How to Be Business Intelligence Consultant - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Feb 8, 2022 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The success of Business Intelligence (BI) consultants is largely dependent on their ability to understand the underlying technology and develop strategic solutions for their clients. As the demand for BI solutions continues to increase, BI consultants must remain up-to-date on the latest technologies, such as data mining, data warehousing, analytics, and reporting tools. By staying knowledgeable about the capabilities of these tools, they can effectively help their clients make informed decisions and develop plans that will yield successful outcomes.

Furthermore, by utilizing these technologies, BI consultants have the ability to provide valuable insights into data, allowing organizations to maximize the potential of their data and make better informed decisions. As a result, organizations are able to improve operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. The first step to becoming a business intelligence consultant is to earn a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as business administration, computer science, or information technology.
Acquire Professional Experience. Complementing your educational background with professional experience is an important step in becoming a business intelligence consultant. You can seek out internships and entry-level positions in the business intelligence field as you work towards gaining the necessary experience.
Obtain Certifications. Business intelligence consultants should obtain certifications in order to demonstrate their knowledge of the field. Examples of relevant certifications include Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).
Build a Professional Network. Building relationships with other professionals in the field can ensure that you stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in business intelligence. You can join professional organizations, attend conferences, and participate in online forums to network with other business intelligence professionals.
Market Yourself. As a business intelligence consultant, it is essential to market yourself to potential employers. Developing a portfolio of your work and skills, as well as maintaining an online presence on professional networking sites, are great ways to promote yourself. You should also take advantage of any opportunities to speak at industry events and write articles related to business intelligence.

Business intelligence consultants are highly skilled and efficient professionals who utilize data from a variety of sources to identify trends and develop strategies to help organizations make informed decisions. They collect, analyze, and interpret data from a variety of sources, such as financial documents, customer records, and market research, to identify patterns and correlations that can be used to inform the organization's business strategy. By utilizing data analytics, they are able to uncover new opportunities and develop strategies to capitalize on them. The use of business intelligence consultants can lead to more efficient operations and increased profitability for the organization, as well as a better understanding of their customer base and the competitive landscape.

You may want to check Business Analyst Manager, Business Process Manager, and Business Unit Director for alternative.

Job Description

Develop and maintain data models to support business intelligence and analytics
Perform data analysis, data mining, and develop reports and dashboards to support strategic business decisions
Create and maintain data warehouses, data marts, and other data stores
Establish and enforce data standards, quality control, and security
Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify and define reporting requirements
Analyze industry trends and market data to identify opportunities for improvements
Design and implement ETL processes to move data between systems
Optimize query performance by tuning database objects and SQL queries
Develop best practices for data integration, transformations, and reporting
Create and manage visualizations to present complex data in an easy-to-understand format
Research and evaluate new technologies to improve BI solutions
Provide technical guidance to business users and junior team members

Skills and Competencies to Have

Business Analysis
Data Modeling
SQL Querying
Data Warehouse Design
Reporting and Dashboarding
Data Visualization
ETL/ELT Processes
Cloud Computing
Project Management
Business Processes
Machine Learning
Statistical Analysis
Data Mining
Big Data Analytics
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills

Business intelligence consultants are an invaluable asset for any organization that wants to stay ahead of the competition in today's data-driven world. The ability to analyze and interpret large amounts of data, combined with strong technical and problem-solving skills, is essential for success in this field. Being able to effectively communicate results and insights is also key for the consultant to effectively explain their findings to decision-makers.

Critical thinking and the ability to think outside the box to find more efficient solutions are also important qualities. In addition, the consultant must be able to work collaboratively with stakeholders and have excellent project management skills to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. All of these skills combined will allow the business intelligence consultant to provide meaningful insights that can help organizations make smarter decisions that will ultimately have a positive impact on their bottom line.

