From Legacy to Digital Future: Kepak's 60 -Day Microsoft Fabric Transformation Journey

This session will be about one of the first Fabric implementations in EMEA, demonstrating how organizations with complex data needs and limited technical resources can achieve remarkable results through Microsoft Fabric's unified platform approach

https://www.microsoft.com/en/customers/story/1766926388528074549-kepak-group-dynamics-365-consumer-goods-en-ireland

In this compelling case study session, we'll share how Kepak Group, a €1.75 billion food company with complex manufacturing processes, transformed their data capabilities in just 60 days with Microsoft Fabric, despite having a small data team of only four people with primarily Excel and basic SQL skills.

Working together, Slalom Consulting and Kepak implemented a comprehensive Fabric-based analytics solution that unified data from over 20 sources, including Dynamics 365 F&O and multiple manufacturing execution systems. This session will demonstrate how we used metadata-driven pipelines and Slalom's proprietary Fabric Data Ingestion Accelerator to fast-track implementation while ensuring sustainable adoption by the existing team.

We'll take you through our journey from initial assessment to delivering production-ready dashboards that now serve as the company's single source of truth. You'll learn how we navigated the unique challenges of the meat production industry's complex supply chain, overcoming data silos and manual processes that were limiting Kepak's ability to make data-driven decisions.

This presentation will detail both the technical architecture and the people-focused change management approach that enabled a non-technical team to become data champions within their organization. We'll share honest insights about challenges faced, solutions developed, and lessons learned during one of the first Fabric implementations in EMEA.

Metadata-Driven Pipeline Architecture
A cornerstone of Kepak's success was implementing metadata-driven pipelines that dramatically simplified data management. Instead of hardcoding configurations into each pipeline, the team stored configuration data in external repositories to dynamically control data workflows. This approach enabled:

Greater adaptability to changing business requirements

Reduced maintenance overhead for the small data team

Consistent governance across data sources

Scalable design that could grow with Kepak's needs

Fabric Components Leveraged
The implementation spanned multiple Fabric components:

Data Factory: Orchestrated metadata-driven pipelines for data ingestion from 20+ sources including Dynamics 365 F&O

OneLake: Established as Kepak's "OneDrive for Data," providing a unified logical data lake with no silos

Data Engineering: Created transformation pipelines to standardize data formats automatically

Lakehouse: Organized data into logical workspaces/ aligned with business functions

Power BI: Built dashboards providing insights across business operations

OneLake Catalog

Key Technical Takeaways
Detailed architecture showing how we integrated Fabric with Dynamics 365 F&O and legacy systems

Practical examples of metadata-driven pipelines that simplified data ingestion and transformation

Implementation techniques for OneLake that created a unified data foundation across the business

Real-world code samples for automating ETL processes without advanced data engineering expertise

How we structured semantic models in Power BI to meet diverse business reporting needs

Business Value Takeaways
How Kepak achieved significant efficeincy gain /ROI by consolidating multiple data tools into a single platform

Measurable improvements in decision-making speed in their manufacturing operations

Trust-building approaches that transformed the data team into strategic advisors

Training and enablement strategies that created sustainable self-sufficiency

How organizational data culture shifted from skepticism to enthusiasm

ROI calculations showing both immediate and projected long-term benefits

Target Audience
This session is ideal for:

Data leaders in small to mid-sized organizations with limited technical resources

Professionals looking to implement Fabric within tight timeframes and limiited resoueces

Organizations integrating Fabric with Dynamics 365

Change agents responsible for building data literacy and adoption

Session Level
Level 200/300 - Advanced implementation details presented with clear business context for both technical and non-technical attendees.

Kepak's journey from a traditional tools to a best in class data-driven organization showcases the accessibility and power of Microsoft Fabric. Their small team's success story offers valuable lessons for organizations of all sizes looking to transform their data capabilities without requiring deep technical expertise or large specialist teams.

About the Presenters
Sinead Nolan, Group Data Architect at Kepak, leads data strategy for this €1.75bn food company. With a background in traditional analytics, Sinead has successfully guided her small team through digital transformation, building both technical capabilities and organizational trust in data.

