What Is a Business Process Analyst?

A business process analyst evaluates business operations to optimize processes. This can boost business efficiency,  drive productivity, and improve profitability. Efficient organizations strive to streamline business processes to maximize resources and avoid wasted spending or redundancies.

As a business process analyst, you’ll help track business operations and make evidence-based recommendations for process improvements. Learn more about this role, the salary and job outlook,  and how to launch a career in business process management.

What do business process analysts do?

As a business process analyst, you'll evaluate existing business processes and functions to determine how well they achieve strategic goals. If you identify shortcomings, you'll recommend improvements (often in consultation with internal and external stakeholders). Your analysis will typically involve technology and business process automation to streamline processes, add efficiencies, save time, and cut costs.  

Read more: What Is a Business Analyst? Career Guide

Business process analyst tasks and responsibilities

Conducting the work of a business process analyst generally requires certain duties. Specific tasks and responsibilities you may have as a business process analyst could include the following: 

• Conducting site observations to evaluate business processes and workflows

• Documenting and mapping existing processes, including process flows, inputs, outputs, and resources

• Conducting interviews and meetings with employees and managers to understand business processes and requirements

• Analyzing and interpreting data and metrics to communicate the business process plan and elicit buy-in from stakeholders

• Determining where processes are out of alignment with business objectives

• Recommending process change through written reports based on your data analysis

• Developing and implementing new business processes

• Communicating changes to stakeholders and providing ongoing support for process improvements

• Monitoring the success of updated business workflows

• Staying current on business process trends and technologies 

Business process analyst skills 

A successful business process analyst draws on both technical and workplace skills. Technical skills represent the practical aspects of your role, while workplace skills contribute to how productive you are in a work environment.

Technical skills

Technical skills related to business process analysis include: 

• Problem-solving skills

• Data analysis skills and experience with software

• Knowledge of operational strategies and business models

• Experience with process modeling and process mapping tools

• Familiarity with change management

• Project management skills

• Planning skills

Workplace skills

Workplace skills related to a business process analyst role include: 

• Collaboration 

• Curiosity

• Written and verbal communication 

• Decision-making 

• Organizational skills 

• Attention to detail

• Big-picture thinking

Where do business process analysts work?

Business process analysts can work in an array of industries. As a business process analyst, you might find work in education, energy, finance, health care, retail, and more. 

Salary and career outlook for a business process analyst

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for business process analyst in the US is $132,585 per year. This figure includes an average base salary of $101,295 and $31,290 in additional pay. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses.

To get an idea of the career outlook for a business process analyst, consider what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects for the related position of management analyst. Between 2022 and 2032, the BLS expects job growth of 10 percent for management analysts, which represents a faster than average growth when compared to other occupations [1].

How to become a business process analyst

To become a business process analyst, you’ll typically start with an education in business or related subjects. Then, you’ll want to increase your skills with licenses or certifications and by gaining job experience.

1. Obtain a degree.

A bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, finance, or industrial technology could prepare you for this analytical role. It may be helpful to obtain a master’s degree in business administration, which can show potential employers that you have a broad understanding of important business topics. A master’s degree in business analytics can also prove your worth to employers hiring for this position.

2. Develop your skills.

In this career role, you'll need to demonstrate strong business analysis skills. To develop your knowledge in this area, consider learning more about the following subjects:

• Agile methodology

• Business process modeling and mapping

• Data analysis

• Project management

• Six Sigma

• SQL (programming language)

• Scrum (software development) 

Do I need a certificate?

Getting a certificate can expand this skill set like the PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® offered by the Project Management Institute. In addition to reviewing your analytical skills, this certificate can help you build skills that allow you to work with stakeholders to achieve successful business outcomes. 

3. Get experience.

Internships in process management or entry-level positions in data analysis, operations, project management, and more can help you gain experience that will support you as a business process analyst.

Overall, a business process analyst is crucial in optimizing an organization's processes for efficiency and effectiveness. The more you know about different areas of the business, analyzing data and metrics, and supporting process improvements, the more successful your outcomes.

Getting started with Coursera

Knowing about the role of a business process analyst—from job duties to salary—can help you determine if this career path works for you. To get more information and learn on your own schedule, consider taking online courses.  

Start on your business process analyst career path and get an introduction to data-driven decision-making with the on Coursera. Knowing Six Sigma methodology or Agile Project Management could also help. You can learn about these subjects on Coursera via a Six Sigma Yellow Belt Specialization for beginners or Google’s Agile Project Management Professional Certificate.