Currently the profession as business intelligence is quite popular and in great demand. Surely many of you want to know how to become a professional business intelligence?
The career path offered by this profession is also very good, so that many people are interested in being involved in this job.
Through this article I will explain how to become a good business intelligence and the sundries of this profession.
What is Business Intelligence?
Simply put, business intelligence is the department of problem solvers.
That is, this department will help users to get answers to all their business questions.
In business intelligence, there are analysts who will help find the answers needed for every question asked.
This makes this department have many product results, for example raw data, analysis results, insights, recommendations, or even action plans.
Business Intelligence Career Prospects
When it comes to business intelligence career prospects in the digital era as it is today, of course it is very good and has quite a broad scope.
A business intelligence has a great opportunity to be able to directly join a higher management position.
This is because a business intelligence analyst is required to understand end-to-end business processes in the department they handle.
That’s why, they can have a career anywhere with more flexibility. For example, being a product manager, growth analyst, to marketing analyst.
As long as they have something they specialize in, it is possible for a business intelligence person to have career prospects in that field.
Responsibilities of a Business Intelligence
The responsibilities of a business intelligence person, from entry level to advanced level, are quite similar, that is, they are more towards advisors.
For example, when a user has a question and doesn’t know what to do, a business intelligence agent must be ready to help.
Starting from the process of collecting data, then the data is analyzed, making insights, recommendations, to action plans that can be used immediately.
So it can be said that the responsibility of a business intelligence is to provide end-to-end service which includes the process as above.
What kind of background is needed?
How to become a business intelligence is actually not always determined from the educational background.
Indeed, for someone who graduated from an IT or statistics major, they will definitely have an advantage because they already have the ability to retrieve data using SQL or perform simple quantitative analysis.
However, that does not mean that the only way to become a business intelligence is locked by graduates from these majors.
In this field analytical ability is the most important thing. As a result, if you have very good analytical skills, the opportunity to master this profession is quite large.
In addition, to become a business intelligence person, one must also have great curiosity, a willingness to develop, and be ready to jump right into the field.
So, you can say that the alternative to becoming a business intelligence person without an IT and statistics background is to have some of these things.
Must Have Skills
Before knowing how to become a business intelligence expert, you should first know what hard skills and soft skills are needed.
Hard skills
1.SQL
To become a business intelligence expert, you must have an understanding of SQL (Structured Query Language).
Why is it important to know SQL? Of course because this programming language is the most basic or simple in the field of data collection and processing.
With basic SQL skills, you will definitely find it easier and faster when you have to deal with pulling and processing data.
2. Microsoft Excel
Furthermore, a business intelligence person must also be proficient in using Microsoft Excel.
This software will be useful for presenting visualized data and making it easier for others to understand the data that has been analyzed.
Without the ability to use Microsoft Excel, you will definitely find it quite difficult to present important points from the results of the analysis that has been carried out.
Soft skills
1. Analysis
As mentioned above, in this field of work analysis is paramount.
By having qualified analytical skills, you will definitely produce higher quality work. That is why analytical ability here is closely related to quality.
After the data collection process, the next task of business intelligence is to analyze the data to draw insights that can ultimately make recommendations or action plans.
2. Productivity/Delivery
Working as a business intelligence must also always be productive so that he can complete his work on time.
For example, given time to conduct research for one month, starting from the process of collecting data to delivering results needs to be done efficiently and effectively so that it fits the deadline.
3. Communication
A reliable business intelligence is those who have soft communication skills.
No matter how good the analysis is, if it can’t be communicated properly, it will certainly make it difficult for other people to understand it.
So, in my opinion, a good analysis is one that is communicated well so that people can get insight or an action plan that meets their expectations.
4. Self-development
A business intelligence cannot remain silent and be in the status quo. Even though the business has been going well, that doesn’t mean you have to sit idly by and do nothing.
You must always be proactive in developing yourself to make good changes to your business.
Armed with this soft skill, you will always be looking for ways to develop yourself and the company’s business.
Business Intelligence Workflow
For those of you who want to know how to become a good business intelligence, it is obligatory to understand the workflow of this profession.
If explained briefly, the workflow of a business intelligence begins when a user has a question and asks for opinions to make a decision.
In the first stage you have to brainstorm and find out what data is needed to make that decision.
Then, the second stage is to retrieve data using SQL or other tools. Then, the data that has been taken will begin to be analyzed.
In the process of data analysis, it is also necessary to ask for opinions from subject matter experts who will help provide input to strengthen the analysis.
The results of this explanation will be combined with the results of data analysis to provide the needed insights, recommendations, and concrete action plans.
Tips to Become Business Intelligence
1. Self-taught learning
Self-taught or self-taught can be one way to understand the business intelligence profession.
However, there is still a wrong perception that is by directly learning hard skills such as SQL or Microsoft Excel.
The most effective way is to learn problem solving which can be obtained from reading case study books, articles, or even attending seminars that discuss problems in a business.
By reading articles like that, you will be “forced” to participate in trying to find a solution to the problem. This is very important because it can improve your analytical skills.
2. Portfolio
In my opinion, actually the portfolio is not that important to become a business intelligence. This is because the results of the analysis cannot be simply displayed.
Even so, you can still make your portfolio look more attractive by including performance results.
For example, you have created a project that has a big impact on the company. Then, it can be listed because it will definitely appeal to employers who could potentially hire you.
3. Prepare for the test as best you can
In the test to become a business intelligence there are usually two main tests. The first is a test regarding logic and then a problem solving test.
That is why it is said that one way to become a business intelligence is to read case studies frequently. Of course because a case study is useful for improving analytical skills and problem solving.
4. Choose the right company
Actually a business intelligence will definitely be needed by every company, be it a startup or a conventional company.
The difference is only in the level of need. For example, in a company that has been running for decades, business intelligence already has a clear workflow.
All that remains is to find ideas and ways for the company to develop further.
Meanwhile, in startups there is usually no stable workflow for a business intelligence so we will pave the way.
That is why business intelligence working in startups is required to work harder and be ready to make changes.
Thus my explanation of how to become a business intelligence and information about this profession.
If you want to dig deeper into the world of business intelligence, check out the Glints ExpertClass classes!
Glints ExpertClass has tons of webinars about this world that you can join.
Apart from that, there are also other classes in the field of data & analytics by professional experts which are certainly no less interesting to take part in.