Microsoft has once again been named a Leader in Gartner’s 2025 Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms. It’s the 18th year in a row that Microsoft has earned this title, and for the seventh consecutive year, they’ve ranked highest for both “completeness of vision” and “ability to execute.”
Read the official announcement »
Why this recognition matters for your organisation
At Crimson, we don’t chase headlines. But we do pay close attention to the platforms we build our solutions on. And this recognition confirms what we’ve seen with our own customers: Microsoft’s analytics stack—particularly Power BI and the new Fabric platform—is now in a league of its own.
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant isn’t just about who has the flashiest features. It recognises technologies that are proven in the real world, across a wide range of industries and use cases. Microsoft’s platform continues to stand out for three big reasons:
1. Confidence you can build on
Whether you’re early in your data journey or pushing the limits of AI and automation, Microsoft’s toolset gives you enterprise-grade security, integration, and scalability. That’s why we use it as the foundation for every Crimson IQ and CX project we deliver.
2. One platform, connected insight
With Power BI now embedded within Microsoft Fabric, analytics is no longer an add-on. It’s part of the flow. From data ingestion and transformation to visualisation and action, everything is connected. This makes it easier to eliminate silos and build a single version of truth across your organisation.
3. AI you can actually use
Copilot in Power BI means anyone can ask questions of their data, build visuals, or generate summaries in natural language. There’s no need for coding or specialist knowledge. Combined with real-time interactivity and new “chat with your data” experiences, insight becomes a living, responsive part of daily work.
How this fits with Crimson’s vision
In recent blogs, we’ve explored why data efficiency alone no longer cuts it, why personalisation must be grounded in strategy, and why the human side of AI matters more than ever.
Microsoft’s latest update supports all three of those positions.
- It brings AI-powered insight to the frontline, where it actually makes a difference.
- It puts data into motion, not just into dashboards.
- And it helps organisations move from reactive reporting to proactive decision-making.
This is the foundation Crimson builds on. Whether we’re helping a housing provider monitor tenant wellbeing, or supporting a university to streamline student onboarding, we design our data and AI solutions to be useful, usable, and used.
What’s new in Power BI and Microsoft Fabric?
| Feature | What It Means | What Crimson Adds |
| Copilot in Power BI | Ask questions in plain English, get answers, summaries, and charts instantly | We build prompt libraries and embed these into your workflow so the right questions get asked |
| Chat with your data | Search across datasets using natural language | We connect this to real business outcomes, such as onboarding or retention triggers |
| Translytical flows | Take action from within your dashboard without switching tools | We link insight to action—for example, triggering a follow-up task or automated email |
| Centralised metrics and TMDL | Shared definitions across reports and teams | We design and manage a consistent data layer that supports strategic decision-making |
What to do next
If you’re already using Power BI but only scratching the surface, now is a good time to re-evaluate. Start by asking:
- Where could real-time insight replace static reporting?
- Are your frontline teams actually using the data you collect?
- Could AI make onboarding, customer service or forecasting easier?
Crimson can help you answer these questions and prioritise quick wins. From building proof-of-concept dashboards to integrating Copilot into your business processes, we make it practical.
Final thought
It’s one thing to be named a leader. It’s another to lead with purpose. Microsoft has delivered a platform that gives organisations the tools they need to make smarter decisions, faster. Our job is to help you turn that technology into measurable progress.
Let’s talk about how this next evolution in analytics can support your customer journey, data strategy, and employee experience—without the complexity.
Ready to explore the opportunity hiding within your data?
Crimson IQ, leveraging Microsoft, offers bespoke data solutions that transform raw data into strategic assets. We empower businesses with predictive insights, driving innovation and growth in various sectors and ensuring ethical data use. Our approach is methodical, scalable, and focused on turning data into a competitive advantage.
Crimson has a series of workshops that can help shape your data strategy and build the business case. Microsoft proof of concept funding may also be available.