Which Business Analytics Training Format Is Right for Me?

Business analytics involves applying various mathematical and statistical tools, models, and methodologies to an organization’s data to extract insights from these numbers. These findings are then used by the business to make future decisions. The business analytics process combines various technologies and skills for collecting, analyzing, and presenting data findings to facilitate better business planning. When comparing types of business analytics training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to find out more about the different formats of business analytics training, how they compare to each other, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Business Analytics?

Business Analytics is a group of technologies and disciplines, such as quantitative methods, statistical models, and data analysis, which are used to solve business problems. It relies on iteratively and methodologically exploring an organization’s data using statistical analysis techniques to make better, data-driven decisions. This involves a practical application of statistical analysis geared toward uncovering actionable recommendations.

Many companies view their data as a business asset and continue to explore ways to use it for a competitive advantage. To be successful with business analytics, an organization must have good quality data, as well as Business Analysts who not only understands the business but also the technologies needed to transform its data into insights. Business Analysts seek to draw concrete conclusions about a company by finding answers to questions such as why certain events happened, what is expected to occur in the future, and what actions can be done in the present.

Most business analytics tasks are descriptive, predictive, or prescriptive. Descriptive analytics involves analyzing historical data to discover how an organization could respond to specific variables. Predictive analytics examines historical data to predict the likelihood of specific future outcomes. Prescriptive analytics is a combination of descriptive and predictive analyses; it involves formulating a process with which users can anticipate what is expected to happen, when it will occur, and why it will transpire. Business Analysts rely on tools and skills such as data mining, association and sequence identification, text mining, data aggregation, forecasting, optimization, and data visualization to gather and present these data-driven insights.

Read more about what business analytics is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Business Analytics?

Business analytics is one of the most versatile skill sets you can bring to the professional arena. All businesses, from small startups to multinational companies, seek those with a background in business analytics who can work with data to solve complicated problems, devise useful business strategies, and clearly communicate with stakeholders. Most Business Analysts have a background working with technology and programming languages like C++ and Java, as well as various databases and testing methods. These individuals typically possess technical and business skills, making them high-demand among recruiters and employers. 

Business Analysts are typically good problem solvers. They can analyze problems and apply critical thinking to propose innovative solutions that consider variables such as market trends. These individuals also tend to have an analytical mindset, which allows them to apply statistical models to analyze large datasets. Their analytic skills help Business Analysts perform tasks like understanding consumer buying decisions and behaviors and using this information to formulate a marketing strategy.

Business Analysts are usually expert communicators. They can clearly communicate their data findings and present these insights to different teams on both the business and technical sides. This often requires adapting their communication style to best reach different audiences. These individuals also possess time-management skills to balance multiple project deadlines and perform under pressure.

Training Formats for Business Analytics

Learning business analytics is easier than ever, thanks to the excellent learning options available in person and online. For extroverted learners who thrive in the classroom environment, in-person business analytics are available. If you’re looking to study remotely but still want to have access to an instructor in real-time, live online courses are for you. They can be completed from any location but still provide the structure of regular meetings. If you need to balance your business analytics study with full-time work, travel, or other life commitments, self-paced business analytics training materials may be a better fit because they can be completed at your own pace from any location.

In-Person Business Analytics Training

The most engaging and interactive way to learn business analytics is in the in-person format. For extroverted learners, in-person study not only provides a way to connect with other learners and network, but it also offers access to an instructor, who’s available to answer questions, offer guidance, and help you learn complicated analytics concepts. Another benefit of in-person study is that students can complete lessons in a computer lab with the most up-to-date software, programs, and applications. In-person coursework is generally the most expensive learning option and can also require the additional costs associated with commuting to and from campus. It also may require taking off work to attend regularly scheduled meetings, which is an important consideration for those with a busy work schedule.

Various in-person business analytics classes are available for individuals who want to find a learning option close to home. Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is an applied, project-based course in which participants learn how to collect, wrangle, analyze, and visualize data. Students work with prescriptive and predictive analytics to examine case studies in this hands-on course. Noble also offers an in-person Data Analytics Technologies Bootcamp for individuals who want to learn how to use SQL, Tableau, and Excel for data analytics. 

In addition to the in-person business analytics classes available through Noble Desktop, other top educational providers also have in-person study options. WeCouldData’s Applied Business Intelligence Certificate is a 12-week program in which students receive training with tools like Power BI, SQL, Python, and Tableau to pursue a career as a Business Intelligence Analyst or Data Analyst. For those who are new to business analytics, NYIM Training’s Excel for Business Fundamentals is a good starting point. This seven-hour class provides introductory-level instruction on core formulas and functions, as well as how to create charts and tables.