Business Process Improvement Manager, Business Intelligence Specialist, and Business Operations Manager are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

How long have you been working as a Business Intelligence Consultant?
What experience do you have with developing data models and data warehouses?
How familiar are you with ETL (extract, transform, load) processes?
What is your experience in creating customized reports and dashboards?
How do you analyze and interpret data to reach meaningful conclusions?
What methods do you use to ensure the accuracy of the data you present?
What tools have you used to develop business intelligence solutions?
How do you stay up to date on industry trends and best practices?
Describe a project you have worked on that was successful.
How do you keep stakeholders informed about the progress of projects?

Common Tools in Industry

Tableau. Tableau is a data visualization and analytics platform that helps users create interactive visuals and dashboards. (e. g. Tableau Desktop)
Power BI. Power BI is a business intelligence and analytics platform that provides interactive dashboards and data exploration capabilities. (e. g. Power BI Pro)
QlikView. QlikView is a data visualization and analytics software used to build customized dashboards and interactive visuals. (e. g. QlikView Enterprise Edition)
SAP BusinessObjects. SAP BusinessObjects is a business intelligence suite for data analysis, reporting, and dashboarding. (e. g. SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Suite)
IBM Cognos. IBM Cognos is a suite of business intelligence solutions for data analysis, reporting, and dashboarding. (e. g. IBM Cognos Analytics)
MicroStrategy. MicroStrategy is an enterprise-level business intelligence platform for data analysis, reporting, and analytics. (e. g. MicroStrategy 10)
SAS. SAS is a comprehensive analytics platform used for data analysis, reporting, and predictive modeling. (e. g. SAS Enterprise Guide)
Oracle BI. Oracle BI is a comprehensive business intelligence platform for data analysis and reporting. (e. g. Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition)

Professional Organizations to Know

The Data Warehousing Institute
Business Intelligence Network
Business Application Research Center
Business Intelligence Group
Association of Information Technology Professionals
SAS Global Forum
International Association of Business Analysts
International Institute of Business Analysis
The Information Coalition
The Computer Measurement Group

We also have Business Process Automation Engineer, Business Process Modeler, and Business Intelligence Data Scientist jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Data Warehousing. A process of storing data from multiple sources in one location, which can be accessed, analyzed and reported on.
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load). The process of extracting data from one or more source systems, transforming it into a format suitable for analysis, and loading it into a target system.
OLAP (Online Analytical Processing). A technology that enables quick analysis of large amounts of data from multiple perspectives, allowing users to quickly and easily explore and analyze data relationships.
Data Mining. The process of discovering patterns and relationships in large data sets, which can be used to make predictions and decisions.
Dashboards. Graphical user interfaces that provide a consolidated view of business performance metrics, such as financials, sales, and customer satisfaction.
Business Process Re-Engineering. The process of re-designing business processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Business Intelligence (BI). A set of techniques used to extract, analyze, and report on data to support business decision making.
Data Visualization. The process of displaying data in a graphical format to make it easier to understand and interpret.
Predictive Analytics. The process of using data-driven models to predict future outcomes or trends based on past events.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Business Intelligence Consultant?

A Business Intelligence (BI) Consultant is a professional who helps organizations extract, interpret, and analyze data to make informed business decisions.

What skills do Business Intelligence Consultants need?

Business Intelligence Consultants need to have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and be able to identify trends and patterns in data. They should also have a strong understanding of database concepts, data visualization techniques, and software development tools such as SQL, Tableau, and Power BI.

How much do Business Intelligence Consultants typically earn?

The salary of Business Intelligence Consultants can vary depending on experience and location, but generally range from $75,000 to $150,000 per year.

What is the job outlook for Business Intelligence Consultants?

The job outlook for Business Intelligence Consultants is strong and expected to grow at a rate of 8% over the next decade.

What type of companies hire Business Intelligence Consultants?

Business Intelligence Consultants are commonly hired by companies in the finance, retail, healthcare, and technology sectors. They may also be hired by government agencies and non-profits to help them analyze data and make informed decisions.