All of these positions may require some knowledge of the tools used by data scientists, but they also require “soft skills” as well, such as communicating findings to project managers and ensuring that projects are completed in a timely and cost-effective manner.īusiness intelligence analyst is one of the most popular careers in the field of business intelligence. Project managers, consultants, directors, analysts, and other specialists often use business intelligence tools to improve workflow, meet organizational goals, and reduce operating costs. Many careers require education and training in business intelligence. Like their definitions, there is some inevitable overlap in whether certain positions are described as using business intelligence, business analytics, or both. 7īusinesses have both a present and future focus-they want to maximize their existing strategies but also make space for exploring new ones.Ĭareer Outcomes: Choosing Business Intelligence or Business AnalyticsĬareer outcomes in business intelligence or business analytics will vary depending on your training and the type of position sought. But for those who want to change their business model or major functioning within an organization, business analytics might provide more useful insights. 6Ī present focus using business intelligence may be more useful for leaders who are generally satisfied with business operations but want to identify “pain points” in workflow, increase efficiency, streamline processes, or meet a specific goal. Some experts argue that business intelligence involves using historical data to make decisions about how a company should run in the present day, whereas business analysis may use historical data to predict what might happen in the future or how an organization can move forward. However, most organizations generally will want some combination of the two.Ī common school of thought for distinguishing between business intelligence and business analytics is the disparity between focusing on the present or future challenges of an organization. They can be particularly appealing for start-ups that have access to large amounts of data and want to be competitive with larger, more established companies.įor well-established organizations that simply want to learn more about organizational process or employee performance, business intelligence tools might be more appropriate. If a business is brand new or has recently undergone massive changes, then predictions about business trends via business analytics may be the most useful. The age of an organization can also influence a manager’s decision to use intelligence or analytics tools. 5 Regardless of size, most organizations want tools that can help with both current operations and predictive planning. Traditionally marketed toward larger enterprises, business intelligence tools may also be used at smaller companies that may lack staff with a background in data science but want to use corporate data to improve functioning or plan for the future.
The size of an organization can also determine whether business intelligence or analytical tools are employed.