Be a part of the data-driven culture as a business intelligence analyst

We gathered all of the essential business intelligence analyst skills for you. If you want your company to stay successful and increase brand recognition far beyond the competition, you need BI. Keeping this in mind, jobs like Business Intelligence Analyst are becoming increasingly popular! That’s why you come in! You can take advantage of the growing popularity of Business Intelligence to get a BI Analyst job that will teach you a lot while also taking your career to new heights. Cloud computing jobs are also on the rise. We have already explained cloud computing job requirements, trends, and more in this article. But what abilities are necessary for a Business Intelligence Analyst?

What are the business intelligence analyst skills needed for a successful career?

Business Intelligence Analysts analyze data to help firms improve their earnings by keeping track of current market trends. Analysts have access to a variety of data. A company’s database, web crawling software, or going to another firm’s data and checking in may all supply information. The collected data is then used to construct a picture of the present market and the best route for a business to follow in the future.

Using data to meet organizational goals puts Business Intelligence (BI) in the limelight.

BI is a broad term that includes the operation and management of data processing tools and systems, such as data visualization tools, data modeling tools, decision-support systems, database management systems, and data warehousing systems.

A bachelor’s degree in business, management, accounting, economics, statistics, information science, or a closely related discipline is generally required for BI analysts. For higher-level or high-profile employment, more advanced degrees are required. This sector deals with a lot of data, a changing market, and predictions. Having excellent analytical, organizational, and forecasting abilities in this industry is quite advantageous.

What are the business intelligence analyst’s jobs?

The business intelligence analyst assesses both company data and data from rivals and others in the industry to discover methods to improve the company’s market position in today’s data science workforce. Analysts with a good understanding of the company’s systems, procedures, and functions will evaluate their firm’s operations, processes, and functions to identify where it may improve efficiency and profit margins.

Business intelligence analysts should also consider new methods to create new policies around data gathering and analysis techniques and ensure data use. At times, business intelligence analysts may be tasked with employing other data experts, such as data architects. Business intelligence creates collaboration in the workforce. We already explained how business intelligence creates collaboration in this article.

What are the business intelligence analyst qualifications?

A BI Analyst must possess a wide range of abilities. Here are some examples:

Data preparation

The purpose of data preparation is to allow you to extract useful information from your data. Firstly, to get any insights from the data, the data must be gathered, cleaned, and arranged consistently. Using many data preparation tools, you may collect data from several sources and then transform it into the same dimensions and measurements. And as a BI Analyst, you should be conversant with at least some of these data preparation technologies, such as Tableau Prep, Improvado, Alteryx, etc.

Business intelligence analyst education requirements

It is one of the most terrifying business intelligence analyst skills. The most popular requirement for BI analysts is a bachelor’s degree. To acquire the skills you’ll need on the job, consider majoring in statistics, business administration, computer science, or a closely related discipline. Some BI experts pursue an MBA or a data science graduate degree.

Data tools

Business intelligence analysts use various technologies to access, analyze, and visualize data. They might require knowledge of Structured Query Language, or SQL, a tool for retrieving data from databases. Other tools that business intelligence analysts may utilize are Tableau and Power BI, which allow them to pull information from data sources and generate visualizations like graphs.

Data mining

The technique of data analysis is known as data mining. This transforms raw data into useful information that may be utilized to make decisions. The subject of data mining necessitates an understanding of various technologies, including machine learning, databases, statistical analysis, computer science algorithms, etc. The Rapid Miner, Oracle Data Mining, Konstanz Information Miner, and others are some of the tools that are particularly valuable for data mining. It is one of the most important business intelligence analyst skills.

Data analysis and modeling

The ability to comprehend and convert data into insights is a must. The BI BA must be able to think conceptually and employ high-level data models to map the real world of the organization conceptually. They also need a clear knowledge of how data travels from operational source systems throughout the company, through various transformation techniques, and where decision-makers utilize it.

Industry knowledge

Data analysis is only as good as the data you’ve gathered from your company’s system. If you want to give useful reports that provide practical insights, you must understand the basics and intricacies of your industry. This implies looking beyond just focusing on your company’s goals and objectives but also understanding the various KPIs required in every field.

It would be best if you also stayed up to speed on the latest developments in business intelligence. You may do this by reading the news every day. If you want to go even deeper, consider taking training courses about what’s new in the field or even subscribing to reports and surveys from major players in the sector.

