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Business Analyst Job Description: Roles & Responsibilities

Updated on 28 November, 2022

5.63K+ views
6 min read

Business analysts bridge the gap between business strategy and business operations. They are instrumental in identifying opportunities, streamlining processes, and improving efficiency. A business analyst is someone who analyzes businesses to understand their potential for growth or problem areas. The role of a business analyst can be challenging as it requires you to take on different hats simultaneously. You will need to simultaneously act as a consultant, analyst, strategist, and facilitator to implement your ideas effectively. 

In this article, let’s take a closer look at a business analyst’s different roles and responsibilities.

What does being a Business Analyst entail?

In simplest terms, business analysts collect and analyze data for use by business leaders. This aims to help managers make better decisions and produce more effective plans. Business analysts work with all company parts, from sales to marketing and finance to HR. 

They also work with other departments, such as IT and accounting. Analysts usually work in an office setting during regular business hours. Business analysts are often called upon to forecast financial trends. They also put together reports about how businesses perform and make recommendations for improvement. In addition, they might design or help to create software programs used in the business. Business analysts also look at past issues in the business and the company’s competitors. 

They try to identify weaknesses and strengths in these areas so the company can improve its performance. A business analyst might be responsible for a particular area of focus or have a general management role, supervising others producing the reports.

Why are Business Analysts important for a business?

Business leaders at all levels are expected to deliver with limited resources, limited time, and in highly competitive markets. This is a Herculean task, which means that decision-making needs to be accurate and actionable. The role of a business analyst is to make sure that the decision-making process is streamlined and that proper information is provided to facilitate decision-making. 

Business analysts serve as the communication bridge between different departments and stakeholders in the organization by providing clear and accurate information through appropriate channels and formats. The business analyst is responsible for gathering requirements and documenting them for the team and the stakeholders to understand. In addition, the analyst is responsible for recommending solutions to issues and problems causing bottlenecks in the organization.

Check out our business analytics courses to upskill yourself

Key tasks of a Business Analyst

Now that we’ve understood the importance business analysts hold for an organization, you must be thinking of what exact roles and tasks business analysts do. Well, the answer to that question is a bit more complex than it might seem on the surface – simply because of the sheer multidisciplinarity of being a business analyst. Their tasks cover the entire spectrum of business operations and broadly include the following: 

Analyzing Data- Business analysts collect and analyze data to understand potential problems and growth opportunities. They may look at numbers or read reports to discover issues and trends within the business. Afterward, they may use that information to create recommendations for handling those problems or taking advantage of those opportunities. 

Gathering Information- Business analysts talk to different stakeholders to understand their needs and issues. They then synthesize this information to develop recommendations for addressing these issues or improving the situation.

Communicating Ideas- After creating a plan of action, business analysts write reports and communicate their ideas to stakeholders. They also help stakeholders to understand the plan and how it will affect them. 

Making Recommendations- Business analysts make recommendations about how to address issues. For example, if there is a budget issue, they may suggest changing the way the company does business or hiring more personnel. They may recommend creating more efficient meeting environments if there are communication issues.

Key skills of a successful Business Analyst

To carry out such a wide array of tasks successfully, business analysts need to be diverse in their skillset. They need to be able to wear and manage multiple hats simultaneously to get the best out of their work. For that, some of the key skills that are much needed for any aspiring business analyst include: 

Analytical Thinking- The ability to look at situations from different perspectives and draw conclusions based on data is crucial for business analysts. Having this skill will allow them to understand the issues thoroughly and come up with the best solutions. 

Critical Thinking- This skill is closely related to analytical thinking. It is the ability to identify shortcomings and come up with improvements. Having this skill will allow business analysts to create effective plans that are aligned with the company’s goals.

Communication- The ability to communicate effectively is crucial for any job. However, it is particularly important for business analysts because they often communicate findings to a variety of stakeholders in the organization. Having the communication skills to effectively communicate findings and recommendations to a wide range of people will create buy-in for the plans created by the business analyst. 

Time Management- This skill is important for every job. However, it is crucial for business analysts because they need to juggle a lot of different tasks. From conducting research to communicating findings, business analysts need to stay on top of their tasks to meet deadlines.

How to become a Business Analyst?

Business analysts require a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field, such as management or marketing, combined with business analyst certification. Employers also prefer candidates with at least one year of experience in business analysis. Entry-level business analyst positions generally require candidates to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business management or a relevant field, such as marketing or computer science. Employers may also prefer candidates who have completed coursework in business analysis.

In conclusion

The job of a business analyst is truly rewarding and satisfactory. You get to work with intelligent people from all over the organization, making your day-to-day tasks more exciting and allowing you to learn and grow even more. Further, the direct impact that you will be having on your organization as a business analyst is a reward of its own. Needless to say, many professionals from across different domains are moving to business analysis as a viable career option. At upGrad, we have mentored and guided many such students and professionals from around the globe and helped them reach their destinations.

In order to add more value to your business analyst resume, upGrad’s Business Analytics Certification program is an excellent option for upskilling and also helps in enabling candidates to gain in-depth knowledge of business analytics like managing data structures, business intelligence, and performance management. The course will also teach you necessary business analytics skills like MySQL, Excel, Hadoop, MapReduce, and more.

To know more about the course, talk to our experts today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the main roles of a business analyst?

The key roles of a business analyst include creating detailed business analyses by outlining problems, opportunities, and possible solutions. This also involves planning and monitoring and variance analysis.

2. Which tools are used by business analysts?

Since business analysts do many tasks, they also use various tools for different tasks. Some of the more used tools include - Balsamiq, SWOT, Trello, Wrike, and more.

3. Does becoming a business analyst require a specific background?

Not necessarily, but a background in business or analytics (computer science, IT, and so on) will be a good idea for a career in business analytics.

Did you find this article helpful?

Pavan Vadapalli

Director of Engineering @ upGrad. Motivated to leverage technology to solve problems. Seasoned leader for startups and fast moving orgs. Working on solving problems of scale and long term technology strategy.

