Growing volumes of data, lengthy query times, and fragmented systems stood in the way of rapid analysis and efficient production control.
Microsoft Fabric seamlessly integrates heterogeneous data sources, enables real-time analytics, and optimizes the control of production processes.
Data update times have been slashed from 30 minutes to a few seconds. Operating costs are down, and real-time analytics has optimized processes.
Around 13,000 staff across 50 locations make Migros Industrie one of Switzerland’s biggest production companies. Part of the Migros Group, it supplies high-quality foods and consumer goods both to the domestic Swiss market and to selected international customers. The company drives continuous innovation not only in production, but also in its IT structure.
Migros Industrie has long deployed sensors, real-time analytics, and reporting systems to underpin efficient, data-based production. However, exponential growth in data volumes was pushing its existing infrastructure to the limits. The SQL databases and data pipelines had virtually exhausted their capacity. Data updates could take up to 30 minutes—a significant obstacle to fast decisions. At the same time, a variety of license models and tools created a heterogeneous system landscape that was driving up operating costs. The logical consequence was to shift to a central, scalable platform that seamlessly merged heterogeneous data sources and enabled real-time analysis without compromising on flexibility and efficiency. “The systems we had in place could no longer keep up with growing demands,” explains Ueli Eggenberger, Head of Digital Solutions at Migros Industrie. “We needed a future-proof solution that combined speed and scalability.” The management gave the nod to Microsoft Fabric, a platform that blends telemetric data from production facilities with SAP information to lay a holistic data foundation. “For us, it was important to have a solution that slotted perfectly into our Microsoft environment, delivered optimal performance, and could develop further over the long term,” says Sinthuyan Nithiyanandan, Data Architect at Migros Industrie. By deciding to work with Microsoft Fabric, Migros Industrie chose to position itself as a first mover, aiming to try out new technologies and develop its own data landscape along sustainable lines.
“The systems we had in place could no longer keep up with growing demands. We needed a future-proof solution that combined speed and scalability.”
Ueli Eggenberger, Head of Digital Solutions, Migros Industrie
Rather than call in external consultants, Migros Industrie opted to implement Microsoft Fabric on its own. A small but highly specialized team took charge of the job, supported by the Microsoft account team. “We were a small team, but we went the extra mile to put Migros Industrie out in front. We consciously decided to test what was possible with Microsoft Fabric and then roll out these improvements throughout the company,” Nithiyanandan says. “We wanted to develop a tailor-made solution for our production and data landscape—one we would be able to run ourselves in the long run. Close collaboration with Microsoft and the flexibility of Microsoft Fabric ensured that implementation went smoothly.”
One key success factor was the team’s technical expertise. The architecture of the new platform was built on a foundation of in-depth knowledge, enabling different data sources to be interlinked efficiently and thus guaranteeing optimal performance. The support provided by the internal team with regard to IT security, the cloud and the network was of crucial importance in ensuring that all technical and security-related bases were covered from the word go.
Migration was completed step by step and in close consultation with the relevant departments. After successfully delivering proof of concept and confirming the capabilities of the platform, the next step was to migrate the data infrastructure—in selected areas to begin with, and later across the whole company. Today, around 3,000 staff actively use Microsoft Fabric to produce analyses and reports and make data-based decisions.
“We wanted to develop a tailor-made solution for our production and data landscape—one we would be able to run ourselves in the long run. Close collaboration with Microsoft and the flexibility of Microsoft Fabric ensured that implementation went smoothly.”
Sinthuyan Nithiyanandan, Data Architect, Migros Industrie
To enable the new platform to realize its full potential, the project team committed themselves right from the outset not only to technological excellence, but also to closely involving the staff. Change management was well thought through and accompanied implementation, the aim being to encourage acceptance, secure backing for the new tool, and drive collaboration to shape change. Key users were involved from an early stage, testing the solution in practice and providing valuable feedback. From the very beginning, employees were thus able to identify strongly with the new platform—a critical success factor for the ongoing roll-out.
