Business analysts use data to identify ways that businesses can improve efficiency, reduce costs, or strengthen processes. Learn how to get started in this growing career path.
Grow key business analysis skills
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: People Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Fraud detection, Business Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Financial Data, Marketing Analytics, Analytics, Talent Management, Financial Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Human Resources Management and Planning, Peer Review, Data Analysis, Business Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Customer Insights, Workforce Planning, Demand Planning
Microsoft
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Excel Formulas, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, User Story, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Data Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Quality Management, Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Visio, Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Business Analysis, Scrum (Software Development), Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Risk Analysis, Project Scoping, Process Flow Diagrams, Stakeholder Analysis, Process Optimization, Data Visualization, Requirements Management, Prompt Engineering, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Digital Transformation, Responsible AI, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Business Requirements
A business analyst uses data to discover new business insights for a company. They typically focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness, and may work across all areas of business, including IT processes, organizational structure, or supply chain management.
At the entry-level, a business analyst may participate in team efforts to identify and prioritize an organization鈥檚 functional and technical needs, use SQL and spreadsheet software to conduct data analysis, and create data visualizations and financial models in order to address crucial business questions.
Similar and adjacent roles include IT business analysts, data analysts, business data analysts, supply chain analysts, and business intelligence analysts.
Learn more about entry-level careers in business analysis:
![[Video thumbnail] Data analyst vs business analyst](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1iCD6TZq6UdPJYH18pH4zI/ebc324f0d1a00e62b9e4afa5835f7abb/DATA_ANALYST__VS__BUSINESS_ANALYST_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Three members of a business鈥檚 human resources team discuss the business systems analyst salary range for a new hire.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2JFPQsudKkN2P9Zu1otpGe/f0deb091072bb33505d162f9516da95a/GettyImages-1473508665__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Video thumbnail] Become an IT business analyst](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/16ctDWZTTXrlnQJYzuJmgt/c4cf35d4d60bf44e48a5e2792a1297de/Become_an__IT_Business_Analyst_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two analysts look at charts on a whiteboard as they discuss business intelligence versus business analytics.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/22eAeanNyvUXeam0Vp1hU9/8b78610a72f20a9be215ff0a8cf941dd/GettyImages-551986071.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two coworkers look at a desktop computer display.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2YPaIR6UQz4wUZUwRHe8sY/f2f4a489d995b9c4db0095b75c2b66c0/Stocksy_txpe0666ad4RLr200_Large_2772942.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Person in interview](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2snDrbmQOLCKyAW30BHEU9/7417c2ba1038995b67323b70b8a3c288/GettyImages-1273390394.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: IT Business Analyst, working at a desktop computer, evaluating the company's current technology.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1iR3izwqxhutloa99XeX8C/641d59ca0dc9de9d6229a398022a5f70/GettyImages-980654204_IT_project_management__8_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Team of financial analysts analyzing the organization's financial processes to help improve its profitability.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3IZkWRRM9Lb2yFRo4brbF1/9830ee79bc90e0fc0a31a7f0f792f263/GettyImages-598255892.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A person in a dark blue shirt sits facing a trio of computer monitors in a large open-office space.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1rScxfq9zBJZoWBpq0gk8Z/c1d9330cacbb4a488d6d574b35a47a59/糖心vlog官网观看_Wesley_Megan_Miller_0262.jpeg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A supply chain analyst holding a device records and discusses information with a warehouse worker while they stand in the warehouse.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6aLU4Aq81z1We9egQzELlt/736cc1aa7903c94990da10278ef283ab/GettyImages-1470939666.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Feature Image] A business systems analyst reviews recommendations with a business leader as they discuss ongoing strategies for process improvements.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/RPLIpglkrd3GFUgIlxE1z/0d514edd6b1298956f232e5e4a444a64/GettyImages-1345630279.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A male, wearing a gray sports jacket and white shirt, is working on his laptop and conferring with a co-worker in his office.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4k1t2RglVg9hZcSuhHdRIM/661420e2136f5e3227eb2ca5c0191018/GettyImages-1358280227.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A man wearing a blue sweater, and glasses collecting and analyzing data sitting in front of his computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1JfczNH7EqprEjPf6YbvMX/505258b5283c38e4fa8ae18b04181d2c/GettyImages-1354692508.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A team of business data analysts meet and discuss visualizations as they prepare to share their findings with key stakeholders.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1NHIOGo2q5hOkbYqIfgade/0bc24bd561089fedec9088532c00ddfb/Business-professionals-discussing-over-a-graph-1127726411_8477x5651.jpeg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Smiling person walking outside on a sidewalk surrounded by trees, on their way to their first job.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4voW9udaTXCoVCl6orOjZQ/9c0622eea1faf5bb1495101484b2f101/iStock-1161222772.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
