Introduction
Companies need to properly execute their business processes to remain competitive in the global market.
This might sound like a no-brainer, but when you break down how many tasks a single team runs through daily, you realize just how much time and effort goes into creating and sharing those processes.
Inefficient processes can pull you down the rabbit hole of sunk productivity and low ROI.
So what can businesses do to tackle that? Hire a business process analyst, of course!
With such a broad range of work, it can be difficult to determine what exactly a business process analysts does, and what skills you should bring to the table to succeed.
Let’s talk about what being a process analyst really means.
What is a business process analyst & what do they do?
Businesses that prioritize streamlining business processes need support from experts who can spot opportunities for improvement. That’s where a business process analyst comes in.
Their primary responsibility is to highlight areas of improvement for organizations so that they can help create strategies to stay ahead of the competition. They also act as a liaison between decision makers, leadership, and sometimes IT to track and perform process mapping.
A typical list of responsibilities for a business analyst should look like this:
- Collect information/ data regarding ineffective or inefficient processes from stakeholders and other relevant personnel.
- Oversee all new procedures and organizational changes to ensure proper implementation.
- Collaborate with management to create new processes and document them for future use.
- Review processes on a timely basis to see whether they’re up to date with industry standards.
- Interpret relevant data points and other business metrics for management and other personnel.
- Create documentation that ensures processes are being followed properly throughout the organization.
- Communicate discrepancies to management to encourage internal problem-solving.
- Create detailed reports and high-level analyses to track any incidents or inconsistencies.
There can be many other added tasks that a process analyst may have to take on. This varies from organization to organization as their needs are different across the board. The commonality between all these is that they are required to automate business processes in the short and long run.
How does a business process analyst role fit in the larger organization?
The Bureau of Labour Statistics reported that the employment of business process analysts- otherwise known as management analysts is projected to grow 14 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
With the evolution of technology, the demand for these roles is increasing. Moreover, many new business objectives are in place, so analysts set up the blueprint for business process management — starting from the ground up. They usually drive the changes required to kick the business into the highest gear of efficiency.
Some can be with the company full-time or hold a consultancy position. Either way, they should have the foresight to see the big picture, understand project risks, and apply their process improvement initiatives.
Moreover, they work cross-functionally effectively and easily handle key components of other business areas without feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of data.
A report published by Asana stated that most employees spend 60 percent of their time:
- Replying to email chains.
- Preparing and attending meetings.
- Searching for files.
- Repeating tasks.
A business process analyst on the team can reduce that time significantly and reengineer processes to strengthen daily workflows.
Apart from improving old processes, a business process analyst can be brought in when introducing a new product/service. Mergers and/or acquisitions can definitely benefit from having someone overlook some of their operations.
Business process analysts can collaborate better with the IT team too. This means they can implement advanced technologies beneficial to businesses and their customers. So in a way, they’re also integral to building the IT infrastructure in an organization.
Depending on the experience level and organizational needs, the impact of the role will change from time to time. But what else does a business process analyst role have to offer to an individual?
What makes the job compelling? What makes the job difficult?
Being a business process analyst translates to being a key player in any organization. With a hybrid role comprising both business and IT responsibilities, the scope is endless.
Analysts can work in multiple fields across the industry. However, some can even focus on specializing in a particular area. No matter the industry, processes and rebuilding them are the main focus. Moreover, they have multiple tools at their disposal that they can use, which improves their technical soundness.
As a business process analyst (BPA), you’ll be the point person in meetings and workshops. It’s very common to collaborate closely with management and relevant stakeholders. You’re accepted as the expert in everything 'process,' so you can establish a leader-like position.
Apart from the varied responsibilities, salary is quite an important consideration. In the US, it ranges from $60,000 to $87,000, with a median salary of $73,500. Moreover, as stated previously, more openings are becoming available. So it seems like a good career choice for any individual to pursue.
However, there are some challenges anyone has to face, such as unclear job definitions. Most of the time, BPAs are not properly onboarded onto their roles. Their responsibilities become too vague and undefined for them to execute properly.
Furthermore, the growth and development of skills can be limited in the long run, which will impact the performance of this role. Sometimes, there’s insufficient training material available for the analyst to integrate themselves into an organization properly.
What qualifications should a BPA have? Tips for being a strong candidate
Before even applying to a BPA role, make sure you’re sound from an educational standpoint, Usually, you want a Bachelor’s in math, economics, computer science or another relevant degree.
Other than that, senior roles may even require a master’s degree in business analytics or something similar. Additional certifications that may help are:
- Lean/Six Sigma Certification.
- BPM Certification (AIIM BPM Certificate, Certification from BPMInstitute.org, ABPMP’s Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP®)).
- BA Certification (CBAP/CCBA, BCS BA Certification, PMI-PBA, etc.).
- ERP, BPMS, and statistical data analysis.
Technical skills such as data or statistical analysis are the backbone of any BPA role. They should also be quite handy in researching organizational structures. Identifying the root cause of bottlenecks and recurring issues is one of the business process improvement examples analysts focus on. A BPA should be proficient in solving problems from the get-go.
Using documentation tools like Scribe should be in their arsenal as well. It’s quite useful, for example, they can easily upload data records:
Scribe is a free software that uses AI to document your processes for you. Just turn on the extension and run through your workflow. Scribe will auto-generate a step-by-step guide like the one above — complete with text and annotated screenshots.
Business process analysts should also be able to use spreadsheet software such as Excel and Google sheets to analyze data. Here's an example of a process doc made with Scribe and Scribe Pages.
Apart from hard skills, they can also hone their “soft skills,” such as effective communication that helps them connect with stakeholders and clients. They should be able to deliver the best customer service possible. Creating interpersonal relationships is essential to do so.
The more qualifications, certifications, and practical experience you gain, the easier you get the job you want. If you’re unsure whether you can meet the requirements, beef up your CV. Take online courses, and learn how to utilize new software to even the odds with the other candidates.
Create better process documentation as a business analyst — using Scribe
Regardless of whatever level of BPA you are, documenting your processes is the core task you have to complete. What better way to save time and automate it than by investing in a tool like Scribe?
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You can turn any process into a step-by-step guide full of instructions, annotated screenshots, and links. It’s even editable, so you can easily add or remove a step. Automatically save hours of manual work by installing Scribe as your go-to tool.
There’s no better alternative!