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Data collection and analysis have always been crucial components of business organizations. However, the process of collecting, analyzing, and putting data to relevant use has undergone significant change since the 1990s. What earlier used to be a specialized field restricted to hardcore computer skills has become more ubiquitous. Today, almost every sector and industry leverage the potential of business analytics to uncover data insights. So, what is business analytics, and what is the scope of a career in business analytics? Read on to find out all about this thriving field. What Is Business Analytics? Business analytics is the process of collecting and processing past business data, analyzing the data to identify patterns and trends, and using the insights to make data-driven business decisions. Business analytics is often used interchangeably with business intelligence (BI). However, the two are fundamentally different. Business intelligence uses descriptive analysis on current and historical data to determine what happened in the past, the current situation, and the opportunities for future improvements. On the other hand, business analytics builds upon the findings of BI to predict future trends. It uses data mining, predictive analytics, data visualization, and various different methodologies to generate actional insights for stakeholders and decision-makers. Check out our business analytics courses to upskill yourself Elements of Business Analytics Business analytics includes a set of methodologies, technologies, and practices that help organizations transform data into valuable insights, predict trends, and make data-driven business decisions. Below is an overview of the typical elements in the business analytics lifecycle: Defining objectives: The first step involves determining the business objectives, the problem that requires solutions, and mapping data requirements. Data aggregation: A critical step before analysis, data aggregation means collecting the data, organizing, and filtering it. Data cleaning: It is essential to clean data to make it usable and compatible with further analytical procedures. Thus, data cleaning involves fixing or eliminating corrupted, incorrect, or incomplete data in a dataset. Data mining: Business analysts sort through the datasets to identify trends and patterns once the data is organized and cleaned. The analytical methodology employed will depend on the business goal. Forecasting: It involves the analysis of historical data to make educated estimates of future trends or behaviors. Predictive analytics: Predictive analytics employs different statistical techniques to build predictive models which can be used for information extraction and pattern identification from datasets. Reporting and data visualization: A critical aspect of business analytics is communicating complex insights to stakeholders in an easy-to-understand format. Graphs and charts are quick and efficient techniques to represent outcomes and simplify data analysis visually. On a broader scale, business analytics methods include: Descriptive analytics to analyze historical data and describe what happened. Diagnostic analytics to discover the root cause of a past trend or observation. Predictive analytics to determine the likelihood of future outcomes. Prescriptive analytics to determine the best possible course of action to achieve objectives. Explore our Business Analytics Programs from World's Top Universities Business Analytics Certification Programme Busines Analytics EPGP - LIBA Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics Master of Science in Business Analytics Global Master Certificate in Business Analytics Busines Analytics Certification - upGrad Business Analytics Tools Understanding the tools of the trade is crucial to master any skill, and it is no different for a career in business analytics. Business analytics have various tools and technologies at their disposal to help them pull out actionable insight from data. Today’s sophisticated business analysis tools are packed with powerful functionalities for efficient and convenient data collection, analysis, and visualization. Below is a list (not exhaustive) of some of the most common business analytics tools used globally: Microsoft Excel SQL Power BI Tableau QlikView Python R/R-Studio SPSS SAS Spark PyTorch TensorFlow TIBCO Sisense IBM Cognos Xplenty and many more! Roles and Responsibilities of a Business Analyst Business analysts are the backbone of business-IT collaboration. It is upon business analysts to identify objectives, determine requirements, and understand how data can add value and efficiency to business processes, products, and services. Business analysts are also responsible for communicating data-driven insights to executives and stakeholders. Let’s look at some of the core roles and responsibilities encompassing a business analyst’s job description: Creating a detailed analysis and evaluation of the current business processes of an organization Outlining problems and identifying areas that require improvement Defining business requirements and communicating them to stakeholders Staying up-to-date with the latest IT advancements and business processes to modernize systems Developing optimization strategies and leading business process reviews Documenting and presenting plans, ideas, and insights to team members and management Providing guidance and training to team members and staff Developing and managing projects and monitoring performance Allocating and managing resources while maintaining cost-efficiency Creating initiatives as per business needs and requirements Collaborating with stakeholders and users Read our Other Articles Related to Business Analytics What is Business Analytics? Career, Salary & Job Roles Top 7 Career Options in Business Analytics Business Analytics Free Online Course with Certification Business Analytics Vs Data Analytics: Difference Between Business Analytics and Data Analytics Top 7 Best Business Analytics Tools Recommended for every Business Analyst Top 11 Industry Applications of Business Analytics Future Scope of Business Analytics Business Analytics Eligibility or Requirement 8 Business Analytics Tips: Which Helps to Run Business Successfully What Is the Scope of a Career in Business Analytics? The global business analytics market is forecasted to reach a whopping USD 103.65 billion with a CAGR of 7.3% during 2021-2026. Business analytics has far-reaching implications and uses across all industrial domains. From finance and agriculture to manufacturing and supply chain operations and more, business analytics has become a widespread tool to process business data and make informed decisions. Moreover, the evolution of AI, cloud data management software, and self-service business analytics programs have made it possible to analyze data and visualize trends in real-time with utmost ease. Below is a list of the top industrial applications of business analytics: Finance Government and public sector Agriculture Education Energy and Fuel Retail Marketing Logistics Transport Human Resources Entertainment and media Virtually every industry out there has applications of business analytics. As a result, every industry needs business analysts who can positively impact business processes and outcomes through data-driven insights. A  career in business analytics has ample scope for professional and financial growth. However, business analysts may not have a straightforward future career path since professionals can explore diverse avenues and opportunities with their skill sets. Below are some of the most popular job titles business analysts are eligible for: Functional analyst Process analyst Information technology manager Product manager Project manager Business consultant Systems analyst Information architect Conclusion Companies worldwide now realize the importance of business analytics to stay ahead in the competition. Naturally, business analysts have a vital role in steering an organization towards success. Apart from having domain knowledge and the relevant technical skills, it is crucial that business analysts have the requisite soft skills along with the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge. Furthermore, aptitude, patience, creativity, and communication skills enable business analysts to mobilize and engage human resources for reaching business objectives. Today, business analytics has become a sought-after course in leading institutions and B-schools that teach students to apply business analytics skills to real-world situations. However, if you want to grab the best opportunity of becoming a business analyst, upGrad offers an online Business Analytics Certification Program. Learn in-demand and industry-relevant skills such as business problem solving, statistics, data analytics, predictive modeling, and more within three months! Program Highlights: 100+ hours of content Five live sessions 3 case studies and real-life industry-sponsored business analytics projects 360-degree learning support Industry and peer networking Join the global student base of South Asia’s best higher EdTech platform upGrad and become a part of the engaging learning experience. Sign up today!
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by upGrad

