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It is nearly impossible to interpret unstructured data, which is why unprocessed information is practically useless to a business. Completing some of the best Udacity Business Analyst courses will enable you to help a company make profitable decisions and improve its current processes.
Researchers suggest that each person generates 1.7MB of data per second and that by 2025 we will be creating 463 exabytes of data every day. As it is, businesses have more than enough data to understand how their products, internal processes, or services are performing.
While Udacity doesn't have the widest selection, the degrees they DO offer are robust, industry recognized "nano" degree programs (mostly concentrated in TECH careers). If you have the choice - and are looking for recognized credentials - Udacity is the more industry specific pick.
However, making sense of such vast amounts of data is an arduous task that requires a particular set of skills. The best Udacity Business Analyst courses show you how to establish a connection between the company’s leadership and the trends revealed by the data acquired by the IT team.
Go through our edX vs Audacity comparison to find out which of these online learning platforms offers better courses.
The 5 Best Udacity Business Analyst Courses
| Course | Duration | Level | Cost |
| Business Analytics | 3 months | Beginner | $399 per month |
| Marketing Analytics | 3 months | Beginner | $399 per month |
| Predictive Analytics for Business | 3 months | Beginner | $399 per month |
| Data Science for Business Leaders | 1 to 2 months | Intermediate | $799 per month |
| Data Visualization | 4 months | Beginner | $399 per month |
What is a business analyst?
The company’s management doesn’t always pay enough attention to the information its IT department acquires. A business analyst assists in establishing a strong bond between the IT team and the company’s leadership by understandably presenting the most relevant data.
A business analyst’s goal is to use the data a company generated within a set timeframe and recognize the ways to make the brand’s products more accessible or improve the internal processes.
To accomplish these tasks, a business analyst must be in close communication with the stakeholders who decide on the direction the company is going to take.
A business analyst often needs to act as the owner of a product or the company to evaluate and understand how a current business model can be improved. By doing so, a business analyst recognizes the technical and functional obstacles a company faces in maximizing its profits.
The most common types of business analyses
Companies from a host of industries rely on business analysts’ knowledge and skills to detect and solve the problems that hamper their productivity and limit the reach of their products. Banking, software engineering, or telecoms are just a few among numerous industries that frequently utilize business analysts’ services.
There are four types of business analysis a company can conduct:
- Business development analysis – Recognition and implementation of the needs and opportunities a company has
- Business model analysis – Creation of the company’s policies and marketing strategies
- System analysis – Defining the requirements of IT tech systems and understanding the rules of business
- Process design – Generation of uniform processes within a business
Consequently, a business analyst needs to understand what a company does and how particular workflows within an organization help put a product on the market.
Besides assessing the company’s current state, a business analyst is expected to suggest a way forward based on the data he or she analyzed. Check out our Coursera vs Udacity comparison to find out which platform offers better business analyst courses.
The role of a business analyst
The gap between the IT team that acquires the data and the company’s leadership is filled by a business analyst that creates an open line of communication between them.
Consequently, BAs have a hybrid role within an organization that enables different departments to work together on improving the business’s performance. This position usually entails performing the following tasks:
- Utilizing data to analyze a business model, recognize issues, and present solutions
- Understanding what a business needs and communicating it to the company’s leadership
- Monitoring the company’s progress and planning its activities
- Structuring budgets and financial forecasts
- Calculating the difference between projected and actual costs and revenues
- Writing reports
There are several positions business analysts can hold within a company, depending on the industry they’re working in:
- Business analyst
- IT business analyst
- Data analyst
- UX analyst
- System analyst
- Functional architect
- Business process analyst
- Business system analyst
The roles of data analysts, data scientists, and business analysts are somewhat similar, but data analysts and scientists focus on the technical aspects of data interpretation, while business analysts use the data to minimize mistakes in the decision-making process.
The necessary skill set for a business analyst
You don’t have to be a proficient programmer to become a business analyst. However, you must understand how technical systems acquire data or facilitate the company’s workflow.
Besides, technical skills might be necessary for business analysts working in the IT sector, as they enable them to understand the capacities of an operating system or limitations imposed by hardware.
Having analytical skills is vital for performing the role of a business analyst in any business sector, as you must be able to analyze data and work together with members of different teams on the implementation of your conclusions.
Developing leadership skills can help a business analyst establish better communication with the company’s management and representatives of other departments within the company.
The position of a business analyst involves quite a bit of planning, so perfecting the project planning skills or learning how to structure a budget will enable you to perform your job better. Read our Treehouse vs Udacity comparison for more information about the differences between these platforms.
