Business data analysts are professionals who are responsible for collecting information and reaching conclusions about data that help business managers to make informed decisions by which they can become more profitable and stable over the long term. It is common for data analysts to work full time for larger organizations that have multiple entities and business interests, though these professionals might also work for consulting firms where they are contracted by organizations to perform analysis. In most cases, managers use data analysts to get objective analyses of their organization's status financially and among competitors in a market, though they might also ask that data analysts provide potential solutions for how an organization can optimize its processes.
To become a business data analyst, it is necessary to get a formal academic background in a field such as statistics, mathematics, or computer engineering. Alternatively, candidates can pursue training in a field directly related to business, such as finance or management. An individual who would like to become a business data analyst should also get years upon years of experience in an industry in which he or she would like to work.
A person who wants to become a business data analyst needs to make sure that he or she gets a strong background in a field such as computer science or statistics. Professionals in this field must be able to mine complex data sets for patterns. While many people who become data analysts have backgrounds in business, it is essential that they learn the technical aspects of business and are able to use digital databases, generate charts and spreadsheets, and reach conclusions based on their observations. It is common for a person who wants to become a business data analyst to earn a graduate degree at some point in his or her career.
It is also important that a person who wants to become a business data analyst decides in which industry he or she would like to work relatively early in his or her career. The kinds of processes and software used in the healthcare industry, for example, are quite a bit different from those used in the finance sector. Likewise, a person who wants to become a business data analyst who specializes in information systems might need to concentrate largely on issues related to hardware and software, as opposed to a market analyst who might study statistics regarding spending habits among a business's target demographics.