In addition, interactive training—flanked by short explanatory videos that were permanently available—made it easier to get started. Continuous dialogue was equally vital; employees regularly shared their views, experiences, and best practices via the company’s internal Power BI community. “For us, it was important that people should quickly feel comfortable with the new solution, but also that they should be able to contribute their ideas,” Eggenberger says. “If you know your feedback counts, you will automatically be more motivated. That made migration much easier.”
The team also put Migros Industrie’s segment structure to good use to roll the platform out step by step across different units and divisions. This structured approach paid dividends: The platform quickly became well accepted on a broad scale, with decidedly positive feedback coming in from the teams.
“For us, it was important that people should quickly feel comfortable with the new solution, but also that they should be able to contribute their ideas. If you know your feedback counts, you will automatically be more motivated. That made migration much easier.”
Ueli Eggenberger, Head of Digital Solutions, Migros Industrie
In the wake of successful implementation, the benefits of Microsoft Fabric quickly became apparent. Data updates that used to take up to 30 minutes were now completed in a matter of seconds. Real-time analytics have thus become an integral part of the production routine, enabling well-founded decisions to be based on up-to-date data sets.
To further boost performance, Migros Industrie made sure that large data imports were done at night, leaving more resources available for demanding analytics during the day. At the same time, existing SQL scripts and authorization concepts were revised, specific improvements were made to technical interfaces, and the infrastructure as a whole was aligned with the new platform. As a result, it was possible to seamlessly integrate Microsoft Fabric in the legacy system landscape. “Collaborating with Microsoft has been very valuable," says Eggenberger. “We were especially impressed at how flexibly Fabric combines different data sources and enables real-time analytics.” By consolidating multiple systems on a single, central platform, Migros Industrie was able to both increase operational efficiency and palpably reduce operating costs—all of which laid a firm foundation for further data-driven innovations.
“Collaborating with Microsoft has been very valuable. We were especially impressed at how flexibly Fabric combines different data sources and enables real-time analytics.”
Ueli Eggenberger, Head of Digital Solutions, Migros Industrie
Data update time reduced from 30 minutes to seconds
Now that Microsoft Fabric has been implemented successfully, Migros Industrie is focusing on the future. In the context of an M smart factory, its goal is to further expand its analytics functionality and integrate specific AI-based forecasting models in production control. “The next step is to use our real-time data for forecasting models and predictive analytics,” Eggenberger says. “For example, we want to be able to compute the optimal production parameters for every batch in real time.”
Predictive maintenance, too, is gaining in importance. By analyzing historical sensor data, it is now possible to optimize maintenance intervals and avoid unscheduled downtime. “Microsoft Fabric gives us the flexibility to continually improve our data management and integrate innovative technologies,” says an excited Nithiyanandan. “It is tremendously motivating to see how much change we can achieve in this way.” Additionally, the project team is working on further automating processes across the entire value chain, as well as using machine learning to improve specific aspects of those processes. That said, the people in charge are equally keen to pass on the insights they have gained to the rest of the Migros Group. This, they believe, will not only boost efficiency but also actively advance sustainable change—such as the reduction of food waste. Implementing Microsoft Fabric has laid a solid foundation for all these developments. The challenge now is to exploit the full potential of this powerful platform and press ahead with systematic data-driven innovation.
“Microsoft Fabric gives us the flexibility to continually improve our data management and integrate innovative technologies. It is tremendously motivating to see how much change we can achieve in this way.”
Sinthuyan Nithiyanandan, Data Architect, Migros Industrie
Migros Industrie is committed to the responsible and sustainable production of more than 20,000 high-quality food items. It is the Migros Group’s integrated producer and one of the biggest private label producers in the world. Its facilities produce foodstuffs of all kinds, delivering excellent value for money.
The core competence of Migros Industrie includes producing its own brands for Migros supermarkets, as well as for Denner and Migrolino. Many products from Migros Industrie, such as iced tea and seal ice cream, enjoy cult status among Migros customers. Migros Industrie also produces foodstuffs for third-party customers and is active in the private label business.
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