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The term or concept of Business Analysts is not very old but is something that has evolved with the advances in the business segment. Despite being in existence for a shorter span, the concept of a Business Analyst has gained tremendous weightage and importance in the industry. But to become successful, a person must possess certain Business Analyst skills.

Who is a Business Analyst?

To put it in descriptive terms, a Business Analyst is a data and technology-driven role that includes analyzing, planning, and implementing to reach the desired output in an organization. A Business Analyst is someone who identifies and analyses the processes or problems and provides a solution. The basic Business Analyst skills remain the same across all industries, which is analyzing, planning, and implementing. But the Business Analyst expertise differs as per the industry and the operation they are working for. Let’s go through the best Business Analyst skills list that makes one successful in the career.

List of Business Analyst skills: 

  • Good Understanding of the Objectives:

    • This is not just a business analyst skill but an important skill for every role. The responsibility of a Business Analyst not just includes analyzing and providing a solution but also making sure that the output is achieved with the plan and measures. To achieve the output, it is important that the person understands the objectives well and knows what is expected or required.

  • Good Communication Skills:

    • The role of a Business Analyst is quite data-driven, and as such, asking insightful questions to obtain the right information becomes extremely important. To make this possible it is important to communicate the message correctly so that the other person understands. Not everyone understands things the same way, and hence being able to extract information as such is what the person needs to be good at. 

  • Good at Time Management:

    • Like every other role, a Business Analyst too has to ensure timely delivery of output. The major reason behind the time management skill being so important is that the Business Analyst has to coordinate with several departments and people who could be internal or external members of the organization. The person also needs to prioritize the tasks to get work done on time.

  • Good Documentation skills:

    • This is one of the most important Business analyst skills required by a person. The analysis done by the Business Analyst needs to be documented and presented to the concerned people in the organization who are the decision-makers or someone who can impact the decision. It is important that the analysis is appropriately documented to make the points clear and precise to understand.

  • Good Research skills:

    • Reaching your goal of finding the apt solution is not just about analyzing the problem. Where you might be able to obtain some information by asking, others need to be obtained through researching.

    The reason this is an important business analyst skill is that it adds credibility to the idea or solution. It justifies why the recommended solution is the correct measure or approach to the business problem.

    It is said that different problems required different solutions, and the end result may vary from process to process and industry to industry. Strategically using the past proven solutions have good chances to work.

  • Good Analytical skills:

    • This is the primary Business Analyst Skill that a person needs to have and won’t be compromised on by any organization. Interpreting and Analyzing helps to understand what and where is the problem. Unless one understands the problem, they might not be able to arrive at the right solution. Analysis improves the problem-solving skill of a person, which is a desirable attribute for a Business Analyst.

What is the role of a Business Analyst?

To prepare yourself correctly in accordance with the job role, it is important to understand the key responsibilities of a Business Analyst, which includes:

  • Understand what is the business of the organization and what are the different business processes they have to achieve the goals
  • Evaluate the business processes in terms of cost, efficiency, and output
  • Provide recommendations on improving the processes for better results
  • Provide guidance or lead the technology integration process
  • Monitor the changes and the impact on the organizational goals

Want to pursue the Business Analyst career path? Here’s how to become a Business Analyst with Certification Courses in Business Analytics: 

The Business Analyst certification course or the Business Analytics course can be pursued by candidates with mathematics, statistics, economics, and related backgrounds. There are numerous Business Analytics certification courses, but it is best to choose the one that offers practical training. This is because the role requires working with complex models and case study analysis. These courses can also be pursued as online certification courses if a person is a working professional.

How to Become a Business Analyst?

  1. Pursue a degree in data science, computer science, business analytics, information management, statistics, finance, or economics. A candidate should have a minimum undergraduate degree in the above-mentioned fields. 
  2. Get equipped with Business Analytics tools and technical skills like
    • SQL databases and database querying languages
    • Data mining and Data visualization
    • Business intelligence and reporting software
    • Statistical analysis software (e.g. R, SAS, SPSS, or STATA)
    • Programming skills and Database design 
  3. Opt for additional certification courses to upgrade