22 Sep'22
Cluster Analysis in Business Analytics

7.87K+

Cluster Analysis in Business Analytics

Businesses have a lot of unstructured data. According to statistics, almost 80% of companies’ data is unstructured. Also, the growth rate of unstructured data is 55-65% per year. Since this data cannot be arranged into a tabular form, it is difficult for enterprises, especially small businesses, to use unstructured data. This is why business analytics tools are becoming widely popular. Cluster analysis is a business analytics tool that helps companies sort unstructured data and use it for their maximum advantage. This blog helps you understand what cluster analysis is in business analytics, its types, and applications. What is Cluster Analysis? Cluster means arranging or grouping similar items. Therefore, as the name suggests, cluster analysis is a statistical tool that classifies identical objects in different groups. Objects within a cluster have similar properties, whereas objects of two separate clusters are entirely different. Cluster analysis serves as a data mining or exploratory data tool in business analytics. It is used to identify similar patterns or trends and compare one set of data with another. The cluster analysis tool is mainly used to segregate customers into different categories, figure out the target audience and potential leads, and understand customer traits. We can also understand cluster analysis as an automated segmentation technique that divides data into different groups based on their characteristics. It comes under the broad category of big data. Check out our business analytics courses to upskill yourself What are the Different Types of Clustering Models? There are broadly two types of clustering: hard and soft clustering. In hard clustering, each data point is definite and included only in one cluster. On the other hand, data points in soft clustering are arranged based on probability. We can fit one data point in different clusters in soft clustering. The following are the most popular types of clustering models in business analytics: Hierarchical:- The hierarchical clustering algorithm arranges the clusters in a hierarchy. It creates a tree of clusters. Then, the two closest clusters are arranged into one pair. This new pair is further combined with another pair. For example, if there are eight clusters, the two clusters with maximum similar characteristics will be arranged together and form one branch. Similarly, the other six clusters will be arranged into a pair of three clusters. The four pairs of clusters will be brought together to form two pairs of clusters. The remaining two clusters will also be merged to form a head cluster. The clusters appear in the shape of a pyramid. Hierarchical clustering is further divided into two different categories – agglomerative and divisive clustering. Agglomerative clustering is also called AGNES (Agglomerative Nesting) in which two similar clusters are merged at every step till one combined cluster is left. On the other hand, divisive hierarchical clustering, also called DIANA (Divise Analysis), contradicts AGNES. This algorithm divides one cluster into two clusters. K – Means:- The K-means cluster analysis model used predefined clusters. Using the K – means clustering algorithm is to find local maxima in each iteration. This algorithm keeps on calculating the centroid until it finds the correct centroid. Centroid:- Centroid is also an iterative clustering algorithm. It finds similarities between two clusters by calculating the closest distance between the data point and the centroid. Then, the centroid clustering algorithm is used to find the local optima. The data points in this algorithm are predefined. Distribution:- This clustering algorithm is based on probability. It uses normal or Gaussian rules to find the probability between data points of one cluster. The data points are arranged in a cluster based on a hypothesis or a probability in the distribution model. However, this is an overfitting model. It means that we need to put some limitations while using the distribution algorithm. Density:- The density cluster algorithm searches the data space to arrange the data points with varying densities. This algorithm creates separate density regions based on different densities. Benefits of Cluster Analysis Here are the two most significant benefits of cluster analysis! Undirected Data Mining Technique:- Cluster analysis is an undirected or exploratory data mining technique. It means that one cannot form a hypothesis or predict the result of cluster analysis. Instead, it produces hidden patterns and structures from unstructured data. In simple terms, while performing cluster analysis, one does not have a target variable in mind. It produces unexpected results. Arranged Data for Other Algorithms:- Businesses use various analytics and machine learning tools. However, some analytics tools can only work if we provide structured data. We can use cluster analysis tools to arrange data into a meaningful form for analysis by machine learning software. Cluster Analysis Applications Businesses can use cluster analysis for the following purposes: Market Segmentation:- Cluster analysis helps businesses in market segmentation by creating groups of homogenous customers with the same behaviors. It is beneficial for businesses with a wide range of products and services and cater to a large audience. Cluster analysis helps businesses determine customer response to their products and services by arranging the customers with the same attributes in one cluster. This allows the businesses to organize their services and offer specific products to different groups. Understanding Consumer’s Behavior:- Cluster analysis is beneficial for companies to understand consumer behavior like their preferences, response to products or services, and purchasing patterns. This helps businesses to decide their marketing and sales strategies. Figuring Out New Market Opportunities:-  Businesses can also use cluster analysis to understand news trends in the market by analyzing consumer behavior. It can help them expand their business and explore new products and services. Cluster analysis can also help businesses figure out the strengths and weaknesses and their competitors. Reduction of Data:- It is difficult for businesses to manage and store tons of data. Cluster analysis helps businesses segregate valuable information into different clusters, making it easier for companies to differentiate between valuable and redundant data that can be discarded. How to perform Cluster Analysis? Each cluster analysis model requires a different strategy. However, the following steps can be used for all cluster analysis techniques. Collect Unstructured Data:- You can perform cluster analysis on existing customer data. However, you will need to collect fresh information if you wish to understand recent trends or consumer traits. You can conduct a survey to learn about new market developments. Selecting the right variable:- We begin cluster analysis by choosing a variable or a property based on which we can segregate one data point from another. It helps narrow down the property based on which clusters will be formed. Data scaling:- The next step is to scale the data into different categories. It means categorizing data based on the selected variables. Distance Calculation:- The last step of cluster analysis is calculating the distance between variables. Since the data points are arranged into clusters with different factors, we need to prepare an equation considering all the variables. One of the most simple ways is to calculate the distance between the centers of two clusters. Conclusion Cluster analysis is a popular business analytics tool that helps convert unstructured data into usable formats. As companies are collecting increasing amounts of data every passing year, it becomes necessary for them to use data for meaningful purposes. Therefore, cluster analysis jobs are expected to grow by multiple folds in the coming years. According to statistics, the average salary of a cluster manager in the US is $79,109. On the other hand, the average salary of a data analyst in the US is $65,217. If you are intrigued by data analytics and have sharp business acumen, you can join the Business Analytics Certification Program offered by upGrad.
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by upGrad

