Insights

As a learning organisation, element61 stimulates its consultants to further build on their already vast experiences through investments in a personal development plan and a company-wide content development initiative. Through formal training, presence at industry events, networking, recommended reading and internet based information exchange, our consultants further dive into specialized topics of their own interest.

These result in what we call "Insights", own produced research content, often complemented by personal experiences and opinions. Below you can find our currently published list of Insights.

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Streamlining Databricks Access Control: Data Classification and ABAC

Databricks Data Classification uses AI to detect and tag sensitive PII data, enabling scalable governance. Combined with ABAC, it enforces masking and filtering via catalog-level policies—simplifying centralized, flexible access control.

Pieter Van Daele

Pieter Van Daele

dinsdag, 28 oktober 2025

How Fabric and Power BI continue to evolve (September 2025 Update)

The September 2025 Microsoft Fabric and Power BI updates deliver faster insights with Oracle and BigQuery mirroring, cheaper Dataflows Gen2, and Apache Airflow integration. Power BI adds smarter time functions, flexible refresh options, and DAX functions for cleaner models.

Sarah Beshr

dinsdag, 21 oktober 2025

How DAX UDFs change the way you build semantic models

DAX UDFs let you define reusable logic once, while field parameters and calculation groups apply it dynamically, reducing duplication and ensuring consistent, maintainable models. This approach streamlines development and enforces governance across reports.

Gary Goldman

Marilou Puissant

Marilou Puissant

dinsdag, 14 oktober 2025

Databricks Partner Tech Summit FY26 insights

Databricks is becoming more business-ready by closing SQL gaps, simplifying operations with Lakebase, and unifying data engineering via Lakeflow. Unity Catalog enhances governance with BI Semantic Layers and ABAC. Databricks One introduces a user-friendly UI with AI/BI Dashboards, Genie, and Apps—boosting trust, easing migration, and driving adoption beyond data teams.

Raphaël Voortman

Raphaël Voortman

Michiel Van Nijverseel

Michiel Van Nijverseel

vrijdag, 10 oktober 2025

Using Databricks AI functions wisely: what works and what to watch out for

Databricks AI Functions make it easy to add AI directly into your tables and views with minimal setup, while still allowing custom queries. But they can be slow and costly—so use them selectively, ideally on small, stable master datasets and only on the columns that really matter.

Pieter Van Daele

Pieter Van Daele

dinsdag, 9 september 2025

Vena Copilot: Revolutionizing Finance with Agentic AI

Vena Copilot is your AI-powered finance ally—automating tasks, improving accuracy, and delivering strategic insights. It enhances FP&A productivity and control, with upcoming AI agents enabling driver-based planning and predictive forecasting directly in Excel via a chat interface.

Ruben Govers

vrijdag, 5 september 2025

Predictive Forecasting with Vena: Plan with Confidence

Vena and Databricks bring predictive forecasting into your existing workflows - delivering faster, more reliable, scenario-based forecasts without compromising control or accountability.

Ruben Govers

vrijdag, 5 september 2025

Introducing Vena for Microsoft PowerPoint

Vena for PowerPoint simplifies financial reporting by integrating smart data presentation directly into Microsoft 365 tools, helping teams work faster and more efficiently in familiar environments.

Ruben Govers

vrijdag, 5 september 2025

Shaping the Future of Data: What’s New in Microsoft Fabric

Microsoft Fabric introduces powerful updates that simplify data workflows and boost collaboration. Highlights include Materialized Lake Views, real-time SQL transformations, Python-T-SQL notebooks, Azure Data Factory integration, and Power BI enhancements like Organizational Themes and PBIR support. These features make Fabric a more unified, scalable, and developer-friendly platform.

Philippine Misson

Philippine Misson

donderdag, 21 augustus 2025

Beyond BW: Building a scalable modernisation strategy with SAP Business Data Cloud

Modernising SAP BW to SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) is more than just a system upgrade; it is a strategic transformation towards a more scalable, AI-driven data platform. This blog outlines the modernisation paths, available tools and best practices to ensure a smooth migration while minimising disruption.

Ysaline de Wouters

Ysaline de Wouters

donderdag, 7 augustus 2025