Business analysts need technology tools to increase productivity, optimize their workflows, and keep up with the ever-changing technological environment, writes JUSTICE OKAMGBA.
To do their job effectively, business analysts need the right technological tools to help them analyze data, manage projects, design processes, gather requirements, and communicate efficiently.
Interestingly, the realization that coding expertise is not a prerequisite for success as a business analyst has led to a surge in the number of business analysts around the world.
This shift highlights the dual nature of business analysis, with both technical and non-technical skills forming a comprehensive skill set. The role of the business analyst continues to evolve to reflect different technological demands.
According to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, business analysis drives change within an enterprise by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. It helps organizations clarify needs, streamline change, and design solutions that deliver measurable benefits.
“For business analysts, a diverse toolkit is essential depending on the task, the available technology and the skillset of their team. Striking a balance between technical and non-technical skills is key to their effectiveness,” Esther Folorunso, a business analyst working in the education industry in the US, said in a note to The PUNCH.
Today's business analytics requires a strong technology foundation. By understanding the role of technology in the business, translating business needs into technology requirements, and working effectively with IT professionals, business analysts can strategically drive digital transformation.
Folorunso explained that business and technology synergy is essential for organisations looking to achieve their strategic objectives.
She advised that to stay current, business analysts need to continuously update their skills, gain expertise in emerging technologies and hone their soft skills such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking.
Essential tools for modern business analytics include:
Balsamic
Balsamiq is a wireframing tool that allows users to quickly sketch user interfaces with the same feel as drawing on a whiteboard, but with the benefits of digital tools. Balsamiq helps create low-fidelity mockups that are useful for brainstorming and validating early design concepts.
Figma
Figma is a cloud-based design tool that supports real-time collaboration and is used to create high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes. Figma allows multiple stakeholders to work simultaneously, making it ideal for collaborative design processes and feedback sessions.
InVision
InVision is a digital product design platform that allows users to create interactive prototypes and gather feedback. It supports the entire design workflow, from ideation to development. InVision integrates with popular design tools like Sketch and Photoshop, allowing for a seamless transition from design to prototype.
Trello
Trello is a project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize tasks. It's highly visual and easy to use, making it a great way to track project requirements and progress.
Asana
Asana is a comprehensive project management tool that helps teams manage tasks, projects, and workflows. Users can create tasks, assign them to team members, set due dates, and track progress.
Zilla
Jira is a powerful tool that is primarily used for tracking issues and projects, especially in software development.
Google Forms
Google Forms is a free tool for creating surveys and collecting data. It's easy to use and integrates with Google Sheets for data analysis.
Survey Monkey
SurveyMonkey is an online research tool that allows users to create and distribute surveys.
XMind
Xmind is a mind mapping tool that helps you brainstorm and organize your ideas, helping you create detailed mind maps that can be used to capture and structure requirements during the planning stage of your project.
Visio
Microsoft Visio is a diagramming tool that allows you to create detailed flowcharts, process diagrams, and organization charts. It is widely used for business process modeling and comes with a variety of templates and shapes that make diagram creation easy.
Draw.io
Draw.io is an online diagramming tool that supports a variety of diagram types, including flowcharts, network diagrams, UML diagrams, etc. It's free to use and integrates with cloud storage services such as Google Drive and Dropbox, making it a convenient and accessible tool for collaboration.
Lucid Chart
LucidChart is a cloud-based diagramming tool that supports real-time collaboration. It is used to create flowcharts, process maps, and other types of diagrams. LucidChart offers strong integration with other tools such as Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office, making it more useful in collaborative environments.
Power BI
PowerBI is a business analytics tool from Microsoft that enables users to visualize data and share insights across their organizations. It connects to a wide range of data sources and provides interactive dashboards and reports.
Tableau
Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that allows users to create interactive and shareable dashboards. It can connect to a variety of data sources and provides advanced capabilities for data analysis and visualization.
R:
R is a programming language and software environment used for statistical computing and graphics. It is widely used in data analysis, statistical modeling, and data visualization.
syntax
SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to manage and query relational databases. Business analysts use SQL to extract, manipulate, and analyze the data stored in the databases.
Python
Python is a general-purpose programming language widely used for data analysis, automation, and scripting. It offers libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib for data manipulation and visualization.
“Beyond the technology tools, communication and collaboration are paramount,” Folorunso said.
“Business analysts must be able to clearly articulate complex data insights to both technical and non-technical audiences, collaborate effectively with stakeholders, and demonstrate active listening and strong interpersonal skills.”
Understanding the business domain is equally important: “Business acumen involves understanding business objectives, translating needs into actionable requirements, and thinking strategically,” Folorunso explained.