22 Sep'22
Predictive Modeling in Business Analytics

5.16K+

Predictive Modeling in Business Analytics

Predictive modeling is a technique used by businesses and organizations on available results for creating, processing, and validating a model for future use in business forecasting. This tool is an integral part of predictive analytics, a technique in data mining to understand possible future outcomes. Predictive modeling is widely used across multiple sectors to mitigate risks and possible losses. Companies use predictive modeling extensively for forecasting events, consumer behavior, and risks related to finances, economy, and market. Why Applied Predictive Modelling Is Important In Business Analytics Predictive modeling includes the analysis of historical events. Therefore, it plays an integral role in business analytics through which companies are given the ability to forecast events, the behavior of customers, and possible risks. With the advent of technology, digital products such as mobile phones and computers have become a basic necessity. This has resulted in the overwhelming amounts of real-time data retrieved from social media, browsing histories, cloud computing platforms, etc. This data is available for businesses to use. This vast amount of data falls under the category of big data. Predictive modeling plays a vital part in analyzing Big Data that is further utilized by companies for improving their operations and relationships with the consumer base. Explore our US Business Analytics Programs from World's Top Universities Professional Certificate in Data Science and Business Analytics Master of Science in Business Analytics Predictive modeling tools can manage vast proportions of unstructured and complex data that is difficult to analyze manually. Predictive modeling is used instead to analyze data over a short period with the help of computer software programs. These programs are used to process large datasets from historical data to assess and identify data patterns that help in forecasting. Hence, businesses can use predictive models to predict consumer behavior or market trends. Check out our business analytics courses to upskill yourself How Predictive Modelling Works? Predictive modeling is not fixed. It is revised and validated regularly for updating and making changes to the data. Predictive models primarily work based on the assumptions of previous events and current events. If newly acquired data shows significant changes at present, its impact on the future is also recalculated accordingly. Predictive models are designed to work fast and handle massive datasets to perform calculations in a fraction of time. However, complex predictive models like in computational biology and quantum outputs take longer to process. Five Kinds Of Predictive Analytics Models Predictive models need not be created from the very beginning for every application. These tools are used for many critical models and algorithms for the application in numerous use cases. Technological advancements have also led to advancements in analytics, via which the use of these models has expanded exponentially. The five important predictive analytics models are as follows:-: Classification model: This is the simplest model, designed to categorize data for direct and simple query responses. Clustering model: This model is designed to stack data together via common attributes. It groups things or people with common attributes or behaviors and makes further plans and strategies for each group. Forecast model: This is the most popular amongst predictive models. It is designed to work on numerical value and learn from historical data. Outliers model: This model analyzes anomalous or outlying data points. Time series model: This model is designed to evaluate a series of data points based on time. Common Predictive Algorithms in Predictive Modelling  Predictive algorithms use historical data to predict future events that help build mathematical models for capturing important trends. Predictive algorithms depend on either machine learning or deep learning, which are subtypes of artificial intelligence (AI). Some of the most important and commonly used predictive algorithms are:- Random Forests: This algorithm has been taken from a cluster of decision trees that aren’t related and can use regression and classification to classify large datasets. Generalized Linear Model (GLM) for Two Values: This algorithm reduces the list of variables to look for what fits the best. It is designed to calculate tipping points and alter data capture and other influences, like categorical predictors, for determining the outcome that works best. This algorithm helps overcome drawbacks in various other models, like the regular linear regression. Gradient Boosted Model: This algorithm uses combined decision trees. However, these trees are related, unlike Random Forest. It builds trees one at a time, thus helping the next tree to rectify flaws in the previous tree. This algorithm is often used in rankings, like on search engine outputs. K-Means: This algorithm is quite popular because it is fast. It is designed to group data points based on their similarities and is commonly used for the clustering model. It can render things quickly. Prophet: This algorithm is widely used in forecast models and time-series as it is designed for capacity planning, like inventory, resource allocations, sales quotas, and the like. It is preferred due to its high flexibility and because it can easily accommodate heuristics and an array of good assumptions. Read our Other US Articles Related to Business Analytics How to Get Business Analytics Dream Job? What is Financial Analytics and Why is it Important? Limitations of Predictive Modelling Despite being widely used for business analytics, predictive modeling is no stranger to limitations and challenges. Down below, we have listed some of the challenges and their solutions:- Errors in labeling data: This can be easily rectified through reinforcement learning or generative adversarial networks (GANs). Scarcity of massive data sets required to train machine learning: This can be easily overcome with “one-shot learning”. The inability of a machine to explain the purpose behind its actions: Machines cannot function as humans. Some of their computations can be exceptionally complex for humans to find and make sense of. This can be easily overcome with the help of model transparency necessary for human safety, potential fixes, attention techniques, and local-interpretable-model-agnostic explanations (LIME). Ability or lack of generalizing learning: Machines cannot carry forward what they have learned and have trouble applying their knowledge to new circumstances because they apply to one particular use case. This is where machine learning comes in. Predictive modeling largely depends on machine learning to be reusable and for application in multiple use cases. Bias in algorithms and data: This is the only limitation that still doesn’t have a solution. No representation can alter outcomes resulting in the mistreatment of large groups of people. Conclusion Needless to say, predictive analytics tools are widely used by data analysts for reducing time and costs and increasing efficiency. It has dramatically helped organizations forecast business outcomes by considering variables like competitive intelligence, environmental factors, market conditions, and regulation changes. Knowing predictive analysis tools can come in major handy if you are looking to upgrade your CV and increase your chances of getting lucrative job opportunities. upGrad’s Business Analytics Certification program is an excellent option for upskilling. To know more about the course, talk to our experts today!
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by Kamal Jacob

