Analytics determines solutions to business problems, while business analysts utilise a wide range of data to inform decisions and leverage its use in making sound business decisions. They use report writing and the story-telling of business analytics to communicate their findings. Business analysts are the ‘fix-it’ men and women of the corporate world.
Their job is to improve business processes (i.e. productivity, output, distribution, etc) and their solutions are often technological ones.
They may be involved in establishing the objectives and scope of business and IT systems, identifying multifaceted organizational problems, and devising data-driven solutions by using statistical analyse, surveys, workshops and tests.
They make changes to an organisation’s processes, personnel or product offerings in order to help internal departments and organisations become more efficient.
They usually assist in project management, process mapping, and identifying problems in systems from a (non-quant) perspective.
In addition people suited to this career also display the following competencies:
- Business intelligence.
- Business solutions.
- Product management.
- Risk management.
- Financial market intelligence.
- Business efficiency.
- Explores new territories, thinking outside of the box and finding creative and unusual ways to solve problems.
- Approaches challenges with a clear eye on what is important and employs the right approach / methods to make the maximum use of time and resources.
- Demonstrates the ability to conduct quality, industry led research that contributes to an organisation’s success.
- Analyses, understands, extracts and pieces together all the data necessary for a creative solution.
- Understands data, explains patterns, showcases trends and offers insights from the information available.
- Works effectively across various teams, locations and time zones to achieve common goals and objectives.
- Understands what drives the industry and how data can contribute to the success of an organization’s strategy.
- Has the ability to communicate both internally (within the organisation) and externally (with customers, partners and clients).