How to Become a Business Intelligence Analyst

Introduction of Business Intelligence Analyst
Marketing without data is akin to driving blindfolded. Data is used by Business Intelligence Analysts to determine market and business trends in order for firms to boost profits and efficiency.
Similar Job Titles
- Analytical Data Miner
- Business Database Analyst
- Competitive Intelligence Analyst
Typical Job Responsibilities
What do Business Intelligence Analysts do?
A Business Intelligence Analyst would typically need to:
- Create and provide innovative Business Intelligence solutions, tools, databases, dashboards, systems, and processes.
- After running tests to confirm that Business Intelligence is compatible with their identified needs, manage the timely flow of critical information to users.
- Synthesise current Business Intelligence or trend data to support actionable suggestions.
- Using Business Intelligence technologies, identify and track current and potential customers.
- Create or review technical design documents to assure the accuracy of reporting solution development while providing technical support for current tools.
- Collect data from a variety of heterogeneous sources with the assistance of an ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load) or BI (Business Intelligence) team.
- Create interactive dashboards to help upper management understand the business.
- Interact with clients to explain the consequences of complex data while evaluating items and performance objectively.
- Make Business Intelligence tools or systems, such as connected databases, spreadsheets, or outputs.
- Analyse technological trends and competitive market strategies in order to find markets for future product development or to increase sales of existing items.
- Create standard or customised reports that summarise corporate, financial, or economic data for executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders to evaluate.
- To keep current on industry or business trends, communicate with customers, competitors, suppliers, and professional organisations.
Standard Work Environment
The normal workspace of a Business Intelligence Analyst is indoors and in a controlled environment. A Business Intelligence Analyst spends most of his or her time on a computer, with the remainder spent holding and participating in meetings. It is a collaborative profession with a lot of strain. Unless otherwise noted, the dress code is business casual.
Work Schedule
A Business Intelligence Analyst’s working hours are long and frequently exceed 40 hours a week.
Employers
Job opportunities for Business Intelligence Analysts can be found in any industry that deals with big amounts of data.
Business Intelligence Analysts are generally employed by:
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Fortune 500 Companies
- Public Sector Organizations
- The Healthcare Industry
- Government Agencies
- The E-Commerce Industry
- Financial Markets
Unions / Professional Organizations
Professional groups and organisations are an important resource for Business Intelligence Analysts who want to further their professional development or interact with other experts in their industry or trade. Membership in one or more looks great on your CV and can help to boost your credentials and qualifications.
Workplace Challenges
- Fierce competition and exceptionally long working hours with no time for leisure
- Health-related issues because of the long hours spent in front of a computer
- Profit-driven field, meaning it is generally not suitable for those invested in social causes
Suggested Work Experience
Working as a Data Analyst, Business Analyst, or Data Report Writer can assist prospective Business Intelligence Analysts gain experience using SQL to model and analyse data while establishing and managing project scope. All of these experiences will provide you with valuable industry contacts as well as a deeper understanding of the end-to-end process of the types of projects that a Business Intelligence Analyst completes.
Before entering the career, Business Intelligence Analysts are expected to have work experience. An internship in the finance industry will help you to gain job experience while learning about the inner workings of a corporation.
Recommended Qualifications
A Business Intelligence Analyst will typically have some type of higher education degree in technology, particularly one that provides a thorough knowledge of SQL, Cognos, and other business resources. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is necessary, such as business management, accounting, economics, statistics, information science, information systems, computer science, data science, or engineering.
Many candidates have degrees in Business Intelligence. Before starting the profession, Business Intelligence Analysts must have a deep understanding of data in order to compete. Data architecture, database design, data mining, and data visualisation courses are all beneficial.
A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) may be required for some positions in the sector.
Certifications, Licenses and Registration
By examining individuals who violate the program’s Code of Ethics, successful certification programmes serve and defend the public welfare. They contribute to the future of a profession by gaining trust and respect.
Microsoft Certified Solutions “Expert in Business Intelligence” is a highly respected industry credential. It verifies your professional competence and provides you with the skills required to build and deliver data-driven solutions using SQL.
The certified Business Intelligence professional certification from Transforming Data with Intelligence (TDWI) allows you to test for and acquire at the levels of “practitioner” or “mastery.” To enrol for this exam, you must have at least two years of relevant job experience. You might desire to obtain certification in some computer languages, such as Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS).
Projected Career Map
Business Intelligence Analysts might work for a firm directly or as consultants. Management Analysts, Healthcare Analysts, Agile Analysts, Technical Analysts, and Functional Analysts are all types of Business Intelligence Analysts, each with a particular set of responsibilities. Within 10 years, Business Intelligence Analysts frequently advance to higher-level positions such as Analytics Manager, Business Intelligence Manager, Business Intelligence Architect, or Director of Business Intelligence.
Job Prospects
Those with the necessary skills, expertise, and experience will have the best job opportunities.
Beneficial Professional Development
Before becoming a Business Intelligence Analyst, an average of four years of work experience is normally necessary, while some businesses require up to eight years of prior job experience. As Business Intelligence Analysts are frequently project managers with hiring duties, you will most likely need up to two years of supervisory experience inside an organisation.
A master’s degree in information technology, business administration (MBA), or any other area in which you desire to specialise is possible; nonetheless, many employers prefer an MBA.
Conclusion of Business Intelligence Analyst
The oil of the twenty-first century is information, and analytics is the combustion engine. If you are prepared to listen, data will speak to you and provide you with the knowledge you need to become someone whose opinion is appreciated in the upper echelons of the business world.
Advice from the Wise
Business intelligence is all about getting the right data to the right people at the right time so they can make the right decisions. Above all, display the data. Data is required for analytics; information is required for business.
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