Business Analyst VS Data Analyst- Know the key difference

You may have often wondered, what?s the difference between a business analyst and a data analyst. While both the positions require proper handling of data, the responsibilities of a business analyst differ from a data analyst. 

How do they differ? What are their responsibilities? Is one of the two more important than the other? Are there any similarities? 

There are plenty of questions that need answers. Both business analysts and data analysts play a vital role in the growth of an organization. The skill set of a data analyst includes hands-on experience with some advanced programming and statistical skills. It helps them in contributing to essential business decisions. However, their responsibilities differ depending upon the industry. Yet, they are also similar in some key areas.?

Let?s take a closer look at the differences and similarities to avoid that confusion. 

How do business analysts differ from data analysts?

While business analysts and data analysts play key roles in analyzing data, their responsibilities are fundamentally different. 

Who is a business analyst?

In simple terms, business analysts use data to make informed, strategic decisions for the growth of the organization. Their role includes identifying issues in a business and using data science and technology to offer proper solutions for it. Business analysts collaborate with various team managers and work towards the alignment of the projects along with the brand?s identity. They maintain consistency between the objectives and the broader organizational goal. 

Team management, critical thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving are some of the soft skills that provide an edge to business analysts. 

Analyzing business processes, implementing cost-effective practices, and meeting the broader organizational goal are some of the objectives of a business analyst. To meet these objectives, business analysts require some fundamental technical knowledge of IT systems and data processing. Advanced mathematical, computing, and practical tools knowledge, can help you differentiate your profile from other business analysts.  

Who is a data analyst?

The key responsibilities of a data analyst include churning complex datasets and drawing valuable insights for all the key stakeholders. Moreover, communicating the insights to the leadership becomes one of the core skills of a data analyst. Understanding, analyzing, cleansing data, and helping leaders make informed business decisions, are some of the fundamental duties of a data analyst. 

Soft skills and interpersonal skills for effective learning and clear communication are essential for being a data analyst. Building databases, preparing charts, acquiring data from various sources, and processing it are some fundamental skills that define a data analyst?s role. 

Technical skills required for a data analyst include statistical knowledge, Python programming knowledge, Structured Query Language (SQL), and data visualization. These technical skills are necessary for processing and executing essential data-driven business decisions. 

Business analyst VS Data analyst: Education and Career path

Who can be a business analyst, and who can be a data analyst? 

What are the qualifications required? 

Both domains require different educational requirements. You can be a business analyst with a bachelor?s degree in business administration, statistics, economics, or a related domain. Along with this, you must be proficient in the understanding of business operations for identifying inefficiencies and understand business needs.  

To enter the core data-analytics industry, you need a bachelor?s degree in mathematics, analytics, statistics, or any related domain. However, for a senior position, recruiters often prefer candidates with a master?s degree in analytics. You need strong data mining skills to churn out all the complex datasets assigned to you. 

Comparing both positions, data analysts tend to have more technical skills as they need to deal with complex data structures. Their primary focus is to interpret data, use visualization to convey their findings, and understand the industry?s trends. Business analysts carry a solution-driven approach. They analyze sales figures, and trends and increase their exposure to the industry. After identifying business problems, they require strong communication skills to present a solution. 

Business analyst VS Data analyst: Who is better?

If you are wondering, who?s better, whether a business analyst or a data analyst, then you are asking the wrong question. 

Both business analysts and data analysts require specific skills that are mentioned above. ?Now, the ball is in your court. It?s you who has to decide. Your core skills will decide what suits you better. If you are comfortable with taking up business problems, evaluating processes, and providing solutions, then you can be a great data analyst. But if you think that you are faithful to numbers, like analyzing datasets and extracting information that drives the business ahead, then you should choose to be a data analyst. If you believe in self-learning, then surely you can enroll in a data analytics course, that sets up the foundation for you.??

The field is wide open, and the ball is in your court?time to decide and be friends with data.