of skill shortages — particularly in AI, cloud, and modern data technologies. And according to Gartner, a leading reason these efforts stall is the absence of internal expertise and change leadership required to actually execute.

We unpack what those gaps look like in practice, why change leadership is so consistently underestimated, and what the difference is between executive sponsorship on paper versus real ownership in the work. We also get practical — what does a leadership team do today if they feel stuck? How do you balance quick wins with long-term sustainability? And what should progress actually look like in the first 90 days of a well-run transformation?

If your organization knows it needs to change but can't seem to make it move, this episode is for you.

This episode dives into the transformative world of Microsoft Fabric with Microsoft MVP and "Data God" Chris Wagner. Whether you’re a data enthusiast, a business leader, or a technology professional, this episode will give you an insider's look at how Microsoft’s latest data platform is reshaping the way organizations manage, analyze, and act on their data.

🗂️ What’s in Store:

The Origin Story

• How Microsoft Fabric evolved into the unified platform it is today.
• Key milestones in its development and the strategic vision behind it.

What Sets Fabric Apart

• A breakdown of Fabric’s unique features, including its unified architecture.
• Comparisons to traditional data platforms and what makes Fabric a game-changer.

Notable Capabilities

• From Data Factory to Power BI and beyond, explore Fabric’s ecosystem.
• Highlighting powerful tools like Data Activator, Lakehouse, and Real-Time Analytics.
• How these capabilities empower teams to innovate at scale.

Building a Data Culture

• Why building a data culture matters for modern organizations.
• Practical steps on how Fabric enables everyone in your organization to access, analyze, and act on data securely.
• Real-world examples of businesses transforming their decision-making with Fabric.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft Fabric is more than just a data platform; it’s a revolution in how data is managed and used.
• Unified tools and seamless integration make it easier than ever to build end-to-end data pipelines.
• Fabric fosters collaboration and puts the power of data-driven insights in the hands of every user, from analysts to executives.

🔗 Show Resources:

• Chris Wagner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wagnerchris/
• Chris Wagner's KratosBI YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisWagnerDatagod
• Microsoft Fabric Home Page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-fabric
• Bowdark Fabric Services: https://www.bowdark.com/services/spark/microsoft-fabric