26 Sep'22
Top 10 Business Intelligence Tools

5.17K+

Top 10 Business Intelligence Tools

Business intelligence (BI) is a tech-driven suite that focuses primarily on data analysis to generate actionable information for data-driven business decisions. As a part of the BI process, enterprises collect data from various internal IT systems and external sources. This collected data is then prepared for analysis, running queries against the information, and creating data visualizations or business intelligence dashboards. It is so used to make reports that make analytics output available to users of the business for operational decision-making as well as strategic planning. The ultimate aim of business Intelligence is data-driven decision-making to enable organizations to boost their revenue, increase operational efficiency and also achieve a competitive advantage in the market. To achieve this goal, business intelligence involves incorporating data management, analytics, reporting tools, and other methodologies to manage and analyze data. How do business intelligence processes work?  Business intelligence architectures include more than only essential BI software. Business intelligence data typically includes stored data in a warehouse built for an entire business enterprise or even in smaller data marts that contain subsets of different business-related information for an individual department and or multiple business units, more often with connections to an organizational data warehouse. Moreover, some data lakes are based on Hadoop clusters or several other business intelligence data systems used as repositories and landing pads for BI and data analytics, especially for tracking log files, handling sensor data, text, and various other types of semi-structured or unstructured data. The business intelligence information can encompass historical records and actual-time information gathered from supply systems, allowing business intelligence experts to guide strategic and tactical decision-making tactics. However, before it is used in business intelligence applications, raw data uncooked information from multiple sources should be integrated, consolidated, and cleansed using facts integration and statistical methods. The development of social media platforms has transformed marketing for good. Presently, businesses (primarily B2Cs) spend a substantial percentage of their total profits only on marketing. Check out our business analytics courses to upskill yourself Below, we have collated a list of leading business intelligence tools used in 2021. Check it out! Explore our US Business Analytics Programs from World's Top Universities Professional Certificate in Data Science and Business Analytics Master of Science in Business Analytics 1. Microsoft Power Business Intelligence Tool Microsoft’s business intelligence suite presents interactive commercial enterprise intelligence capabilities to assist entrepreneurs in creating dashboards and reports. Released in 2011, Power Business intelligence comes with a cloud-based Business intelligence carrier, aka the Power Business intelligence Services and Power Business intelligence Desktop. In 2016, Microsoft launched Power Business intelligence embedded on its Azure cloud platform. 2. Zoho Analytics Indian multinational tech corporation Zoho launched its business intelligence suite Zoho Analytics in 2009. The self-carrier business intelligence and analytics answer are used for enterprise reporting and dashboard advent. Ikea, Tesla, Dell, HP,  and Canon are some of the prominent clients of Zoho. 3. Google Data Studio Launched in 2016, Google’s Data Studio became an integral part of the Google Analytics 360 suite. This tool permits corporations to transform records into informative reviews and dashboards. In addition, it comes with a couple of built-in advertising templates. Google Data Studio offers clean-to-use capabilities, including reworking statistics into charts and graphs for more meaningful insights, tweaking present reviews to provide visualization and custom solutions, and democratizing facts by permitting sharing and collaboration. 4. QlikView QlikView is a product of Qlick and was launched back in 1994 in the company’s first eponymous product line. It enables businesses to build dashboards and guided data analytics applications. QlikView is an easy-to-use tool, and it enables marketers to search, consolidate, visualize and analyze the available data sources for meaningful insights. Businesses can use this bi tool from anywhere. 5. Tableau Tableau is a BI tool that offers marketing dashboards for organizations to unify all the marketing-related data in one place and for providing actionable insights on inputs like social media presence, customer’s journey, website and landing page performance, and considerable expenses. 6. Freshworks CRM  This BI tool is a cloud-based customer engagement service provider that allows businesses to get an end-to-end view of customers, understand customer activities, and segregate customers into segments and lists. This tool also offers solid conversion rate optimization, web tracking, chat campaigns, event tracking, and even customer segmentation. Freshworks claims to assist organizations boom website conversions via over forty percent. The Chennai-based startup became based through Girish Mathrubootham and Shan Krishnasamy in 2010. 7. Looker Looked was Launched in 2011 by Ben Porterfield and Lloyd Tabb. This tool enables organizations to centralize their promotion and marketing data sources. It allows enterprises to achieve deeper insights into all their consumers by combining various data sets and tracking cross-channel customer behavior along with segmenting consumers by their attributes. Google Cloud later acquired Looker two years ago in 2019 through an all-cash deal of $2.6 billion. 8. Intercom In 2011, Intercom as a business intelligence Tool was founded by Des Traynor, Eoghan McCabe, Ciaran Lee, and David Berrett. With Intercom, marketing teams to divide data-driven attributes send focused in-app or even email-based messages for generating new leads for their business. Intercom aids businesses and enables the segmentation of consumers based on their revenue, location, industry, and many more criteria. It helps companies handle outbound messages, account-based marketing, and automated answers. Read our Other US Articles Related to Business Analytics How to Get Business Analytics Dream Job? What is Financial Analytics and Why is it Important? 9. DataBox Databox is headquartered in Germany and was founded in 2011. This BI tool provides free and easy setup options for business organizations to track performance-related metrics. DataBox aids marketing teams in monitoring trends while acquiring sources with visualizations, providing automated morning briefing to understand how campaigns perform, and accessing all metrics in one place, regardless of data origin. 10. Qlik Sense Qlik aims to give businesses access to all the available data — be it corporate data or governance policies. All these data sources are enough to bog down most other database engines. However, what differentiates Qlik is the Associative Engine that can interlink all forms of data and make it easier for businesses to make informed decisions and analyses. The Associative Engine of QUICK Sense has AI and multiple machine learning capabilities. These unique features offer reliable insights to accelerate business growth. Qlik Sense is a self-service tool to access data analytics-related capabilities. It is available in the cloud and on-premise versions. Conclusion In a nutshell, business intelligence means extracting actionable information from big data to enable informed and insightful decision-making. BI lies at the core of the marketing efforts for futuristic businesses. BI tools help organizations identify market trends, the impact of their business campaigns and uncover new growth-related opportunities. With a large volume of statistics at our fingertips, it’s getting more challenging to the facts applicable to our troubles and present them in an actionable way. That’s what commercial enterprise intelligence is all about. Business intelligence equipment makes it less challenging to gather relevant data, interpret it correctly, and visualize it for easy understanding of tech and non-tech staff. If you’re a data enthusiast seeking to acquire data analytics and management expertise, you can check out upGrad’s Business Analytics Certification Program. Industry experts draft this popular and sought-after course. Additionally, it includes exposure to a considerable pool of real-time data collection and analysis. This brilliant course offers several internship programs with the top commercial giants to help you understand data science and management.
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by Sriram

