Data literacy is gradually becoming mainstream. However in cities like Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune and Mumbai it is already mainstream due to the presence of relevant industries. After the pandemic forced unwanted lockdowns, the home stuck population became increasingly dependent on the internet for their daily needs. Thus the commercial entities had to upgrade themselves into a more internet-friendly and data-dependent version. To survive the ordeals imposed by the lockdowns, businesses had to become more efficient and liberal in terms of operations and response. Thus the utility and dependency on data drastically increased during those months. Managers already working in the industry had to go through a major transformation. A business analytics certification coupled with years of work experience started to brew a new class of managers. Business analysts, as we love to call them. This article will however explore the relevance of the role in the face of the emerging contemporary discipline of data analytics.
From the employers’ point of view
A business analyst is expected to be a good and experienced manager. The lofty precondition is fairly justified as the role carries responsibilities related to the very growth and direction of businesses. Needless to say, the job of a business analyst is a high-paying one and demanding of certain concessions on behalf of the employer.
Thus hiring a business analyst is quite a gamble from an employer’s point of view who is just starting a business. But established organizations can certainly benefit from the recruitment of a business analyst in their ranks. For instance, a multi-divisional commercial entity should need a role dedicated to the smooth flow of extracts and other necessary information internally. And of course, making sense of the large amounts of data produced by all the operations combined and prescribing the future actions accordingly.
On the other hand, a data analyst is not just restricted to business and operations data. Usually, all kinds of data concern the role. The responsibility of a data analyst is to analyze all kinds of data from geographical to user interaction and prepare the implications in forms understandable by every eye. From that perspective, the role is extremely versatile and easily moldable according to the demands. But managerial skills are of the essence amongst data analysts. Though much can not be expected on the management front from a data analyst; the ones with a good management mindset can grab some employers’ eyeballs.
The needs of today’s commercial entities
Experience and low-risk hire
In the case of business analytics, a good manager with experience and prowess in statistics can opt for a business analytics certification, and up-grade into a more fitting version of themselves. The managerial experience is thus essential for becoming a successful business analyst and it is wise to consider it as a precondition. But data analysts must get hands-on training before joining as responsible employees, the role is bestowed with great responsibilities, if performed wrong, can cost the very life of an organization.
Thus in both cases, hands-on experience is essential. It is considered wise to relocate to relevant cities so that a presence in the right place at the right moment can be maintained.
Active and valued contribution
Contributions from these experienced minds can surely be proven to have value if recruited with wisdom. The internal coordination and flow of information must be maintained in a healthy state so that communication gaps and errors related to them can be avoided. A business analyst as a manager is responsible for this internal coordination and making sense of data related to the product or service. So that the same can be made into more friendly and attractive for the potential buyers.
A data analyst can be deployed even before the commencement of any business. A data analyst is concerned with all kinds of data like geographical and population-related data, potentially influencing even the choice of business in a region.
The verdict
Both these disciplines are at par with each other in terms of value and serving the needs of today’s commercial sectors. But the presumed competition for existence now seems unjust, as both the roles despite sharing overlapping responsibilities and virtues are unique and distinct to the very roots. Needless to say, they are two very different instruments not ubiquitously relevant. Based on the times we are going through, both disciplines are poised to flourish and attract more minds to their doorstep.
