A Quick Visit to #SQLBits2024: A Day of Learning, Networking, and Too Many Cakes!

A Quick Visit to #SQLBits2024: A Day of Learning, Networking, and Too Many Cakes!

I had the pleasure of attending #SQLBits2024 for a brief but insightful visit. I may have indulged in a few too many cakes (can’t resist a good treat!), but it was well worth it for the fantastic sessions I attended and the great people I had the chance to reconnect with.

I kicked off my day with a couple of enlightening seminars, including one on Microsoft Fabric, which offered some valuable insights into its features and capabilities. Another session I found incredibly valuable focused on comparing Azure Data Factory (ADF), Synapse, and Databricks—a must for anyone involved in data engineering or analytics. The comparison was in-depth and helped clarify how each of these tools serves different business needs, giving attendees a clearer perspective on the best solution for their specific projects.

One of the highlights of the event was catching up with familiar faces from Simpson Associates, Adatis, and of course, the legendary Igor Cotruta from Hitachi Consulting (formerly Information Management Group). It’s always refreshing to reconnect with industry peers and share ideas. Huge thanks to Alex Whittles and Marco Russo for making me feel so welcome!

SQLBits is not just an event for techies—it’s an essential gathering for the Data & BI community. The sessions, the networking, and the sheer scale of expertise at the event show just how much the field is growing and evolving. The contributions of the volunteers and Microsoft MVPs are invaluable in making the event a success, and I truly appreciate their time, effort, and commitment to sharing knowledge.

If you’re into SQL, AzureSQL, Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, or anything data-related, SQLBits is one of those events you just can’t afford to miss. The sense of community, learning, and collaboration was truly inspiring.

Looking forward to the next one!