Live Online Business Analytics Training

In addition to in-person classes, another excellent learning option for those who want to study business analytics is the live online learning format. Just like in-person study, these courses provide students with access to a live instructor, who’s available each class to provide guidance and clarification on complex analytics concepts. Since all coursework can be completed remotely, these courses allow students to study from the comfort of their home or office without battling rush-hour traffic or searching for parking for each class meeting. Although live online study does require that students attend regularly scheduled classes, which may mean taking time off work, this engaging learning format provides the same quality of instruction as classroom study without the hassle of driving across town for each class meeting. 

A variety of live online business analytics classes are currently available from Noble Desktop and other top educational providers. Noble’s live online SQL Bootcamp provides 18 hours of beginner-friendly instruction on how to write SQL code for retrieving and analyzing data. Although this class is taught in PostgreSQL, it applies to SQL Server, MySQL, and other relational databases. Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate is available in the live online environment as well. Participants receive instruction on analyzing and visualizing data, as well as working with databases and business intelligence skills. Tuition includes one-on-one mentoring, as well as the option of a free course retake for up to one year.

For those who are interested in beginner-level training with business analytics tools, NYIM Training offers Excel for Business Bootcamp. This 21-hour class covers both basic and advanced Excel techniques, such as working with macros, VLOOKUP, and PivotTables. NYIM Training also provides SQL instruction in its SQL Level 1 course. Those enrolled in this eight-hour class learn relational database fundamentals, such as how to write SQL queries and retrieve data from databases. In addition, beginner-friendly PowerPoint instruction is available from NYC Career Centers. Their PowerPoint Bootcamp is a two-day course in which students learn how to design professional-grade presentations using reusable templates. Students receive instruction on inserting charts, collaborating, and working with images, among other skills.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Perhaps you want to study business analytics but don’t feel ready to dive into a full course. If this sounds like you, and you’re looking for an overview of business analytics, the good news is you can get started learning for free online with Noble Desktop’s Intro to SQL. This hour-long course is designed for those who are new to working with structured query language and want to learn how to use this programming language to search for data stored in databases. This video provides an overview of what SQL is, why we use databases, and why SQL remains a popular language across industries. A live demo is also included that illustrates how to work with a database and code SQL queries.

Other educational providers also offer free online beginner-friendly business analytics courses: The University of Michigan offers Introduction to Data Analytics for Managers, which is available via edX. Participants in this introductory-level, six-week course work with hands-on exercises, case studies, and lectures for an overview of how data analytics can be applied to business. Instruction is also provided on how to use the graphical development environment instead of complex coding, as well as how to perform data science tasks and interpret the data findings. For those who want to learn more about working with customer data, Wharton University’s Customer Analytics is available via Coursera. Participants in this free five-week class have access to a range of readings and quizzes, as well as 34 videos that provide instruction on working with predictive, descriptive, and prescriptive analytics in the real world with enterprises like Amazon and Google.

LinkedIn Learning’s Become a Business Analytics Expert is just one of more than 16,000 courses in the LinkedIn library that’s available for free for those who have a premium LinkedIn account. Over the course of this 10.5-hour introductory-level course, participants complete 10 modules that provide an overview of the concepts, techniques, and tools necessary to become a Business Analyst. All students receive instruction on topics like meta-analysis, logistic regression and data reduction with Excel and R, and forecasting.

Read more about free business analytics videos and online tutorials.

Simplilearn’s Business Analytics Basics is another free learning option. This two-hour class provides students with an introduction to core business analytics skills and concepts. Participants also receive instruction on the business analysis process and the key differences between a Business Analyst and Data Analyst. Boston University offers Business Analytics for Data-Driven Decision Making. This free, seven-week online course exposes students to machine learning and predictive modeling concepts, as well as how to apply analytical findings to business strategies. University of Colorado, Boulder’s Business Analytics for Decision Making is a nine-hour program that covers Excel basics, as well as how to work with predictive and prescriptive models. In addition, University of Pennsylvania currently offers Customer analytics, which is taught by the Wharton School of business. By course completion, participants in this 12-hour class will have a solid understanding of how to apply various tools to predict customer behavior, as well as the best practices used by top firms for customer analytics.

On-Demand Classes

If you’re new to business analytics and aren’t ready to dive into a full course, self-paced business analytics classes are a great starting point. These courses provide pre-recorded content, which means they can be watched and rewatched as often as you want, as well as paused and rewound to facilitate note-taking. They can be watched at any time of the day, any day of the week, from any location, which makes them a good beginning point in business analytics study for those who have busy work schedules and are trying to balance their studies with other commitments. Since Business Analysts often work with Microsoft Excel for data-related tasks, you may want to explore Noble Desktop’s free Excel class Top 10 Beginner Tricks You Need to Know. This hour-long video provides content on fundamental Excel tasks, such as working with charts, autofill, screenshots, pasting, and data validation. Noble also offers free learning resources on Excel and data analytics. 

Read the full guide on how to learn business analytics.