The business analysis tools
As a business analyst, you must be able to use a broad spectrum of tools that enable you to gather, analyze and present data. SQL is one of the most important software products you have to master on your way to becoming a business analyst because without it you won’t be able to discover or gather data.
Having a good command of Pencil or BPMN is mandatory if you want to design models of business processes while knowing how to use Microsoft Viso or Axure will enable you to visualize the data.
You’ll also need to become comfortable using HubSpot, Oracle NetSuite, or Creatio to be able to create financial reports or manage the company’s customer relation procedures. Also, most business analysts utilize Tableau and the Google Analytics tool.
Microsoft Office is a standard tool in the business analyst’s tools set since you need Microsoft Excel to analyze and manipulate the data, Microsoft Word for documentation, or Microsoft PowerPoint to present the data.
The advantages of taking Udacity Business Analyst courses
An opportunity to advance in your career
Despite being relatively new, the role of a business analyst is in high demand. A growing number of businesses rely on business analysts to determine the shortcomings of their current business model and improve its efficiency.
Instructors with years of practical experience lead all Udacity’s Business Analyst courses
Experienced lecturers who understand the challenges business analysts face in real-time situations develop the syllabuses for all Business Analyst courses you can find at Udacity.
You receive the Udacity’s Nanodegree after completing a Business Analyst course
This online learning platform awards you a degree upon the completion of its courses, which increases your chances of landing a job in an industry-leading company.
The disadvantages of taking Udacity Business Analyst courses
None of the Udacity Business Analyst courses are free
You must spend approximately a thousand dollars to complete a Business Analyst course at Udacity, while the CAP certification costs a bit less than $700.
Aspects worth considering while choosing Udacity Business Analysts course
The platform offers a plethora of BA courses that are tailored for the needs of professionals who work in different industries.
Consequently, you can choose between courses such as Marketing Analytics or Data Analysis and Visualization with Power BI that is aimed at business analysts who are working in different industries.
We’ve shortlisted a few aspects you should consider while deciding which Business Analyst course at Udacity you want to take. Go through our Codecademy vs Udacity comparison if you want to compare the Business Analyst courses these online learning platforms offer.
Prerequisites for attending a course
You might need certain skills or knowledge to go through a Business Analyst course smoothly. That’s why you should check the prerequisites for attending a course before deciding to enroll, since you may have to complete another course before taking the one you’re interested in.
The engagement level
Most of Udemy’s BA courses last for approximately 3 months and they require a weekly engagement for 5 to 10 hours. Making sure that you have enough time to complete a course will enable you to keep up with the syllabus.
The lecturer’s credentials
Udacity’s instructors and content developers collaborate closely with industry professionals to create a curriculum that provides a perfect blend of theoretical and practical knowledge. Going through the credentials of each lecturer can help you decide if that particular course is a good choice for you.
Topics covered during the course
You can download the syllabus of the course you’re interested in to find out which topics you’ll be covering and determine if that course provides information that is relevant for what you want to learn.
Costs
None of the Business Analyst courses at Udacity are free, and their cost can vary between $200 and $800. Also, the platform enables you to settle payment over the 3, 6, or 12 month period, and it has a scholarship program that is available for some courses.
The 5 Best Udacity Business Analyst Courses
Business Analytics – Best for novice business analysts
Taking the Business Analytics course that was developed in collaboration with Tableau and Mode will help you acquire Udacity’s Nanodegree. Since this is an introductory course, you don’t need any previous knowledge of this field or skills to enroll.
During the course, you will learn how to use SQL to extract and analyze data from databases. Also, you will arrange and visualize data in spreadsheets you create with Microsoft Excel and Tableau.
After completing this course, you will become eligible to apply for jobs with salaries that range between $85.000 and $92.000 per year.
Pros
- The course is created in collaboration with companies that manufacture data visualization software
- Everyone can take this course regardless of their skill level
- You can customize the learning program to fit your schedule
- A mentor will support you throughout the course
Cons
- The course covers only the basic concepts of business analytics
- It may take more than 3 months to complete the course
Marketing Analytics – Best for aspiring digital marketers
If you’re planning on starting a career in advertising, then taking the Marketing Analytics course can be beneficial for several reasons. You’ll learn how to use Google Analytics and Data Studio to monitor different metrics and create reports based on the data you gathered.
The course also teaches you how to analyze survey data or draft an analytic brief. Once you’ve completed this three-month course you’ll receive Udacity’s Nanodegree.
