What Does a Business Intelligence Manager Do?
Find out what a business intelligence manager does, how to get this job, and what it takes to succeed as a business intelligence manager.
Find out what a business intelligence manager does, how to get this job, and what it takes to succeed as a business intelligence manager.
Business intelligence (BI) managers are responsible for overseeing the creation and maintenance of data-driven insights that help their organization make better decisions. They commonly work with a team of analysts to gather, cleanse, organize, and analyze large amounts of data in order to generate reports and other visualizations that inform business strategy.
Business intelligence managers may also be tasked with developing or refining the processes used by their team to ensure that they’re working efficiently and producing high-quality results.
A business intelligence manager typically has a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:
Business intelligence managers’ salaries vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the size and industry of the company. They may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses.
The employment of business intelligence managers is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.
Demand for BI services will continue to increase as organizations seek to gain efficiencies and competitive advantages through data analysis. Business intelligence managers will be needed to help their organizations make sense of large amounts of data and turn it into useful information.
Related: Business Intelligence Manager Interview Questions and Answers
A business intelligence manager typically needs the following qualifications:
Education: Business intelligence managers are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, computer science, statistics or another closely related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in business intelligence.
Training & Experience: Much of the training for this role happens on the job or through formal education. Some employers may require candidates to have a certain number of years of experience in a related role. Others may prefer candidates with a master’s degree in business administration or a related field.
Certifications & Licenses: Certifications enable professionals to prove their qualifications to current and future employers. Business intelligence managers can earn certifications to gain more technical knowledge of their responsibilities, test their professional skills and further advance their career.
Business intelligence managers need the following skills in order to be successful:
Data analysis: Data analysis is the ability to interpret large amounts of data and identify trends, patterns and other useful information. Business intelligence managers use their data analysis skills to review and interpret data from a variety of sources, including large data sets, to identify useful information for their company. They also use data analysis to identify areas where their company can improve and make data-driven decisions.
Communication: Business intelligence managers communicate with a variety of individuals and groups, including other managers, employees, clients and other stakeholders. Effective communication is crucial to the success of a business intelligence team, as it allows the team to work together to develop strategies and solutions. It also allows the business intelligence manager to provide feedback and guidance to the team.
Critical thinking: Critical thinking is the ability to analyze a situation and determine the best course of action. Business intelligence managers use critical thinking skills to make decisions about the data they collect, the methods they use to collect it and the ways they present the data to their company.
Problem-solving: Business intelligence managers often work with other managers and executives to identify business challenges and develop solutions. For example, a business intelligence manager might work with a marketing manager to determine why a company’s sales are decreasing and help the marketing manager find ways to increase sales.
Project management: Project management skills can be an important skill for business intelligence managers to have, as they may be responsible for overseeing the implementation of a business intelligence project. This can include tasks like creating a project plan, assigning tasks to team members, monitoring the project’s progress and evaluating its success.
Business intelligence managers work in a variety of settings, including corporate offices, government agencies, and consulting firms. They typically work full time and may occasionally work overtime to meet deadlines or to attend meetings or training sessions. Some business intelligence managers travel to attend conferences or to meet with clients. Business intelligence managers who work in large organizations may have more opportunity to travel than those who work in smaller organizations. The work of business intelligence managers can be stressful because they are often under pressure to meet deadlines and to produce accurate and timely reports.
Here are three trends influencing how business intelligence managers work. Business intelligence managers will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.
The Need for Data Scientists
The need for data scientists is growing rapidly as businesses become more reliant on data-driven decision making. This trend is creating a demand for business intelligence managers who can help to extract value from data and turn it into actionable insights.
Business intelligence managers are in a unique position to take advantage of this trend, as they have the skills necessary to both collect and analyze data. They can use this expertise to help their companies make better decisions based on real-world evidence.
More Focus on Collaboration
As businesses become more complex, the need for collaboration among different departments becomes increasingly important. This is especially true for business intelligence managers, who are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on data that is essential for making informed decisions.
To be successful in this role, business intelligence managers will need to be able to work effectively with other departments and understand the needs of all stakeholders. They will also need to be able to communicate findings in a way that is easy to understand and helps to drive decisions forward.
Data Security Becomes More Important
As data security becomes more important, businesses will look to hire professionals who can help them protect their information. This includes data security professionals, as well as business intelligence managers who can help to ensure that data is being collected and used properly.
Business intelligence managers can capitalize on this trend by becoming experts in data security. By doing so, they can help businesses to keep their data safe and prevent any potential breaches. In addition, they can also help to implement best practices for data usage that will help to protect customer privacy.
A career in business intelligence (BI) can be rewarding and lucrative. It’s important to start by assessing your skills and interests, as well as the type of company you want to work for. Do you prefer working with data or people? Are you more interested in analytics or reporting?
Once you have a better idea of what you want from your career, it’s time to start networking. Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and reach out to companies that interest you. When applying for jobs, make sure to highlight any relevant experience and skills.
The most common way to advance in this career is to move up within your current organization. As you gain experience and prove your value to the company, you will be in line for promotions to higher-level positions. You may also be able to advance by switching to a different company, where you can use your experience to take on a more senior role.
Another way to advance your career is to get certified in your field. This will show that you are knowledgeable and committed to your profession, and it can make you more attractive to potential employers. There are many different certifications available, so you will need to research the options and choose the one that is most relevant to your career goals.
Finally, you can also advance your career by continuing your education. This can help you to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in your field, and it can also make you more attractive to employers. If you want to advance to a management position, for example, you will need to get a master’s degree in business administration or a related field.
The Business Intelligence Manager will be responsible for developing and managing the business intelligence function within the company. They will work with various departments to identify and collect data that can be used to make better business decisions. They will also be responsible for developing and maintaining reporting and dashboards that can be used by managers and executives to track key performance indicators. The Business Intelligence Manager will also be responsible for developing and managing a team of business intelligence analysts.
Duties & Responsibilities
Required Skills and Qualifications
Preferred Skills and Qualifications