12 Business Intelligence Analyst Skills: Definition and Examples

By ResumeCat Editorial Team
Published September 3, 2022

Business intelligence analysts are responsible for turning data into insights that help businesses make better decisions. They must be able to identify trends, patterns, and relationships in data, and then communicate their findings to others in a clear and concise way. To be successful in this role, analysts must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to think creatively. They must also be able to work effectively with teams and be comfortable presenting their findings to senior executives.

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Business analysis

Business analysis is the process of identifying business needs and requirements and determining solutions to business problems. Solutions may include new or improved processes, systems, or products. Business analysts work with stakeholders to understand the root cause of problems and identify potential solutions. They also develop documentation to support decision making and help ensure that project deliverables are met.

Data analysis

Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.

As a business intelligence analyst, you will need to be able to effectively analyze data in order to find trends and patterns that can be used to make better business decisions. This skill is important because it allows you to take raw data and turn it into actionable insights that can be used to improve business operations.

SQL

SQL is a database query language that allows you to access, manipulate, and update data in a database. As a business intelligence analyst, you will need to be able to use SQL to query databases in order to extract the data you need for your analysis.

Business intelligence

Business intelligence is a term that refers to the various ways businesses can collect and analyze data to improve their operations. This can include things like using data to improve marketing campaigns, developing new products, or increasing efficiency.

In order to be successful, businesses need to be able to understand their data and make use of it in an effective way. This is where business intelligence comes in. Business intelligence analysts are responsible for helping organizations to make sense of their data and use it to improve their business operations.

Businesses need business intelligence analysts to help them make better decisions, become more efficient, and improve their bottom line.

Data mining

Data mining is a process of extracting valuable information from large data sets. It is used to discover patterns and trends in data that can be used to make predictions. Business intelligence analysts need data mining skills to be able to find the most relevant and useful information from data sets.

Data visualization

Data visualization is the process of creating visual representations of data in order to see and understand relationships, patterns, and trends. This is important for business intelligence analysts because it allows them to quickly and easily see relationships between different pieces of data, identify patterns and trends, and make better decisions.

Reporting

A reporting skill for business intelligence analysts helps them to effectively communicate the findings of their analysis to stakeholders. This skill is important because it allows analysts to present their findings in a way that is easy for others to understand and use to make decisions.

Dashboards

A business intelligence analyst is responsible for designing, developing and maintaining business intelligence solutions. They work closely with business stakeholders to understand their needs and requirements, and then design and implement solutions that help them make better decisions.

One of the most important skills a business intelligence analyst needs is the ability to create effective dashboards. Dashboards are visual representations of data that can be used to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and other important metrics. They provide analysts with a quick and easy way to see how a business is performing and identify areas that need improvement.

Creating effective dashboards requires a strong understanding of data visualization principles. The best dashboards are those that are easy to understand and use, while still providing enough information to be useful. To create such dashboards, analysts need to have a good eye for design and be able to use data visualization software such as Tableau or Power BI.

Scorecards

A scorecard is a tool used by business intelligence analysts to track and measure progress against specific objectives. Scorecards can be used to track progress on a variety of metrics, including sales, customer satisfaction, or operational efficiency.

KPIs

A KPI is a key performance indicator, which is a metric used to track and measure the success of a business goal or objectives. KPIs can be financial, such as profitability or revenue growth, or non-financial, such as customer satisfaction or employee retention rates.

As a business intelligence analyst, you need to be able to identify relevant KPIs for your company and then track and report on them. This requires both analytical and communication skills, as you will need to be able to understand the data and then present it in a way that is easy for others to understand.

OLAP

OLAP is a type of database technology that allows for quick and easy analysis of data. It is often used by business intelligence analysts to help make decisions about business strategy.

R

R is a programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics. It is commonly used by business intelligence analysts to clean, manipulate, and visualize data.

How to improve business intelligence analyst skills

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the skills required to be a successful business intelligence analyst will vary depending on the specific industry and company. However, there are some general tips that can help improve the skills of a business intelligence analyst.

First, it is important to have strong analytical skills. This means being able to take large amounts of data and break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. It also involves being able to see relationships between different data sets and identify trends.

Second, good communication skills are essential. This includes being able to present complex data in a way that is easy for non-technical people to understand. It also means being able to effectively communicate with different stakeholders within an organization, such as managers, executives, and other analysts.

Third, it is important to be proactive and always be looking for ways to improve the quality of data and the efficiency of analysis. This might involve automating repetitive tasks or finding new sources of data. It is also important to keep up with new technology and software developments that could potentially help with business intelligence analysis.

Fourth, it is helpful to have some programming skills. This can make it easier to work with large data sets and automate tasks. However, it is not essential to be a programmer in order to be a successful business intelligence analyst.

Finally, it is important to be able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems. This includes being able to think abstractly and see the big picture. It also means being open-minded and willing to try new things.

How to highlight business intelligence analyst skills

As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you will need to be able to effectively communicate with individuals at all levels within an organization. Your written and verbal communication skills should be superb. You will also need to be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Time management and organizational skills are a must. You should be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and stay calm under pressure. Above all, you must be able to think analytically and solve problems quickly and effectively.

On a resume

To highlight your skills as a Business Intelligence Analyst on your resume, you should include your experience working with data and analytics, as well as your ability to communicate findings to stakeholders. You should also highlight any technical skills you have, such as experience with specific BI tools or programming languages.

In a cover letter

In your cover letter, be sure to highlight your skills as a Business Intelligence Analyst. Include your experience working with data and analytics, as well as your ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner. Also mention your aptitude for problem-solving and critical thinking, as these are essential skills for success in this role.

During an interview

As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing data and providing insights to help the business make better decisions. During your interview, you should highlight your analytical skills and ability to work with data. You should also be able to demonstrate your ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner.