What’s the Difference Between Business Analysts and Data Analysts?
Business Analysts and Data Analysts are professionals who use their expertise to help an organization make informed decisions in various fields, including finance, marketing, operations, and more. While both positions require an understanding of data analysis techniques and of business analysis, what exactly do Business Analysts and Data Analysts do? And how are they different? In this article, I’l break down the difference between the two roles!
Business Analysts and Data Analysts are both valuable to a business, but it’s important to understand how these roles differ. To begin with, BAs contribute to an organization by facilitating change that improves operations or performance. Data Analysts focus on analyzing datasets to provide strategic insights and help facilitate informed change in organizations. Both Business Analysts and Data Analysts facilitate business decisions through their generalized and specialized roles within organizations—but, while the end goal is the same, there are some key differences between their respective responsibilities.
Why Business Analysis is More Important Than Ever
Throughout the past decade, there have been major social, environmental, and technological shifts that have occurred and influenced organizations to make changes to their products, structure, processes, and teams – either voluntarily or through necessity.
Change in business – as in life – is constant. Whether evolution is occurring as a result of an internal initiative or goal, or as a result of external risks or threats in the supply chain or from the competition. Companies are re-evaluating the way that they run their operations in just about every aspect. To drive significant change in any area, they’re recruiting the expertise of Business Analysts.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the major global and national shifts that have caused organizations to dig deep and change the way they do things, proving that BA’s are a more valuable resource than ever before. But first, let’s take a quick look at how the BA role is growing.