The field of business intelligence (BI) optimizes business decisions and drives success through the combination of technology, business processes, data and analytics. Today, business intelligence methods, tools and approaches are valued skill sets and have become a technological priority for many organizations.
Business Intelligence (BI) Developer Checklist
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Getting Started: BI Basics
BI Developer Job Description
How Do I Become a Business Intelligence Developer?
Key Job Duties and Responsibilities
Average Salary
Getting Started: BI Basics and the Developer’s Role
For markets that are constantly growing and changing, creating valuable information from data is a necessity. Most companies collect a large amount of data from their business operations. This data can come from both internal and external sources. Internally, information is usually drawn from a range of distributed data capture systems or a business wide enterprise system. External sources can include market surveys and competitive business profiles.
Those looking to advance in a career where business intelligence data and systems play a central role, you will need to focus on the four pillars of BI: people, process, technology and data. Typically a certificate in business Intelligence provides you with exposure to the technologies, processes and fundamental knowledge that is essential to any BI project.
A prospective employee with a BI certification demonstrates the knowledge and skill set required to successfully complete any stage of a BI project within any size of organization.
BI Developer Job Description
The general role of a business intelligence developer is to create and manage an organization’s business intelligence and analytics solutions, allowing companies to make better and more informed decisions.
A business intelligence developer is responsible for designing and developing BI solutions, overseeing the implementation of the BI systems and also the ongoing maintenance of those solutions. They will create and complete data request queries and, through visualization and reports, present the information.
Prospective employers typically look for a BI developer who is an excellent communicator and trouble shooter. This job position requires an individual who can conduct testing, create data storage tools, collaborate with teams during system integration and be responsible for the maintenance and support of data analytic platforms.
How Do I Become a Business Intelligence Developer?
As a software developer, a degree granting educational background in computer science, mathematics, software development or a closely related field is required. Strong computer programming skills and additional skills related to the industry in which they work are required. For example, knowledge of finance would be beneficial to developers working in a bank or similar financial business.
BI developers gain experience in school writing code and usually start their career as a computer programmer. With experience and a continuously improving skill set, the individual can work towards becoming a developer.
When hiring a BI developer, employers look for qualities such as strong analytical skills and individuals who can design software to meet the needs of users by analyzing the individual needs.
BI developers are usually in charge of software from beginning to end, so they must be proficient in problem solving techniques to solve problems that may occur throughout the design process. The developer is usually responsible for communicating how the software works, and works with a team to give instructions and answer questions about the project, making interpersonal skills a desired quality. Having creativity, a high level of computer skills and being detail oriented are all good qualities to possess in this field of work.
Key Job Duties and Responsibilities
Many online job ads highlight the following key skills, responsibilities and work demands when applying for the position of BI developer:
- Conduct training programs and knowledge transfer sessions to junior developers when needed.
- Coordinate with Business Analysts and customers to develop both business requirements and specifications documents.
- Determine business intelligence and data warehousing solutions to meet business needs.
- Develop standard reports and functional dashboards.
- Generate and deliver quality reports to customers both internal and external, for business performance monitoring and business decision making.
- Identify and resolve data reporting issues.
- Maintain business intelligence models.
- Manage new report generation and report enhancement based on the change requests.
- Perform data warehouse design and modelling according to established standards.
- Perform quality assurance checks.
- Recommend improvements for optimum reporting solutions.
- Stay updated with business operations and intelligence processes.
- Work with Project Manager in developing and executing project plans.
Average Salary
The average salary for a Business Intelligence (BI) Developer is $95,017 per year in the United States (2018) or $7,918 a month. Some larger companies pay in excess of $149,000 annually and smaller companies can pay approximately $85,410 annually.
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