Even though this course isn’t crafted for business analytics it shows you how to interpret data and use it to drive sales by crafting an efficient digital marketing strategy.
Pros
- Anyone can attend this course
- All attendees get unlimited access to Data Studio and Google Analytics
- Experienced instructors
- The course is a part of the Udacity’s Nanodegree program
Cons
- You must take another course if you want to learn how to use SQL
- The course limits the data analysis process to marketing
Predictive Analytics for Business – Best for learning how to predict and solve business problems
Even though it is aimed at beginners, you must meet certain requirements to attend the Predictive Analytics for Business course. Completing this course without a basic understanding of algebra and descriptive statistics isn’t possible.
Also, you should be comfortable using Excel spreadsheets, while familiarity with SQL or Tableau is beneficial but not mandatory.
The 3-month program takes you through data wrangling, classification models, A/B testing, time series forecasting, and segmentation and clustering methods of data acquisition and interpretation.
During the course, you will use the theoretical knowledge to resolve problems businesses encounter in real-life situations.
Pros
- Explores different concepts of data analysis
- Attendees gain practical knowledge during the course
- Students work with a team of instructors who work at Alteryx
- Helps students become business analysts
Cons
- It is advisable to take the Business Analytics course prior to taking this course
- Additional training may be required before you can start working as a business analyst
Data Science for Business Leaders – Best for leaders of data-driven organizations
Developed in collaboration with Alteryx for managers and executives, the Data Science for Business Leaders course takes you through ins and outs of data science.
You must be familiar with the decision-making process in an IT company and have an excellent understanding of probabilities and statistics. During the course, you will learn how to make a data science strategy that improves the business’s long-term strategy and daily operations.
Besides, the course shows you how to use data science to hire new talent and create a data-driven culture at all levels. By the end of the course, you should create a 100-day data plan that will help your business grow.
Pros
- The course’s instructor has more than 20 years of experience with data science
- Allows senior management to improve their business strategy
- 5 hours of engagement on a weekly level
- Offers a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge
Cons
- More expensive than most courses at Udacity
- The course requires a lot of experience in business environments
Data Visualization – Best for learning how to present data
Sometimes the easiest way to present data is to visualize it. Taking the Data Visualization course is a great idea if you want to learn how to create narratives from data. However, you shouldn’t enroll in this course if you don’t know how to analyze data in spreadsheets.
Moreover, you won’t be able to follow the lessons on this course if you don’t know the difference between a median and a standard deviation. On average, you will have to spend 10 hours per week on this course if you want to complete it in four months.
Pros
- Teaches attendees to turn data into stories
- Great for business analysts who want to make data more approachable to stakeholders
- Shows students how to use Tableau’s Story point feature
- Attendees learn how to use Flourish to visualize data
Cons
- It takes at least four months to complete this course
- It is advisable to take a Descriptive Statistic course if you don’t know much about statistics
Frequently asked questions about Udacity Business Analyst courses
Answer: The platform helps its students get a job after they obtain a Nanodegree and even offers a money-back guarantee to students who don’t get a job after they go through the Nanodegree Plus program.
Answer: Yes, you can. Udacity will send you detailed instructions on how to set up your Mac so that you can follow the course without any difficulties.
Answer: Although you can pay for your course in full at the beginning of the semester, you don’t have to, as the platform accepts monthly payments for the duration of the course.
Answer: The role of a business analyst requires a broad range of skills, and you can benefit from attending complementary courses that enable you to understand the process of business and data analysis better.
Our Verdict: What is the best Business Analyst course at Udacity?
We generate vast amounts of data every minute, and even a seemingly insignificant bit of information may help a business improve its internal workflow or the sales of its products.
Being a business analyst requires a specific skill set, as you must be able to understand the technical side of data gathering processes and to know how to present data to stakeholders who aren’t familiar with these processes.
While Udacity doesn't have the widest selection, the degrees they DO offer are robust, industry recognized "nano" degree programs (mostly concentrated in TECH careers). If you have the choice - and are looking for recognized credentials - Udacity is the more industry specific pick.
We recommend attending Udacity’s Business Analytics course if you want to learn how to use business analysis tools and become more familiar with the data gathering and interpretation methods.
Enrolling in the Data Visualization course will help you understand how you can tell stories with the data you acquire. Which of the best Udacity Business Analyst courses are you going to choose?
Let us know in the comments or go through our guide to finding the best online business courses or look at some of the:
See how Udacity compares to other popular platforms: