Landon and Brick unpack the biggest announcements about Microsoft Fabric from the 2025 Microsoft Build Conference. From long-awaited features like Power BI write-back and built-in CICD, to major shifts like Cosmos DB moving into Fabric and Copilot now available at the F2 tier, this is a must-watch for data professionals and business leaders keeping an eye on Microsoft’s data ecosystem.

Whether you're already working in Fabric or planning your move from Synapse, this breakdown will help you understand what’s here, what’s coming, and what to watch out for.

Learn more about how Blue Margin helps companies turn data into growth: https://www.bluemargin.com

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In this episode, Blue Margin’s Kate Eberle and Greg explore why forward-thinking private equity firms are investing in firm-level data lakehouses and how it’s transforming deal flow, operations, investor relations, and beyond.

From reducing manual reporting to enabling AI-driven insights and natural language querying, they outline real-world use cases, challenges, and the best first steps to take.

Subscribe for more insights on data strategy, business intelligence, and private equity performance.

Want to learn how Blue Margin partners with PE firms?
Visit https://bluemargin.com to demo our PE Power BI Dashboards

In this episode, Brick and Kate break down the five most impactful metrics for middle-market companies to focus on when implementing Business Intelligence (BI). These metrics help businesses not only measure performance, but also take strategic action based on real-time insights.

Whether you're in services, manufacturing, or another industry, this conversation dives into practical examples and key considerations for tracking performance across the organization.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on data-driven business strategies.

Rolling out a new BI system or dashboard? It's not just about the data; it's about the people. 

In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick and Landon dive into the hidden influence of company culture on BI adoption. From Excel loyalty to leadership modeling and psychological safety, they unpack the human side of digital transformation.

Learn how to overcome resistance, build trust, and drive lasting engagement with your dashboards.

Need help getting your dashboards adopted? Visit us at https://bluemargin.com

Are you chasing metrics that look good but don’t do good?

In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick Thompson and Landon Oaks dive into the common trap of vanity metrics, those flashy numbers that don’t actually move the needle. They explore how to identify the right metrics, involve the right stakeholders, and why iteration is key to building dashboards that drive real results.

Whether you’re building your first dashboard or refining a mature BI strategy, this episode will help you shift from data that decorates to data that delivers.

Learn how Blue Margin helps companies turn data into a strategic asset: bluemargin.com

 In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, host Landon Oaks sits down with Azure Data Architect Mark Bender to discuss Blue Margin’s first internal leap into AI: Project Celeste. 

Still in its early stages, Celeste is designed to boost developer and analyst productivity by using large language models to generate SQL queries from natural language prompts, without exposing sensitive data. Landon and Mark unpack how Celeste works, what makes it different from traditional AI chatbots, and how it's poised to change the way Blue Margin teams approach unfamiliar data systems like NetSuite. 

Whether you're an AI enthusiast or a data professional, this behind-the-scenes look offers insight into the future of analytics at Blue Margin. 

Are you trying to decide between Microsoft Synapse and Microsoft Fabric for your data architecture? In this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, we break down the key differences, pros, and cons of each platform to help you make the best decision for your data needs. 

What You’ll Learn:

✅ The biggest limitations of Microsoft Fabric right now
✅ When Synapse is the better choice for large data sets
✅ How Microsoft is evolving Fabric to compete with Synapse
✅ Real-world experiences from working with both platforms
✅ Key factors to consider when choosing between Fabric and Synapse

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more data-driven insights!

Have experience with Microsoft Fabric or Synapse? Drop your thoughts in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.

Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by building and managing their data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 250 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation, as presented in our book, The Dashboard Effect. (For a free, downloadable copy click https://bit.ly/3RmBGWQ, or buy a hardcopy or Kindle version on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3UTvTLm).)

Get more episodes of The Dashboard Effect podcast on your favorite podcast app or at https://podcast.thedashboardeffect.com/

Visit Blue Margin's library of additional BI resources here: https://bit.ly/3fwNmcg

Revenue seems like a simple metric—just add up the sales, right? Not so fast! 

In this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, Brick and Landon dive into the complexities of defining revenue. Every business calculates revenue differently, whether due to trade discounts, loyalty programs, rebates, or industry-specific rules.

We explore why even CEOs, CFOs, and sales leaders might have different definitions of revenue and how companies can align on a single, accurate metric. If you're dealing with financial reporting, business intelligence, or analytics, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Key Takeaways:

- Why revenue is defined differently across businesses
- Common challenges in revenue calculation
- How to handle discounts, rebates, and loyalty programs
- The impact of time and adjustments on revenue reporting

Subscribe to The Dashboard Effect Podcast for more insights on data-driven decision-making!

In this episode, Kate Eberle and Greg Brown discuss the challenges and strategies of portfolio monitoring in private equity. They explore the different approaches firms take, from Excel-based reporting to fully automated Power BI solutions, and discuss the pros and cons of each method.

Things we cover: 

- The evolution of portfolio monitoring in private equity
- Common challenges firms face with data collection and reporting
- Comparing Excel, data warehouses, and portfolio monitoring tools like iLevel and Chronograph
- How automation is transforming private equity analytics
- Best practices for improving investor relations through better reporting

Whether you're a private equity professional, a CFO, or an analyst, this discussion will help you better understand how to optimize portfolio performance and make data-driven decisions.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to stay updated on the latest insights in private equity and business intelligence!

Blue Margin helps private equity firms and portfolio companies leverage business intelligence to drive efficiency, improve reporting, and maximize value creation. Our automated data solutions and custom dashboards give PE firms the clarity they need to make strategic, data-driven decisions.

Want to streamline your portfolio monitoring? Learn more at https://www.bluemargin.com

#PrivateEquity #PortfolioMonitoring #BusinessIntelligence #iLevel #Chronograph

Who should see your business data and who shouldn’t? In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, hosts Brick and Landon break down the essentials of role-based security and data access control.

Learn how businesses can ensure the right people have access to the right data while keeping sensitive information secure.

We cover:
- The importance of defining roles & hierarchies
- How to structure access control in ERP, HR, and security systems
- Best practices for implementing role-based access in BI reporting
- Common pitfalls (like using Excel) and how to avoid them

Whether you’re a business leader, IT professional, or data security enthusiast, this discussion will help you optimize your organization’s data visibility without overcomplicating access control.

Enjoyed the discussion? Don’t forget to like and subscribe. What challenges have you faced with managing data access in your organization?

#DataSecurity #BusinessIntelligence #RoleBasedAccess #TheDashboardEffect #BI #DataManagement #AccessControl