26 Sep'22
Business Development Manager Salary in The US

5.19K+

Business Development Manager Salary in The US

A Business Development Manager is essentially important to expand the client base of the organization they will be heading. Apart from managing and presiding over the sales and revenue creating strategies for the organization, also it falls under the manager’s duties to have client meetings and negotiate prices. A lot of the financial, technical, and interpersonal responsibility with the clients and employees is hence crucial for this position. Going by the weight of the responsibility, the salary range will live up to it. The business development manager salary in the USA can range up to $71,575 to $80,000 annually, with other uncommon benefits like commission and profit-sharing, more of which shall be discussed right below. First, we need to get an idea of the job description and the qualifications required to be a Business Development Manager. Read on to know more about this highly-fought position. Business Development Manager Job: What is it like? While the salary and the job outlooks are highly intensive, the job description and requirement can be challenging. But do not let the heavy qualifications strewn all over the internet scare you, for we are here to break the work settings and the job skills for your smooth path to being a successful Business Development Manager. Check out our business analytics courses to upskill yourself Job Description Aspirants who wish to be business managers must possess various skills. Business Manager job descriptions vary tremendously according to the specific company being hired. They may be headed to preside over the entire business transactions of an organization or head over a highly specialized field inside the office. Here are a few important responsibilities of a business manager: Ensure smooth running of company employees. Allocate efficient use of financial resources. Schedule and negotiate client pricing, oversee projects, and delegate employee jobs. Plan work schedules and hand out employee reviews. Be in simultaneous contact with employees as well as company supervisors. The Work Setting While the job description might sound overwhelming, business managers are required at almost all organizations. Hence, it is essential to walk through the industries that require a position fitted with one’s ability and skills, including software and hardware, cybersecurity, financial services, healthcare services, and e-commerce. Here are the tentative work settings a prospective business manager might encounter: Generally office-based and working indoors. Up to 40 hours a week of regular work. Might be required to attend travel meetings and other business meetings with clients. Generally interact with various people, including colleagues, clients, stakeholders, vendors, etc. Manage conflicts inside the workspace. Read our Other US Articles Related to Business Analytics How to Get Business Analytics Dream Job? What is Financial Analytics and Why is it Important? The Skills Required  Business managers juggle multiple responsibilities, and thus, they must possess the necessary skills in handling the work environment efficiently. Here are some skills important for an aspiring business manager: Communication skills- business managers should communicate with clients and present their ideas commendably. Organizational skills- business managers must prioritize their work schedule and their clients’ and employees to facilitate a structured workforce. Technical skills- business managers must be adept in financial calculations and know basic computer skills like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. (Optional) Professional skills- some business organizations might want their business development managers to have an in-depth understanding of any coding language like Java, Python, C++, etc., but only in specialized cases where it shall be mentioned in the job description. Qualifications What are the qualifications one requires in their resume for being a business manager? They are as follows: A Bachelors/Masters Degree in Business Administration (BBA/MBA) or a Sales related field. Professional Courses or PG Diploma in Marketing, Sales, IT, Business Communication, etc. A few years’ (two-three) work experience in related marketing/sales organizations. Business Development Manager Salary Range As mentioned earlier, the business development manager salary in the USA can touch almost $80,000 annually, with the range being $75,000 to $134,000. In addition, the job salary range also has other uncommon benefits like commission and profit-sharing, which may shoot up to $25,000 and $10,000, respectively. Such perks add up to a massive salary for this vital organizational leadership position. The salary also depends on the type of organization the business manager works under and the size and scale of the company influence. Largely, clientele support and pricing also influence the salary range. Other indirect benefits for a business development manager’s salary in the USA can include generous life insurance plans, health benefits, dental health plans, retirement bonus plans, paid vacations from the company, and other bonuses. Explore our US Business Analytics Programs from World's Top Universities Professional Certificate in Data Science and Business Analytics Master of Science in Business Analytics Summary People usually start as Assistant BDMs and slowly work their way upwards with hard work and zeal. Meanwhile, the work experience gained also grooms them for more important future managerial positions. In addition, assistant posts are open to aspirants with higher qualifications, and they can pursue more courses side by side with their current job to gain more expertise in the field to reach their goals faster. If you’re a data enthusiast seeking to acquire data analytics and management expertise, you can check out upGrad’s Business Analytics Certification Program. Industry experts draft this popular and sought-after course. Additionally, it includes exposure to a considerable pool of real-time data collection and analysis. This brilliant course offers several internship programs with the top commercial giants to help you understand data science and management. Sign up today and have a chance to learn from the best tutors online!
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by Kamal Jacob

