Becoming a thriving digital business analyst in the modern day.

Thriving as a digital business analyst

Business analysts are professionals hired by companies to help them bridge the gap between business and information technology needs. They possess an array of data analysis skills to evaluate processes, arbitrate requirements and deliver cost-effective recommendations to the top management.

Digital business analysts are in high demand in the retail, publishing, finance and technology fields. The rising use of the internet by firms to conduct business has brought about the need for business analysts to regulate the activities carried out. Digital business analysts come up with guidelines to control:

• The digital services offered on all online platforms pertinent to the company
• The type of information made available to the target market
• The general code of conduct that the organisation should adhere to while conducting online business.

Their role requires them to work closely with web developers by specifying the outlook of the information to be displayed on the company profile and website.

Digital business analysts have to comb through all web traffic related to their employer’s online presence. In addition, they are required to conduct extensive research on their industry to understand how the market works.

Seasoned digital business analyst need to be present online to learn more about business trends in other to provide sound advice and professional analysis. But first, read on and understand what you need to have to become an excellent digital business analyst.

To thrive as a digital business analyst, it is essential to possess certain skills and criteria such as:

Excellent Communication Skill

Research has shown that most project fail because of poor communication between business and the IT development teams. A good business analyst must be an excellent communicator verbally and in writing with good presentation skills. A business analyst liaise with business and IT to transmit information between the parties effectively. A strategic communication skill is required as a business analyst to manage information between the business and the development team. A business analyst can further take professional courses in strategic communication training to boost their communication skill.

Research & Analysis

Digital business analysts play a bigger role in researching and reviewing information related to the organisation need, external competitiors,  online traffic a company website receives etc. Furthermore, a business analyst will want to know all that a company needs to emulate from its competitors and understand the market dynamics, i.e., spotting trends in the market, online marketing, weaknesses, and opportunities to capitalise on. Ability to conduct research and analyse data collated is a good skill to have as a digital business analyst

Education Requirements

Digital business analysts may study business, computer science or any degree in the related field. To stand out among the crowd opt to expand your skills through a business analysis online training course such as the Business Analyst course offered by London Prime Training. The training is delivered via elearning or virtual class with certification to enable learner thrive as a business analyst.

Technical awareness

To excel as a business analyst, having good understanding of software development will be of an advantage although not compulsory. Having a basic understanding of coding can be a great advantage but you can also learn how to code. You can study a software development courses online or achieve one by going through the university for a formal degree or tertiary education in a technical discipline such as software or electrical engineering. Or, you can teach yourself some basics of DevOps and coding.

Greater project understanding and delivery

Being an excellent business analyst means you have good understanding of how project is managed. Possessing project management skills is an advantage as a non project manager is a good boost and you can also take project management training online. You can also achieve this by doing a course on it or simply reading books, blogs, researching it, and obtaining certifications. You can read about Waterfall, but also Agile Project Management.

You will acquire most of the skills by running projects, and you will learn all the possible challenges and learn what works best.

Analytical skills

There are lots and lots of resources and tools that you can use to achieve this skill since it’s a vital part of a being digital business analyst and the trickiest to master. There are books and website content that you can read to help you develop this technique, master how to sense complexity in a trend, structure the next movement, and express the information to the relevant parties.

There is a training in business analysis courses like BCS’s that can play as your foundation for this journey. You can as well further your education to adegree level and possibly up to the Ph.D. level.

Business know-how

Business domain knowledge is a main factor in the journey to becoming a digital business analyst. And in this, you have to know the factors that play a key role in business-like, politics, technology factors, social factors, and economic factors. You can achieve this by reading and following news for all the happenings. You can achieve more in this by doing a secondary degree like an MBA, which is more business-focused, and you will learn on the things you need to follow keenly and give out proper guides to your company.

To become a digital business analyst, you need to have a can-do mindset. It will help if you engaging in researches, training, reading and getting new information or going for further studies to move from an ‘ok digital business analyst’ to an ‘excellent digital business analyst.’

Finally, as a digital business analyst, you should have a better rapport with both the clients and the development team and always provide the right information to maximize a company’s productivity.