The job role of business intelligence analyst (BI) is becoming increasingly popular in organizations, but what exactly is it? BI refers to practices and tools for gathering and analyzing business information. They provide visual insights based on available data that are simple to understand and help businesses make decisions.
It is critical to understand the role and responsibilities of a business analyst in order to leverage your experience and break into this field. While everyone’s path to quickly gaining valuable experience as a business analyst is unique, there are a few things you should know about the field.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to the world of a Business Intelligence Analyst in the UK.
Who is a business intelligence analyst
Business intelligence analysts are professionals who work in organizations to help businesses collect and analyze data in order to produce financial and market intelligence reports. These reports help the company identify areas for improvement that may have an impact on productivity and future goals.
A business intelligence analyst, also known as a bi business intelligence analyst, studies the company’s sales, market data, and revenue. In order to maximize profitability, business intelligence analysts frequently collaborate with other IT members to identify the company’s development needs.
Why become a business intelligence analyst?
Here are reasons why you should pursue a career as a business intelligence analyst:
- Job security
- Opportunity to communicate and network
- Exciting career opportunities
- Opportunities for personal development
- High visibility and respect within the organisation
Job security
With organizations becoming more data-centric by the day, business intelligence consultants have become a valuable asset to companies. A position in the Business Intelligence field is useful in any industry because it bridges the gap between technological understanding and business thinking.
As the amount of data available to organizations grows, so does the demand for professionals who can understand and interpret it. As a result, roles in Business Intelligence and data are expected to grow in demand as they are critical to making business operations smarter and more profitable.
Opportunity to communicate and network
A Business Intelligence Analyst (BIA) is expected to collaborate with almost every project stakeholder, including the Project Team Manager, Client (Primary stakeholders, end-users), Finance, Procurement, Higher Management such as the President and Directors, and vendors. As a result, Analysts are frequently given the golden opportunity to travel to client locations, learn complex processes in new and difficult environments, and broaden their network.
Exciting career opportunities
A career in business intelligence offers numerous opportunities for a rewarding and exciting career. Business intelligence consultants are critical for decision-making at all levels of a company and are highly valued by senior stakeholders. BI professionals use data insights to reveal trends, opportunities, problem areas, and information that shapes the future of businesses.
Business intelligence consultants are frequently involved in exciting projects aimed at developing new technologies or organizational strategies.
Opportunities for personal development
Organizations have recognized the value of BI, and it is now used in every industry, from IT and software to healthcare, retail, and government projects. This allows business intelligence analysts to pursue BI roles in a variety of areas or industries that they are personally interested in.
High visibility and respect within the organisation
Because of a business intelligence analyst’s contribution to a project, their contribution to its success is never questioned, which adds to the adoration and visibility a business analyst enjoys. Very few job titles have had this level of contact and organizational prominence in such a short period of time.
Is business intelligence a good career?
A business intelligence analyst’s typical job entails gathering data, interpreting it, and then communicating the results to the appropriate people. These elements can be further subdivided into more specific duties, all of which can help you improve the overall performance of a company. Here’s an example of how a data collection project might work:
Collection of data: Collect business intelligence data from various sources, such as industry publications, public data, field reports, and purchased discoveries. This could include staying current with technological advances or developing markets in your industry, as well as gathering consumer and market data.
Storing the data: Save the data in your company’s computer database, which will almost certainly need to be updated on a regular basis. It is also possible that you will need to establish operational procedures in order to use the system. It may also be necessary to develop operating procedures for the database, as well as to provide technical support or software maintenance for any special programs.
Analyzing the Data: Analyze the data to see if any patterns emerge that could have an impact on your company’s strategies.
Preparation of the Analytical Reports:
Prepare analytical reports summarizing findings and distributing them to relevant company stakeholders through existing communication channels.
During this process, you’ll need to collaborate with a variety of people, both inside and outside your company, to stay on top of trends in your own company and the industry at large. You must also keep track of data flow so that it can be examined, summarized, and distributed to the appropriate people on time.
