Tips for Becoming a Business Intelligence Analyst

Transform into a professional who specializes in analyzing business data, trends, and patterns by pursuing a career as a Business Intelligence Analyst. This role involves collecting and interpreting complex information to provide insights that can help companies make informed decisions. As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you will be responsible for designing and implementing data models, developing reports, and creating visualizations that can be easily understood by stakeholders. With the growing need for data-driven decision making, this career path offers a promising future for those who are interested in the field of business analytics.

As the data collected by businesses grows more and more vast and complex, it becomes that much more important for companies to utilize that data effectively. This “untidy data” can become difficult to even navigate, let alone slice, dice, and refine in order to gain real insights. That’s where a business intelligence analyst comes in.

Business intelligence analysts help a company put the data it already collects to use in order to increase the company’s efficiency and maximize profits. They comb through large amounts of data by querying databases effectively, and then produce reports and identify trends to generate actionable business insights. Business intelligence analysts must have a range of data analytics skills that serve them well in the world of big data, especially data analysis, as well as keen business understanding that is crucial in a field that hinges so heavily on soft skills like teamwork and polished communication skills in both the written and verbal realms.

If you're looking to pursue a career in business intelligence, you're in luck. There's a high demand for skilled professionals in this field, as businesses increasingly rely on data to make informed decisions. As a business intelligence analyst, you'll be responsible for gathering and analyzing data to help companies improve their operations and profitability. To get started, consider earning a degree in a related field such as computer science or statistics, and gaining experience with data analysis tools and techniques. With the right skills and knowledge, you can be on your way to a fulfilling career as a business intelligence analyst.

What is a Business Intelligence Analyst?

Companies today have access to vast amounts of data, but making sense of it all requires the expertise of business intelligence analysts. These professionals bridge the gap between business and technology, skillfully extracting and analyzing data to inform growth strategies. In addition to providing recommendations for technological improvements, business intelligence analysts often play a key role in training managers to implement and manage these systems.

What does a Business Intelligence Analyst do?

Currently, the world of data science relies on business intelligence analysts to evaluate data from both their own company and industry competitors to strategize ways of advancing their business's market position. Competent analysts scrutinize internal systems, procedures, and functions to identify opportunities for optimizing efficiency and profit margins. Part of their job also involves exploring innovative data collection and analysis methodologies and ensuring the integrity of the data being used. Occasionally, they may also be responsible for hiring other data experts, including data architects.

Five Steps to Launching a Successful Business Intelligence Analyst Career:

Step 1: Earn your Undergraduate Degree .

If you're an undergraduate, it's advisable to pursue a degree in information systems, computer science, data science, business administration, engineering, economics, or any field that offers knowledge about business operations and processes. To be prepared for the profession, it's crucial to take courses in data architecture, database design, data mining, data visualization, and other related fields. Additionally, before graduating, it's important to have excellent Excel and SQL skills.

Step 2: Complete an Internship and Gain Entry-level Work Experience .

Unless they hold a Master's in Business Administration, business intelligence analysts are typically required to have prior work experience. However, an internship in the financial industry is a great way to start learning about how businesses work. After graduation, consider positions such as data analyst, business analyst, or data report writer. In these roles, you can practice querying SQL, analyzing data, and managing project scope. These experiences will not only help you build industry connections but also give you a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end process of typical business intelligence projects.

Step 3: Get a Professional Certification .

Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate is the most fitting professional certification for business intelligence analysts. It attests to your ability to create and employ SQL for data-focused solutions. The certification exam encompasses database administration and querying, developing data models and data warehouses, and crafting business solutions. Alternatively, you can opt for TDWI's Certified Business Intelligence Professional, which comes in two levels - "practitioner" and "mastery." However, you must have a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience to qualify for the exam. Additionally, you may want to acquire a certification in a specific programming language, such as SAS.

Step 4: Become a Business Intelligence Analyst.

Typically, a business intelligence analyst is not an entry-level position, but some employers might consider an MBA in lieu of years of experience. After acquiring the relevant skills, work experience, and professional certification, you can start applying for business intelligence analyst positions. Usually, employers require a minimum of 4 to 5 years of work experience, while some roles demand up to 8 years. Additionally, you might need 1 or 2 years of supervisory experience within an organization since business intelligence analysts sometimes function as project managers and may have hiring responsibilities.

Step 5: Pursue an Advanced Degree .

While an MBA is the preferred educational background for this position, it is not always necessary if the candidate has ample work experience and professional certifications. Another option is to pursue a master's degree in the specific industry or field of interest, such as information technology.

Business Intelligence Analyst Job Description

• * Meet with clients to identify needs and concerns
• * Conduct information-gathering interviews and obtain feedback from clients and customers
• * Collect data and extract data from warehouses for reporting, using querying techniques
• * Analyze current data with software applications
• * Create summary reports of a company’s current standings
• * Present recommendations to senior management about ways in increase efficiency
• * Oversee implementation of technological initiatives
• * Develop new analytical models and techniques for a company to standardize data collection

Skills Needed to Become a Business Intelligence Analyst

Business Skills:

1. The capacity to effectively communicate and present recommendations, which may rely on technical data, to colleagues in a manner that is easy to comprehend and approachable.
2. Exceptional leadership skills, coupled with the ability to brainstorm and partner with fellow team members on a data science initiative.
3. Innovative problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
4. Proficiency in working within a diverse, global workforce that is focused on customer satisfaction, as many business intelligence analysts are expected to interact directly with clients.

Technical Skills: 

• * Database design and data architecture
• * Data mining and analytics
• * Data security and privacy
• * Data visualization, including tools such asTableauand Qlik
• * Handle all variants ofSQL
• * Proficient in ETL (extract, transform, load)
• * Understand which situations needHadoop,R, andSASand use these effectively
• * Cloud computing and data storage technology, such as Google’sBigQueryand Amazon’sRedshift

Business Intelligence Analyst Salary .

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), business intelligence analysts are classified as operations research analysts. The BLS states that the median annual salary for business intelligence analysts is $82,360 as of May 2021. However, the salary range can vary depending on the location. For instance, in California, the mean salary for business analysts is $99,220, whereas in Virginia, it is $117,480. Surprisingly, despite California's lower mean salary, the San Jose metropolitan area has the highest mean salary of $164,730 in the country as of May 2021. An analyst's salary potential can increase based on their skills in data warehousing, data modeling, and data mining, as well as the area and type of business. Within 10 years, business intelligence analysts typically move up to higher-level positions such as analytics manager, business intelligence manager, business intelligence architect, and analytics manager.

Business Intelligence Analyst job outlook .

According to the operations research analyst page of the BLS, the job market for business intelligence analysts is expected to grow by 23% from 2021 to 2031. These professionals are in high demand in various fields such as healthcare, education, finance, and law enforcement. Organizations in these industries and beyond are searching for ways to gain a competitive edge, and business intelligence analysts can deliver crucial insights by analyzing data. Consequently, they are highly sought-after individuals. If you possess the necessary skills, experience, and interest in problem-solving, you can make a name for yourself in this thriving yet competitive job market.

Start your journey to becoming a business intelligence analyst by acquiring the skills and degree required for this role. You can explore different options such as pursuing a Master's in Business Analytics with a focus on Business Intelligence or taking an online Business Intelligence program. You can also learn about the differences between Business Intelligence and Data Science to determine the best path for you. Your future as a business intelligence analyst is within reach! Please note that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' salary and employment data for operations research analysts reflect national statistics and may not be specific to your area. This data was accessed in January 2023.