Are you a business analyst who is looking to future-proof your career development? Or maybe you're looking for ways to help with digital transformation initiatives in your company. If so, then learning data skills is a must.

In this blog post, we will discuss 5 different reasons why business analysts should learn data skills. We'll also explore how data analysis can help with communication and stakeholder engagement. So, if you're ready to learn more, keep reading!

1. Data skills are in high and growing demand

There is no doubt that data skills are in high demand across industries. This trend is only set to continue, as businesses increasingly rely on data to inform their decisions, and they will need more analysts with the right digital business analysis skills who can help them make sense of all the information they are collecting.

"I knew if we were going to become more data-driven in our decision making, then I needed to equip myself with all the right tools to support the business in making those decisions. So when I heard about the apprenticeship I thought, 'That’s exactly what I need!'" Lisa Cooney, Products & Services Manager, TrendBible

As a business analyst, you are in a unique position to help organisations make sense of all this data. By learning how to effectively analyse data, you can future-proof your career and ensure that you remain an invaluable asset, no matter where you work. 

With the right data skills, you will be able to provide data-driven recommendations and use data to present your findings to stakeholders.

In short, you will have the ability to add real value to any business. So if you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, there's no better time than now to start honing your data skills.

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2. Business analysts with data skills can make better decisions and provide more value

Business analysts are responsible for understanding an organisation's data and using it to improve decision-making and operations. However, simply having data is not enough. To be truly effective, analysts must also be skilled in storytelling. They need to be able to take the data they have collected and turn it into a narrative that is both informative and persuasive.

Only then can they effectively communicate the value of data to their organisations and make the case for change. This allows businesses to make informed decisions based on data, rather than relying on intuition or gut feeling.

Additionally, business analysts with data skills can also provide insights that would otherwise be hidden in the data. By uncovering trends and patterns, they can help businesses make more effective decisions, adding considerable value to the organisation.

3. Learning data skills can give business analysts a competitive edge when it comes to salary potential

As companies increasingly collect and rely on data to make decisions, business analysts with strong data skills are in high demand, and they command higher salaries than those without these skills. 

Learning data skills can help you better understand the needs of your company and the goals of your projects. This allows you to be more efficient and effective in your work, which is another key factor in salary negotiations. So if you want to earn a higher salary as a business analyst, investing in data skills is a smart move.

4. Business analysts with data skills can empower digital transformation

Data skills are essential for any business analyst to understand an organisation's current digital landscape, as well as for modelling and planning its digital transformation journey.

Among the most valuable tools and techniques for modelling digital transformation are process maps, which provide a visual representation of an organisation's current state and desired future state. Process maps can be used to identify gaps and areas of opportunity, and to engage stakeholders in a common language around digital transformation.

Working with stakeholders is a critical part of digital transformation, and business analysts who are skilled in stakeholder management are in a unique position to help drive successful digital transformations.

By understanding the data landscape and the tools and techniques for modelling digital transformation, analysts can play a vital role in assisting organisations on their digital journey.

Cambridge Spark's Level 4 Digital Business Analyst Programme is one way of upskilling analysts with essential data skills to ensure they support their organisations through a digital transformation. Here's what Lisa Cooney from TrendBible had to say about the programme:

"Ultimately, it’s about digital transformation and business change. And for people who have good communication skills, are good at relationship building and like to solve problems, this is the kind of programme they need to get into." Lisa Cooney, Products & Services Manager, TrendBible

Digital transformation projects can be challenging for business analysts, especially when it comes to stakeholder management. Data skills can help analysts better manage stakeholder expectations and experience within digital transformation projects.

By understanding how to collect and analyse data, analysts can identify potential areas of conflict and develop strategies to manage stakeholder expectations.

Additionally, data skills can help business analysts evaluate the success of digital transformation projects and identify areas where improvements need to be made. In today's data-driven world, having strong data skills is essential for analysts who want to successfully manage digital transformation projects.

Conclusion

As data skills continue to be in high demand, those with the ability to analyse and make decisions based on data will be more valuable to their organisations. By learning data skills, business analysts can give themselves a competitive edge when it comes to salary potential and career opportunities.

In order to assist with successful organisational digital transformation, having business analysts with data skills is essential. Data skills can also help analysts improve stakeholder management by communicating effectively with stakeholders who may have different levels of understanding when it comes to data.

Are you a business analyst looking for ways to develop your data skills?

The Digital Business Analyst apprenticeship, which is 100% funded by the Apprenticeship Levy, offers learners the opportunity to upskill for business analysis and data literacy, focusing on data-driven digital leadership, change management and more. 

Using the Level 4 Business Analyst apprenticeship standard, the programme equips its learners with the skills and knowledge needed to take an organisation’s digital transformation journey to the next level with the deployment of data-informed digital solutions. 

Designed for those ready and keen to boost digital fluency across their workforce by introducing digital tools, systems and approaches; our apprentices will learn how they can become key drivers in achieving their organisation’s digital transformation roadmap. 

To find out more, use the form below to fill in your details and one of our Training Solutions team will get back to you with all the information you need to start your apprenticeship journey.