Nilendra Singh, Senior Principal at Slalom Consulting, specializes in implementing Microsoft data and analytics solutions for enterprise clients. With extensive experience in Fabric implementations across industries, Nilendra focuses on delivering rapid time-to-value while ensuring sustainable knowledge transfer.

Unlocking the Power of Microsoft Fabric: Real-World Insights from MVP Implementations

With hands-on experience from my tenure as Data and AI Lead at Microsoft Ireland (MTC) and as a Senior Principal at Slalom, I will share practical insights and real-world experience of implementations that showcase the true potential of Microsoft Fabric.

My experience spans from hands-on exploration during the early days of the platform to leading production deployments, including the first EU Fabric MVP for Ireland's largest meat producer. This session aims to distill the practical learnings and strategies garnered from these impactful implementations.

Key Takeaways:

Microsoft Fabric Accelerator: Fabric Accelerator to streamline the ingestion of data from various sources. This tool significantly reduces the time and effort needed to integrate disparate data sources into Fabric, enhancing efficiency and consistency.
Accelerator Features: Automated data ingestion processes, support for multiple data sources, and integration with existing Fabric pipelines.
Accelerator Benefits: Quick setup, reduced manual effort, and improved data consistency and accuracy across different data sources.

Practical Insights from Ground-Level Implementations:

Detailed case studies and lessons learned from deploying Fabric in diverse environments.
Real-world examples of how Fabric can be leveraged to ensure data accuracy, availability, and accessibility.
Implementing a Modern Data Culture:

Strategies for fostering data access and transparency.
Enhancing ways of working through effective data guardianship.
Promoting data literacy and governance to align with organizational vision.
12-Week MVP Roadmap:

Comprehensive plan from discovery to value realization and transition.
Best practices for rapid, impactful MVP development.
Technical Deep Dive:

Utilizing Shortcuts and Azure Data Factory (ADF) for efficient data sourcing.
Transforming raw data into actionable insights with delta tables and dataflows.
Implementing robust RBAC and workspace role definitions.
Ensuring Data Accuracy:

Effective testing strategies for pipelines and notebooks.
Business SME involvement for data validation.
Techniques for auditing, lineage tracking, and continuous monitoring.
Starting with Fabric:

Considerations for choosing the right Fabric capacity.
Recommendations for creating and scaling development environments.
Cost monitoring and optimization tips.
Maximizing Data Value:

Understanding the economic impact of data.
Strategies to enhance data value through targeted use cases.
Addressing data mismanagement risks and leveraging usage-based value.

Optimization Tips:
Deciding on development languages, maintaining proper documentation, following naming conventions, and leveraging metadata effectively.
Creating a Sustainable Fabric Environment: Guidelines for documentation, naming conventions, simplicity, and developing custom Fabric guidelines tailored to your organization’s needs.

Fabric Security Implementation:
How differet Workspace Roles really works in real world:
How to Share Fabric Items:
How to Limit Access: Role-Level Security (RLS), Column-Level Security (CLS), and RBAC etc.
Best Practices for Fabric Administration: How I have guided customers to adopt best practices for managing and administering Fabric environments, focusing on security, governance, and efficient operation.rs.

Interactive Engagement:

Incorporating 5-6 interactive quizzes using Slalom's proprietary tool, SparkThink.
Real-time polling and dynamic results display to engage and amaze the audience.
Audience Engagement Example:
"With Fabric in mind, what is your top priority use case?
A) Simplifying the data management lifecycle
B) Making data more connected, available, and accessible
C) Activating generative AI"

Participants will see real-time voting results displayed as dynamic bar charts, making the session interactive and engaging.

By the end of this session, attendees will gain actionable insights and practical strategies to harness the full potential of Microsoft Fabric, enabling their organizations to achieve unparalleled data accuracy, availability, and accessibility.

Target Audience : Mix of Business and techies
Duration : 60 Mins
Technical requirements : None