Simplicity – The Art of Maximising the Amount not Done – is Essential

Author: Peter Round  What exactly does maximising the amount not done mean?    I find people don’t quite understand or grasp the statement properly, and sometimes, it takes a bit to get to that point. It even took me a while to fully comprehend even though, in practice, I have used this agile principle perhaps without […]

Read More

The Role of a Business Analyst in Scrum

Author: Ben McDonnell Introduction I am often asked: How does the role of a Business Analyst (BA) fit into the Scrum Framework? After all, the Scrum Guide makes it quite clear that the only defined roles are the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Delivery Team. Within Scrum, the Development Team comprises a team of cross-functional […]

Read More

Strategic Framework for Developing Technical Solutions

Author: Sallie Worsley Introduction In an ever-evolving digital landscape, the success of technical solutions hinges on their alignment with business goals, team dynamics, and the scalability of technology. These guiding principles offer a strategic framework to navigate this complex terrain, ensuring sustainable progress and cohesive technological integration. Start with Discovery, Not Assumptions Approach each business […]

Read More

Our Top Picks and Insights from the Power BI & Fabric Summit 2024

The Power BI and Fabric Summit 2024 united an exceptional community of data enthusiasts, and our Purple Peeps thoroughly enjoyed diving into the latest trends and innovations. Here are our top session picks and insights, from Juan, Sallie, Teresa, and Heidi. Juan’s Insights Data Management Gets a Power-Up With Fabric Onelake Microsoft’s demos showcasing the […]

Read More

IoT in Mining: Enhancing Efficiency and Safety through Smart Solutions

Author: Jaysee Sunapho The mining industry has been at the forefront of technological advancements, with a continuous quest to increase efficiency, productivity, and safety. In recent years, the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionised mining operations by introducing smart solutions that enable real-time data collection, analysis, and automation. In this blog, I [...]

Read More

Microsoft Fabric Copilot: First Look-Test Drive, Power BI

Author: Etienne Oosthuysen This is the first of several Fabric 'first look' Copilot test drives. In this post, I will focus on Copilot for Power BI, with Data Science and Data Engineering, and Data Factory test drives to follow in subsequent articles. But before we jump, a bit of background, then some pre-requisites, some housekeeping, [...]

Read More

Handling Nullable Activity Outputs using ‘?’

Handling Nullable Activity Outputs using ‘?’  Author: Ralph Gonzales Life as a Data Engineer requires us to handle data integration across multiple source systems, and Azure Data Factory has been our go-to platform for orchestrating and managing data workflows efficiently. One of the lesser-known and lesser-documented, yet immensely powerful operators within ADF expressions is the […]

Read More

The Power of Frequent Software Releases: Boosting Testing, Release Management and Developer Efficiency

Author: Peter Round Introduction In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the ability to deliver high-quality software quickly is paramount. Embracing a practice that allows for frequent software releases, sometimes multiple times per day, is not just a trend. It’s a strategic move that can significantly benefit your organisation in terms of testing, release management, and developer […]

Read More

Unravelling the DNA of Data Analytics: The Fibonacci Sequence 

Author: Jaysee Sunapho Introduction  Data analytics is akin to being a detective on a mission to uncover hidden patterns and insights within vast datasets. Among the myriad of patterns, one fascinating gem stands out – the Fibonacci sequence. This iconic pattern, often found in nature, has also found its place in the realm of data […]

Read More

Databricks Data + AI World Tour 2023 in Brisbane – Key Takeaways

Our Purple Peeps attended the Data + AI World Tour 2023, organised by Databricks in Brisbane. We were absolutely thrilled to immerse ourselves in the world of data, analytics and AI alongside many local visionaries who share our passion for the data-driven future. Below are some of the takeaways and highlights from our Purple Peeps […]

Read More

Microsoft Ignite 2023 – Key Takeaways

Microsoft surely knows how to make some noise and keep us on our toes! With the Microsoft Ignite 2023 officially behind us, let us take you through our Purple Peeps’ most important takeaways, including the latest in AI, Cloud and the announcement of Microsoft Fabric becoming generally available.   Ravi’s Takeaways Getting your enterprise ready […]

Read More

Top Tips for Your End-of-Year Visual KPI Reporting

Top Tips for Your End-of-Year Visual KPI Reporting Author: Courtney Thwaites As the year draws to a close in some sectors (such as the education sector), it’s time for businesses to shift their focus towards one critical aspect: end-of-year financial reporting. Whether you’re a finance professional or department manager, the end of the year is […]

Read More