Business intelligence (BI) analysts use data to aid companies in making key informed decisions about the business. These analysts leverage their technical skills and soft skills to gather and analyze information. BI analyst jobs are a booming part of the data analytics industry.
Are you wondering how to become a business intelligence analyst? Let’s look at what you need to become one!
Last Updated October 2023
Learn data analysis w/ Tableau and prepare for a BI career or Tableau certification (10+ hr, Tableau Server not covered) | By Maven Analytics, Dustin Cabral | Tableau & Data Visualization Expert
Responsibilities of a business intelligence analyst
Business intelligence analysts use different tools and techniques to clean, combine, and visualize data. Some of their duties include:
- Connecting to and profile data
- Creating data models and queries
- Developing curated data sources
- Analyzing data for trends and patterns
- Communicating data outliers and other performance indicators
- Developing visualizations and dashboards
- Creating presentations and reports
- Working cooperatively with business partners and IT counterparts
Depending on the business intelligence analyst’s role, job level, and experience, they will have different responsibilities. BI analysts may also be responsible for helping other analysts develop their analytic skill sets.
What educational background do you need to be a BI analyst?
BI analysts typically have a bachelor’s degree in a technical or business field. Listed below are some common degrees required for business intelligence analyst positions.
- Computer Information Systems
- Information Technology
- Advanced Analytics
- Statistics
- Mathematics
- Data Science
- Business Administration
- Marketing
- Management
- Finance
- Supply Chain Management