27 Sep'22
Top 5 Business Analytics Tools

5.2K+

Top 5 Business Analytics Tools

Business Analytics: A Brief Overview Business analytics, often shortened as BA, is a selection of technologies and disciplines required for solving business problems using data analysis, quantitative methods, and statistical models. This field requires a recursive and systemic exploration of an organization’s data that emphasizes statistical analysis for decision-making. Data is considered a business asset in every data-driven company, which requires mining, processing, and analysis to use it to their competitive advantage. Successfully implementing business analytics depends on professional analysts who have the skillset to understand the relevant technologies such as business intelligence software, data quality, and the commitment to use data to gain insights to make business decisions. The Importance Of Business Analytics Tools The overwhelming volume of data generated by cloud applications is undeniable. Large-scale companies and startups rely on business analysis tools and ways to deliver foolproof analytics solutions to extract insights from the generated data. Many tools and application software capture qualitative and quantitative data from various business systems and incorporate them into a repository, which is how most data analysts review and analyze data to ensure smart decision-making. Many companies use different business analytics software all at once. These include statistical tools, data mining tools, and predictive modeling. These applications for business analytics provide companies with insights to aim for efficiency, profitability, and productivity. With more and more advancement, business analytics tools leverage powerful features to make data collection and analysis easier. Hence, they can detect trends and patterns from vast datasets and pave the way for newer business analytics models.  Difference Between Business Analytics and Business Intelligence Although they seem identical, BA and BI have key differences that set them apart. Business Analytics aims to provide advanced analytics that leverages Business Intelligence as the backbone while solving complex questions and making projections. Data analytics consists of various applications and techniques falling under the umbrella of data analytics, amongst which two popular practices are business analytics and business intelligence. Despite sounding the same, these are entirely different concepts for building analytical strategies and extracting the best intel out of the data. High-functioning tools are used by business analysts for gathering, analyzing, and presenting data to the companies for customer satisfaction and achieving business goals. Top-tier business analytics tools are in high demand due to the high functionalities that advanced software in business analytics promise to deliver for the future growth of business and monetary success. Business intelligence is entirely focused on the current and the past events that the data capture. On the other hand, business analytics is wholly focused on what can potentially happen in the future.  BI aids companies in building strategies for present situations with active data broken down to answer any specific questions related to the recent data. BA uses data insights to form business strategies and improve productivity and current dynamic systems. Get Business Analytics Certification from the World’s top Universities. Learn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career. Five Most Popular Business Analytics Tools Analysts use many Business Analytics tools for performing tasks with efficiency. Here is a list of some of the most popularly used BA tools in the field of data science:- 1. QlikView QlikView was the first product created by a business and software organization called Qlik and was formerly known as QuikView. It is one of the most popular tools used in business analytics because of its distinctive and unique features. Compared to software like Tableau, it is faster in response and much more efficient. QlikView is easy to deploy and learn. It helps users achieve business insights by associating with data. No programming experience is required other than basic knowledge of SQL and VB Script that can help understand how this tool functions. The distribution of this tool is supportive enough as it offers a free version of QlikView to use personally and can be easily implemented by beginners and small startups. 2. Board Board falls in the list of one of the highest-rated software tools for business analysis because its business analytics model is leasing in the industry. It enables users to create intuitive and interactive business analytics dashboards and reports. Additionally, this business analytics platform is highly-scalable and integrates the top-tier analytical tools used in businesses, including a high-functioning statistics suite. Board is a business analytics tool that can manage overwhelmingly large volumes of data and provide a scenario analysis as accurately as possible. It also aids in forecasting by manipulating data used in various scenarios. 3. Splunk Based in San Francisco, Splunk Technology is popularly known for producing some of the best business analytics tools to handle various aspects of machine-generated data. This involves searching, monitoring, and analysis and helps attain indexes find the link between the repository and real-time data. This repository is often used for generating reports, graphs, and dashboards. Splunk Free is available and has all its Enterprise features in Splunk 4 for two months. It gives business analysts the benefit of letting users index 500 megabytes of data every day. Both small and medium-scale companies use it. Read our Other Articles Related to Business Analytics What is Business Analytics? Career, Salary & Job Roles Top 7 Career Options in Business Analytics Business Analytics Free Online Course with Certification Business Analytics Vs Data Analytics: Difference Between Business Analytics and Data Analytics Top 7 Best Business Analytics Tools Recommended for every Business Analyst Top 11 Industry Applications of Business Analytics Future Scope of Business Analytics Business Analytics Eligibility or Requirement 8 Business Analytics Tips: Which Helps to Run Business Successfully 4. Microstrategy The business analytics software known as Microstrategy promises superior analytics capabilities to provide foolproof processing of raw text data that specialists can further analyze through the text analytics solutions of the platform. It is one of the best up-to-date business analytics tools that incorporate statistical capabilities and insightful analytical features, enabling real-time trend forecasting and third-party data mining. It is a first-rate business analytics tool that combines several business analysis techniques and tools, allowing users to produce and share business analytics reports on any device anywhere. 5. Excel Surprisingly enough, Excel happens to be one of the highest used and least costly data analytics tools used worldwide. Even experts in Tableau or SAS use Excel for data analysis. It is the most crucial tool for dealing with the client’s internal data analytics. Excel performs the complicated task of summarizing data and a preview of the pivot tables that aids in data filtering depending on the client’s requirements. Business analysts must have expert knowledge of the advanced Excel options that aid in modeling capabilities. It also has some of the best pre-built options, such as automatic relationship detection and time grouping. Conclusion As organizations worldwide leverage business analytics tools and BI software, it is opening up newer opportunities for skilled and qualified business analysts across sectors like eCommerce, IT, education, healthcare, banking and finance, retail, etc. The roles in this domain are diverse as well – Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Database Administrator, Big Data Architect, Data Visualization Specialist, etc.  The bottom line is that analytics tools are integral for growth. It is one of the most lucrative fields to pursue because of the advancing business, retail, and eCommerce sectors. If you want to make it big in this field, enroll in a top-tier Business Analytics Certification Program from upGrad. Sign up today to kickstart your career.
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by Pavan Vadapalli

12 Nov'22
How Much Does Business Analyst Get Paid

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How Much Does Business Analyst Get Paid

Business organizations face cutthroat competition to maintain an edge over their competitors and become more successful. Business analysts play an essential role in an organization running sound financial assessments toward effective business decisions. Their valuable suggestions to businesses drastically improve operations, from integrating suitable tools to planning new processes. Therefore, it is pretty understandable that data analysts are becoming indispensable.  It is important to note that a business analyst’s salary for beginners is lucrative, which is bound to grow further with experience. This article will discuss business analytics salary at every level in detail.  Average business analyst salary in the USA The average salary business analyst salary in the USA is approximately $65,471 per annum. As per data, most analysts earn cash bonuses along with their wages. The amount of cash bonus is roughly $2,500 annually.  Experience is greatly considered while ascertaining the salary of a candidate. This stands true for business analysts as well. The salary of a fresher business analyst will be lower than a senior business analyst’s salary.  Mentioned below is the annual average salary of a business analyst based on experience in the relevant industry: Less than 1 year – $62,052 3 – 5 years – $69,339 More than 10 years – $77,501  Source Location-Based Business Analyst Salary Location plays a significant role in deciding business analytics salary. Some regions in the USA offer higher salaries to business analysts compared to other areas with the same experience and expertise level. Location considers the cost of living and assigns the salary based on it. For the same reason, many analysts prefer shifting to regions where salaries are high. For instance, in Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia, business analysts’ salary is the highest, roughly reaching $95,266 annually. In contrast, various regions have a salary below $82,169 annually or just above it.  While everyone can’t shift locations to improve their salary, you can look for ways to upgrade your skillset or increase your experience to aim for a better salary package.  Comparative Business Analyst Salary in the USA This section will discuss the average salary of a business analyst in the USA, depending on industry experience. Our focus will be on conservative salary estimates to know the average salaries. However, if anyone has good negotiation skills, the salary might increase despite fewer experience years.  Salaries of entry-level/fresher business analyst You must have an undergraduate degree to kick start your business analyst career. If your degree does not cover statistics or data-related courses, you will have to get a certification for fundamental data analytics skills. Basic knowledge of statistics, Python SQL, advanced Excel, and some understanding of common enterprise IT systems are preferred for the role.  An entry-level business analyst’s salary in the USA ranges around $60,540 annually, as per a conservative salary estimate which is considerably beyond the real median income of the country, which is around $36K.  At this level, you must focus on honing your presentation skills and working on project management knowledge to bag a business analyst role in any reputed organization. Salaries of mid-level business analyst A mid-level business analyst earns anywhere between $77,521 annually in the USA. At this stage, the analyst will be able to carry out different data-related activities. The candidate will also possess solid knowledge of AI algorithms and other data engineering tools.    Working in this industry gives abundant knowledge to data analysts. However, candidates must focus on improving their communication skills at this stage, as it is imperative for financial modeling and incorporating strategic planning in work. You might also have hands-on experience with different aspects of process engineering. This is the perfect stage for building up your career as an expert data analyst if you are ambitious.  Salaries of senior-level business analyst As per a conservative estimate, senior business analyst salary in the USA is at around $87,162. This entirely depends on expertise levels, experience in the industry, and negotiation skills.  Generally, when business analysts gather substantial experience, they move to other data-related arenas. Business analysts are free to take up other data roles like data science for better earning potential or can concentrate on specific business verticals like finance or IT.  Salaries of expert business analyst Your expertise and opportunities grow with the number of years you devote to the industry, winning you a lucrative salary and the title of being an expert business analyst. As an expert data analyst, you will figure out project goals, characterize projects’ scope, implement plans, sort out details, instruct everyone required, and finally show them outputs. The entire charge is on the data analyst, making it a highly responsible position. The average yearly salary for an expert business analyst is approximately $91,616 Get Business Analytics Certification from the World’s top Universities. Learn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career. Salaries of business analyst consultant The business analyst consultant position requires around 10-15 years of industry experience. As a business analyst consultant, you will be able to check, survey, and measure explicit business frameworks and understand how these will benefit the organization through years of accumulated experience.  As a consultant, you will be the top-level authority of your department. All inquiries of the employees of the relevant department will be forwarded to your direction.  It is estimated that the average annual compensation for a business analyst consultant can be around $98,800.  Proven Methods to Increase Business Analyst Salary These are proven and tested methods to increase your salary as a business analyst and obtain more opportunities.  More experience – The mentioned salary structures imply that more experience brings more lucrative opportunities. Your salary growth is directly proportional to your experience in this industry. Work experience considers the years dedicated to the job and how precise you are at your work with expansive knowledge. An experienced business analyst can easily locate issues quickly, thus, resolving them quickly. Their suggestions will benefit the organization in all aspects.  Certification – A certification course in business analytics is a sure-shot way to receive monetary growth from the company implying your practical finesse in in-demand skills and an active interest in the field. Reports show that candidates received a hike of almost 11-12% on their salaries after completing a certification course in Business Analytics which can often go higher with advanced levels.  Read our Other Articles Related to Business Analytics What is Business Analytics? Career, Salary & Job Roles Top 7 Career Options in Business Analytics Business Analytics Free Online Course with Certification Business Analytics Vs Data Analytics: Difference Between Business Analytics and Data Analytics Top 7 Best Business Analytics Tools Recommended for every Business Analyst Top 11 Industry Applications of Business Analytics Future Scope of Business Analytics Business Analytics Eligibility or Requirement 8 Business Analytics Tips: Which Helps to Run Business Successfully Size of the company – Freshers are recommended to start from a small company and gather as much experience and expertise as possible. Then you can leap and jump to a larger company, where you will have a handsome increment of almost 10-12%.  Conclusion This article covers a fair share of the business analytics world, business analyst salaries, and the opportunities offered in the USA-based analytics industry. It is also clear that your job title, level of data analytics skills, experience in the industry, and job location are major factors that influence your business analytics salary. Business analytics continues to be one of the most sought-after professional courses. So, gain as much proficiency as possible to bag lucrative job opportunities.  Give your business analyst salary a boost with upGrad The number of business analyst aspirants has risen steeply over the years. An increasing number of organizations seek business analysts to make effective and financially viable business decisions.  One of the best ways to boost your career is to take up a Business Analytics Certification Program from upGrad. You will excel as a business analyst and learn exploratory data analysis, business problem solving, and predictive analysis by taking up the course. The program offers more than three case studies and projects and live sessions with industry experts.  Apply now and enroll in the course to become a successful business analyst. 
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by Pavan Vadapalli

17 Nov'22