Real-Time Analytics in Microsoft Fabric: Use Cases and Implementation
Explore how Real-Time Intelligence in Fabric enables instant insights from streaming data sources.
Real-Time Intelligence in Microsoft Fabric enables organizations to analyze streaming data as it arrives. This capability is essential for IoT, fraud detection, and operational monitoring.
What is Real-Time Intelligence?
Real-Time Intelligence is Fabric's streaming analytics engine based on Azure Data Explorer technology. It uses Kusto Query Language (KQL) for lightning-fast queries on time-series data.
Key Components
Eventstreams Eventstreams capture and route real-time data: - Connect to Azure Event Hubs, IoT Hub, Kafka - Transform data in-flight - Route to multiple destinations
KQL Databases Purpose-built for time-series analysis: - Sub-second query response - Automatic indexing - Native time-series functions
Real-Time Dashboards Visualize streaming data instantly: - Auto-refresh capabilities - KQL-powered tiles - Alerting integration
Implementation Guide
Step 1: Create an Eventstream Set up your data source connection. Supported sources include: - Azure Event Hubs - Azure IoT Hub - Custom applications - Sample data for testing
Step 2: Define Transformations Use the visual editor to: - Filter events - Calculate derived fields - Aggregate windows
Step 3: Create KQL Database Destination for your processed stream: - Define table schema - Set retention policies - Configure caching
Step 4: Write KQL Queries Analyze streaming data: ``` Events | where timestamp > ago(1h) | summarize count() by bin(timestamp, 5m), category | render timechart ```
Step 5: Build Dashboards Create real-time visualizations that update as data flows.
Use Cases
**Manufacturing**: Monitor production lines, predict equipment failures **Retail**: Track inventory levels, analyze point-of-sale patterns **Finance**: Detect fraudulent transactions in real-time **Healthcare**: Monitor patient vitals, alert on anomalies **Logistics**: Track shipments, optimize routes dynamically
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KQL and why is it used for real-time analytics?
KQL (Kusto Query Language) is a read-only query language optimized for time-series and log data. It provides sub-second query performance on billions of records, making it ideal for real-time analytics scenarios.
Can I use Real-Time Intelligence with Power BI?
Yes, KQL databases can be connected to Power BI using DirectQuery mode for live dashboards, or you can use Real-Time Dashboards within Fabric for native streaming visualizations.