Business Intelligence Analyst Job Description
Here is a typical business Intelligence analyst Job description:
- Meet with clients to determine their needs and concerns.
- Conduct data interviews with clients and customers and solicit feedback.
- Using query processing techniques, collect and extract data from warehouses for reporting.
- Use software applications to analyze current data.
- Make summary reports of a company’s current position.
- Make recommendations to senior management on how to improve efficiency.
- Supervise the execution of technological initiatives.
- Create new analytical models and techniques for a company to use in order to standardize data collection.
How to Become a Business Intelligence Analyst in the UK
Here is a simple step to becoming a business Intelligence analyst in the UK
- Earn your Undergraduate Degree
- Complete an Internship and Gain Entry-level Work Experience
- Get a Professional Certification
- Become a Business Intelligence Analyst
- Pursue an Advanced Degree
Earn your Undergraduate Degree
Undergraduates should seek degrees in information systems, computer science, data science, business administration, engineering, economics, or a field related to business processes and organizational operations.
Before entering the profession, you should learn as much as you can about data, so look for classes in data architecture, database design, data mining, data visualization, and so on. Before graduating, you should also have strong Excel and SQL skills.
Complete an Internship and Gain Entry-level Work Experience
Business intelligence analysts are expected to have prior work experience unless they can supplement that experience with something like a Master’s in Business Administration, which some employers may accept. An internship in the financial industry is a good place to start your training because it will allow you to learn about the inner workings of a business.
Consider a job as a data analyst, business analyst, or data report writer after you graduate. Look for opportunities to query SQL, model and analyze data, and define and manage project scope in these jobs.
All of these experiences will provide you with valuable industry contacts as well as a better understanding of the end-to-end process of the types of projects that a business intelligence analyst works on a regular basis.
Get a Professional Certification
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate is the best professional certification for business intelligence analysts. This certification validates your ability to design and use SQL to deliver data-driven solutions. The exam covers SQL database querying and administration, implementing a data warehouse and data models, and designing business solutions.
Become a Business Intelligence Analyst
A business intelligence analyst is not typically an entry-level position, though having already earned an MBA can substitute for some years on the ground in the eyes of certain employers. You can apply for business intelligence analyst positions after you have developed the necessary skills, gained work experience, and become professionally certified. You will need to have an average of 4 or 5 years of work experience, though some roles may require up to 8 years.
Pursue an Advanced Degree
A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) is preferred for this position, though it is not always required if a candidate has relevant work experience and professional certifications. You can also get a master’s degree in information technology or in the industry in which you want to specialize.
Business intelligence analyst salary in the UK
In the United Kingdom, the average business intelligence analyst salary is £40,000 per year or £20.51 per hour. Entry-level salaries begin at £32,500 per year, with most experienced workers earning up to £55,000 per year.
This is the average annual business intelligence analyst salary, which includes housing, transportation, and other benefits. Business intelligence analyst salary varies greatly depending on experience, skills, gender, and location. Below is a detailed breakdown based on a variety of criteria.
What degree do you need to be a business intelligence analyst?
A bachelor’s degree is generally required to begin a career as a business intelligence analyst, but master’s degree graduates in a field such as business analytics may gain a competitive advantage due to their knowledge of advanced skills and practices, potentially making them more qualified for higher-level positions.
FAQs about Business Intelligence Analysts in the UK
Who is a business data analyst?
A Business Data Analyst is a data-driven professional who works as an agent to ensure that technology and processes are in sync within the organization.
What does a senior business intelligence analyst do?
Senior business intelligence analysts are in charge of analysing data and information to assist businesses in making better decisions. They frequently work with various data types, such as customer behaviour, sales figures, inventory levels, etc.
Who are business analysts?
A business analyst is someone who analyzes data to process, interpret, and document business processes, products, services, and software. A business analyst’s role is to ensure increased business efficiency through their knowledge of both IT and business functions.
