Using Copilot to Unify Fabric, Synapse and Power BI With NLP

Connecting analytics workflows across tools is rarely straightforward. That’s especially true when Power BI, Fabric, and Synapse are all part of the stack. But streamlining the experience can dramatically improve the way users interact with data.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated. This guide shows how Copilot can help unify Fabric Synapse and Power BI, making data work a lot more intuitively.

Why Use Copilot in Data Analytics?

Copilot supports natural language prompts, automated reporting, and intelligent insights that bring clarity to complex data processes.

One common challenge teams face is juggling multiple tools, each with its own quirks. Copilot makes this easier by acting as a conversational interface across Fabric Synapse and Power BI.

But is Copilot just another chatbot? Not exactly. Copilot interprets intent, generates SQL, and builds visuals—all with plain English input. And when paired with tools like Teams, it becomes even more collaborative.

Overall, it brings structure, speed, and simplicity to analytics workflows without the need for technical overhead.

How to Use Copilot Across Power BI, Synapse and Fabric

Step 1: Set Up the Fabric and Power BI Environment

Before using Copilot, it’s important to connect your data systems properly. This makes it easier to run unified analytics across Power BI and Fabric.

• Activate Copilot: Enable Copilot in Power BI and link it to your Microsoft 365 workspace.
• Link Synapse to Power BI: Use DirectQuery to connect for real-time access. You can also use Power BI Dataflows or Azure Data Lake.
• Validate Data Models: Confirm fact/dimension models, indexing, and materialized views are ready in Synapse for optimal performance.

Step 2: Use Copilot to Ask Natural Language Queries

Once Copilot is live, you can start querying your data just by typing questions. This improves accessibility and reduces dependency on technical teams.

• Ask Business Questions: Input prompts like “show sales trends by region” to get data visualizations instantly.
• Auto-Generate SQL: Copilot writes the SQL behind the scenes, so you don’t have to.
• Adjust Filters on the Fly: Add or modify filters by just updating your question in chat.

Step 3: Create Reports Automatically from Prompts

Copilot can create full Power BI reports with relevant visuals, fields, and layouts based on your inputs. This helps you move fast without starting from scratch.

• Generate from Scratch: Prompt Copilot with “create a quarterly revenue report” to start a report instantly.
• Organize Data Intelligently: Copilot pulls in the right fields and visuals and arranges them with logic.
• Modify Reports with Prompts: Ask Copilot to tweak charts, update filters, or swap visuals without manual editing.

Step 4: Add Narrative Summaries to Reports

Copilot goes beyond charts. It adds narrative explanations to highlight insights, patterns, and anomalies—automatically.

• Generate Executive Summaries: Choose between high-level takeaways or detailed breakdowns based on audience type.
• Customize Context: Add business-specific instructions to tailor what Copilot highlights.
• Make It Easy to Understand: Copilot turns numbers into plain-language insights, removing the need for interpretation.

Step 5: Automate Refreshes and Apply Security

Maintaining updated reports and managing secure access can be tedious. Copilot simplifies both with built-in automation and settings.

• Schedule Updates: Refresh Synapse data regularly to keep Power BI reports current.
• Set Access Rules: Apply Row-Level or Column-Level Security (RLS/CLS) for more granular control.
• Reduce Manual Steps: Let Copilot guide or trigger these tasks using natural prompts.

Step 6: Prep Data for Performance in Synapse

Getting performance right starts with optimizing how data is structured in Synapse. These actions help Copilot deliver faster responses.

• Use Dedicated SQL Pools: Select Hash or Round-Robin distribution to minimize data movement.
• Create Materialized Views: Speed up frequent queries by precomputing joins and aggregations.
• Add Indexing and Partitioning: Use clustered columnstore indexes and range-based partitioning for large datasets.

Step 7: Enable Collaboration Through Teams Integration

You can ask questions in Teams chat, and Copilot will respond with answers drawn from Fabric. This makes analytics more conversational.

• Query from Chat: Ask data questions within Teams without opening Power BI.
• Share Insights Instantly: Copy summaries or visuals and drop them in chat threads for context.
• Collaborate in Real-Time: Let team members refine prompts and iterate together on answers.

Step 8: Train Users and Build Familiarity

For long-term success, teams need to know how to use Copilot confidently across all tools. Training helps boost trust and usage.

• Create Quick Start Guides: Build materials that teach prompt styles and sample use cases.
• Run Workshops: Host live sessions for hands-on practice, generating reports, and refining outputs.
• Gather Feedback: Let users share what works or where they’re stuck so you can adapt instructions and support.

Why Use Copilot with Fabric, Synapse and Power BI

More Accessible Data Analysis

Teams often struggle with jumping between platforms and writing technical queries. Copilot bridges that gap by letting anyone ask questions in plain English.

It simplifies everything—from querying Synapse to generating Power BI visuals—and keeps people in the flow of work. Overall, it reduces friction and makes data exploration more approachable.

Faster Reporting With Less Setup

Building reports used to mean lots of manual effort. But Copilot reduces that setup by suggesting layouts, fields, and summaries automatically.

It’s not just about speed. Copilot delivers structure that matches business context, helping users go from prompt to dashboard in minutes.

Easier for Non-Technical Teams

Without Copilot, data questions often bottleneck with analysts or engineers. But Copilot allows business teams to self-serve insights.

Is this just a chatbot add-on? Not quite. Its real power lies in understanding natural language and producing reliable, interpretable results.

A Smarter, Unified Experience

Data tools are often disconnected. Copilot brings everything together—Power BI, Synapse, Teams, and Fabric—in a single experience.

It’s built for today’s workflows and designed to evolve with how people work. Copilot’s AI-backed assistance helps teams find answers faster, make decisions quicker, and collaborate better.

Why Partner With Entrans for Data Analytics and Visualization?

Power BI, Synapse and Fabric, on their own, can feel complex and disconnected. But Copilot transforms that experience by acting as a translator between tools and people.

Is it just about asking questions? Not at all. It’s about turning intent into action—whether you’re building reports, prepping data, or making decisions in the moment. Which is where partnering with Entrans can make all the difference!

Having worked with Fortune 500 companies and set up CI/CD frameworks, data pipelines,s and even building our own AI agent Thunai - Entrans is at the forefront of all things data related.

Want to use Copilot for your data analytics? Book a free consultation call with our team to see how.

FAQs on Using Copilot With Synapse, and Power BI

What is Copilot in the context of Synapse and Power BI? 

Copilot acts as an AI-powered assistant embedded directly within Azure Synapse Analytics and Power BI interfaces. It utilizes large language models to understand natural language prompts, helping users perform tasks like code generation, data exploration, and report creation more efficiently. This integration aims to streamline workflows and democratize data analysis capabilities.

How does Copilot specifically help within Azure Synapse?

In Synapse, Copilot assists data engineers and analysts primarily by generating T-SQL code snippets for querying and manipulating data based on plain English requests. It can also help explain existing code blocks or suggest optimizations, accelerating development and data exploration within the Synapse environment. This reduces the need to memorize complex syntax, allowing users to focus on the logic.

What are the main benefits of using Copilot in Power BI?

Within Power BI, Copilot significantly speeds up report development by automatically creating report pages, suggesting relevant visuals, and generating DAX calculations from natural language prompts. It can also provide narrative summaries of report insights, making data stories easier to understand and communicate. Users can interactively refine visualizations and analysis through conversational prompts.