Enterprise AI Digest #15 - PODCAST on Spotify and Apple
Topics
Copilot for Microsoft Fabric
D365 BC Integration
Power Canvas App
Events
Copilot for Microsoft Fabric
Copilot transforms how businesses interact with data in Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and beyond. Let’s break down the key features and how they can revolutionize your data workflow.
Key Features of Copilot for Fabric:
Data Science and Engineering: Automates code suggestions, routine data operations, and provides templates for building complex analytical models.
Data Factory: Generates code for data transformations and explains complex tasks with ease.
Power BI: Automates report generation and visualization by using natural language to create visuals and insights. You can also improve Q&A features through AI-generated synonyms for more refined searches.
Real-Time Intelligence: Uses Kusto Query Language (KQL) to enable real-time analysis by converting questions into queries.
Custom AI Solutions: You can even build custom copilots using the AI accelerator, tailored for unique business scenarios with Azure OpenAI.
How Does Copilot Improve Your Workflow?
Copilot drastically reduces time spent on repetitive coding tasks. With its Natural Language to SQL capabilities, it allows users to translate plain language into complex queries, making data retrieval and analysis faster and more intuitive. It also provides automated suggestions that are context-aware, meaning it tailors its assistance to the specific task you're handling—whether that's cleaning data, building reports, or automating workflows.
Security and Privacy in Copilot
A key concern for businesses when adopting AI solutions is data privacy and compliance. Copilot in Microsoft Fabric adheres to Microsoft’s Responsible AI Standard, ensuring that any AI-generated outputs are secure and privacy-focused.
Limitations and Considerations
While Copilot brings numerous benefits, it’s important to note that it is not yet supported for sovereign clouds due to GPU availability. Additionally, Copilot works best in English, and multilingual support may lag in performance.
D365 Business Central Integrations
BC integrates with key systems and tools to streamline business operations. Whether you're building solutions with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, or Dataverse, BC integrations offer powerful capabilities for seamless workflows. Let's dive into the most notable integration scenarios.
M365 Key Integrations:
Outlook: Review BC data without leaving your inbox.
Excel: Export data and perform real-time analysis.
Teams: Collaborate on projects by embedding BC data into Teams conversations.
Power Platform Integrations
Business Central also integrates smoothly with Power Platform, including Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power BI. These integrations allow you to automate workflows, build custom applications, and gain actionable insights from your data.
Power BI: Integrates to provide data visualization and real-time dashboards directly from BC.
Power Automate: Automates repetitive tasks and workflows, such as synchronizing data between BC and other systems.
Power Apps: Build low-code apps to extend BC functionality.
Built-In Integrations with Dataverse
Data Synchronization: Keep data consistent between BC and Dataverse.
Data Virtualization: Access BC data as virtual tables in Dataverse.
Event-Driven Integration: Trigger actions in Dataverse based on BC events.
Industry-Specific Integration: Shopify
BC can also be integrated with Shopify via the Shopify Connector, enabling eCommerce businesses to manage their inventory, orders, and customers seamlessly across both platforms.
Best Practices for Web Services
Most BC integrations rely on web services using REST APIs, SOAP, or OData. For custom integrations, Microsoft recommends using REST APIs for scalability and simplicity. Developers can explore existing APIs and create custom solutions tailored to their business needs.
BC and Microsoft 365 Integration: Enhances productivity across Office apps like Excel and Outlook.
Power Platform Integration: Automates workflows and extends BC's capabilities with Power Apps and Power Automate.
REST API First: For custom integrations, prioritize using REST APIs for better performance.
Power Canvas Apps
With Microsoft Power Apps, you can design and build business applications without needing to write code in traditional programming languages like Java, C# or Python. By using a drag-and-drop canvas approach—similar to creating slides in PowerPoint—you can create powerful apps that integrate seamlessly with your business data.
No-Code App Development
Using canvas apps, you simply drag and drop UI elements onto a canvas to design your app's interface. To specify logic and functionality, you use Excel-like expressions that allow for easy data manipulation and interaction. Whether it’s retrieving data, creating forms, or adding conditions, the process is straightforward, making it ideal for both technical and non-technical users.
Data Integration from Multiple Sources
Power Apps support integration with a wide variety of data sources, including Dataverse, SharePoint, Excel, and third-party services. This flexibility allows businesses to build apps that work with existing data systems without needing significant modifications.
Customizable UI and User Experience
Once your app is generated—whether from a template, sample app, or data source—you can customize every aspect of its appearance and behavior. For instance, change how data is displayed, add interactive elements like buttons or sliders, and modify screens, galleries, and forms to fit your specific workflow needs.
Sharing and Running Your App
After developing and customizing the app, it’s easy to share it with other users in your organization. Users can access the app on a web browser, through Microsoft Teams, or on mobile devices. Additionally, Power Apps offers a feature called Wrap, which allows you to bundle multiple canvas apps into a single native mobile app for iOS and Android, complete with custom branding such as icons, splash screens, and a tailored color palette.
Events:
Community Summit NA (10/2024): Summit North America is the largest independent gathering of Microsoft users, partners, and ISVs. It will take place from October 13-17 in San Antonio, TX. More details @ https://www.summitna.com/