Data visualization

As a BI analyst, presenting the data is essential to your work. Data visualization skills are crucial for people aiming to be Business Intelligence Analysts. It would help if you understood the different charts that may represent the data, such as Area Charts, Bar Charts, Heat Maps, TreeMaps, Scatter Plots, Gantt Charts, and so on. These charts allow decision-makers to better understand the data by displaying it and seeing how it evolves gradually. It is one of the most crucial business intelligence analyst skills.

Communication

The objective of business intelligence analysts is to turn raw data into information that others can grasp. They must be capable of describing data, explaining their interpretation of it, and outlining actions the firm may undertake due to the analysis. Translating complex technical matters to those unfamiliar with the terminology and processes involved may be a part of this procedure.

Problem-solving

The job of a business intelligence analyst is to interpret data to discover problem areas, then propose solutions based on that data. The responsibilities include devising practical recommendations for improving operations and influencing better decision-making.

Business acumen

Knowing how to use business intelligence software and analyze data isn’t enough to increase the effectiveness of a company’s analysis. You’ll also need an understanding of the firm you’re working for it. This will allow you to conduct analyses in line with the company’s goals.

To develop your business acumen, you must study the company’s business model, grasp its short- and long-term objectives, pinpoint its critical problems, and identify its major rivals. The goal is to think about an executive and operational level so that you can use data more effectively and have a detailed approach to decision-making.

Critical thinking

For business intelligence analysts, critical thinking is a must. It simply implies the ability to methodically examine data to understand ideas at a deeper level and find practical applications for them. This involves asking yourself — do you really need business intelligence software?

In terms of using BI, critical thinking will allow you to identify anomalies in data, assess their impact on the business, and propose effective solutions to issues you encounter. It’s also important to assist you in evaluating your work so that you may improve it later.

Programming

A business intelligence analyst might find programming helpful since it allows them to create scripts or sets of instructions that may automate data-related activities like finding and changing specific data. This can help them organize their tasks and speed up their workflow. Business intelligence analysis frequently utilizes SQL and Python, a sophisticated programming language.

Data reporting

Knowing how to structure and present a technical report, either in Microsoft Excel or HTML, is a must-have. Soft skills such as communication and reporting findings from data are critical for your job as a business intelligence analyst. You should be able to communicate the insights obtained from the data to senior management at the company, such as stakeholders and board members, to make important decisions based on them. It’s also crucial to remember that most decision-makers tend to be technical specialists, so it’s critical to make clear technical ideas using simple language.

Business intelligence skills for resume

Here’s a list of job-related BI skills you may use in resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviews. There are the most wondered business intelligence analyst skills.

The required abilities will differ depending on the position for which you’re applying, so be sure to examine other lists of abilities.

• Adapting to changing priorities
• Assessing client/end-user needs
• Attention to detail
• Business strategies
• C/C++
• Client relations
• Coaching
• Coding
• Collaboration
• Computer science
• Consulting
• Coping with deadline pressure
• Creating reports
• Creating and running what-if simulations
• Data architecture
• Data controls
• Data management
• Data modeling
• Data visualization
• Debugging data output irregularities 
• Defining data access methods
• Delegating
• Designing enterprise-level reporting
• Designing/modifying data warehouses
• Evaluating business intelligence software
• Extract, transform, load (ETL) testing
• Facilitating the creation of new data-reporting models
• Finding trends/patterns
• IBM Cognos Analytics
• Innovation
• Insights
• Java
• Leading cross-functional teams
• Maintaining technical documentation for solutions
• Managing relationships with vendors
• Managing stress
• MatLab
• Mentoring
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Integration Services
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Power BI
• Modeling
• Monitoring data quality
• Motivating staff
• Multitasking
• Negotiating
• Online analytical processing (OLAP)
• Organizational approach
• Programming
• Python
• Reporting tools
• Researching solutions to user problems
• Results-oriented
• SAS
• Statistical analysis
• Statistical knowledge
• Strategic thinking
• Time management
• Training end-users
• Translating high-level design into specific implementation steps
• Web analytic tools

Entry-level business intelligence analyst salary and more: Business intelligence analyst salary in 2022

A business intelligence analyst is a skilled professional in data analysis who may earn up to almost $100,000 per year. A job in this field, which has been named one of the hottest jobs in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field by American business magazine Forbes, is highly sought after due to the high demand from a variety of sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, technology, and e-commerce.

According to PayScale statistics, the yearly pay for a business intelligence analyst ranges from $48,701 to $93,243 in the United States, with a standard salary of $66,645 per year. You can find detailed information about salaries below.

Do you have the skills and qualifications needed to work as a BI analyst? What do you think is the most important feature for a BI analyst? Please share your opinions in the comments.