![[Featured image] A business analyst interviews an employee. Both of them have their laptops in front of them.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5vfQELyaDvsspcLpsigHEy/ec1810ecd32ac851a47d952a4f5d1e5d/dat_analyst_vs_business_analyst.png?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Business Analyst vs. Data Analyst: What’s the Difference?
Learn how data analysts and business analysts work with data to drive better business decisions (and find out which might be a better career fit for you).
April 16, 2021
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Start Your Business Analyst Career
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.
![[Featured Image] A person sitting on the floor at their coffee table studying data analysis on their laptop](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6VuItc4lzXx9jpsgnEcOc1/381bef721c94b8bdb2847531405ae984/is_data_analytics_hard.png?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A business analyst stands in an office hallway holding a laptop computer as they prepare for a meeting.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2Ryrw0DOjSsU1LdasXCkil/032bec22303d79aaaf51bf6eda3dd44f/GettyImages-1217242446-used-Google.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Grow key business analysis skills
University of Pennsylvania
您将获得的技能: People Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Data-Driven Marketing, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Customer Analysis, Financial Statements, Human Resource Strategy, Financial Analysis, Marketing Analytics, Human Resources Management and Planning, Analytics, Operational Efficiency, Predictive Analytics, Customer Insights, Financial Data, Operational Analysis, Peer Review, People Management
您将获得的技能: Process Modeling, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Data Storytelling, Risk Analysis, Business Analysis Tools, Project Scoping, Risk Management Framework, Process Flow Diagrams, Stakeholder Analysis, Prompt Engineering, Stakeholder Management, Data Presentation, Digital Transformation, Responsible AI, Business Process Modeling, Excel Formulas, Data Cleansing, Business Analytics, Business Requirements
Johns Hopkins University
您将获得的技能: Risk Modeling, Operations Research, Regression Analysis, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Risk Analysis, Business Risk Management, Business Modeling, Financial Modeling, Resource Allocation, Statistical Analysis, Decision Intelligence, Mathematical Modeling, Process Optimization, Financial Analysis, Statistical Methods, Spreadsheet Software, Predictive Analytics, Transportation Operations
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’s 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:
Take the quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?
Learn the essential terms: Power BI Terms and Definitions
Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Business Analyst
Ready to start learning? Explore our business analytics courses catalog or accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.