Comparison of Business Analytics Training Formats

If you’re considering learning business analytics, you may be deciding between training formats. The following is a breakdown of the three primary types of business analytics training, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of working with each form.

In-person business analytics classes are an excellent learning option for extroverted students. These courses take place in a computer lab equipped with the most up-to-date software and tools needed for business analytics. Participants in in-person study can interact with an expert instructor who’s leading class discussions and is available to answer questions and provide support. In addition, students have the opportunity to network with other learners who are on the same educational journey. Although in-person study tends to be the most expensive learning format and requires commuting to campus for regularly scheduled meetings, it often includes added perks like one-on-one mentoring, professional portfolio development and other incentives.

If you value having access to a live instructor but prefer completing coursework remotely, live online business analytics classes are a good alternative. This learning format allows all participants to receive feedback and guidance from an expert instructor with industry experience in business analytics. This engaging format also provides a way for students to receive guidance on building portfolios and other professional activities. Because live online courses don’t require commuting to and from campus for each meeting, this learning format is ideal for those who need to balance business analytics study with other life commitments. Even though these courses may require taking off work to attend meetings, participants can complete lessons from their home or office space.

In addition to live online coursework, self-paced online content is also available in business analytics. This learning format is generally the most affordable; some top educational providers even post content for free. Because on-demand training material is pre-recorded, it can be watched from any location with an internet connection, at any time. It also can be paused, rewound, and revisited as often as necessary for those who wish to take notes as they learn business analytics concepts. For those who are new to business analytics, asynchronous material can provide a general overview of the field. This makes it a good starting point for individuals who want to learn the basics of this field before committing to more intensive learning options. 

One important consideration when selecting self-paced business analytics study material is that a lot of content is available online, and some may be dated. It can be challenging to select the most current, up-to-date tutorials and videos. In addition, since this learning format doesn’t provide access to a live instructor, those who complete asynchronous classes cannot ask questions. This means that it may be easier to learn basic business analytics concepts through self-paced materials, but it may be more challenging to master more complex concepts in this format.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Business Analytics?

If you’re interested in learning business analytics, you may wonder if it’s possible to teach yourself this process. Learning business analytics basics through online videos and other asynchronous materials is a good starting point on your learning journey. These resources often provide an affordable (if not free) overview of the field, as well as introductory-level instruction on the core concepts. However, if you’re interested in studying business analytics for professional reasons, on-demand materials may not suffice since they don’t provide access to an instructor who can answer questions and provide guidance. In addition, because of the sheer number of online business analytics videos and tutorials available, it can be overwhelming to select the most up-to-date and avoid those that provide incorrect content.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Business Analytics

Deciding which business analytics format is best for you will likely depend on several factors, such as what you intend to use it for. Free introductory-level courses are a great option for those new to business analytics and want an overview of this field. These classes contain pre-recorded content, such as videos and tutorials, which can be accessed anytime and from any location with an internet connection. Since self-paced content is offered for free, it doesn’t require a financial commitment, making these classes a low-stakes way to learn business analytics. However, since no instructor is available to field questions and provide guidance on complex analytics concepts, asynchronous business analytics courses are most suited for beginner-level study rather than mastering more complicated skills.

If you’re looking to have a strong working knowledge of business analytics to grow within your current career or to plug a skill gap, a business analytics bootcamp is an excellent option. Noble’s Data Analytics Technologies Bootcamp is available both in-person and live online and provides instruction with common data tools like Excel, Tableau, and SQL. Participants in this small class prepares students to analyze and manipulate data to find insights that can be used to drive business decisions. All students have access to an expert instructor in real-time, who’s there to provide guidance and support. In addition, participants can retake this bootcamp for up to one year to revisit course material. 

For those who want to study business analytics to begin a new career or pivot to an entirely different industry, a Business Analysts Certificate can provide the necessary training. Participants in this rigorous program receive expert instruction on topics like analyzing and visualizing data, as well as presenting data findings, using PowerPoint, Tableau, SQL, and Excel. Learners can choose to study in-person in New York City or to complete certificate work remotely, from their home or office. Although certificate study may require taking off of work to meet at regularly scheduled days and times for class, it provides hands-on, real-world training that can help you advance as a Business Analyst.

Learn Business Analytics with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you want to study business analytics, Noble Desktop offers several excellent classes to prepare you to work as a Business Analyst. Noble’s Business Analyst Certificate is available in both the in-person and live online format. Participants in this hands-on course learn how to work with tools such as Tableau, SQL, PowerPoint, and Excel to analyze and visualize data. All participants receive live, project-based instruction from industry experts and can retake the course for up to one year to revisit the material.

For those who want to learn more about working with big data, Noble also has an in-person and live online Data Analytics Certificate. All participants receive one-on-one mentoring with tuition. This course is available in the full-time format that spans six weeks, as well as the part-time format of 24 weeks of evening classes. This project-based course covers core data analytics concepts and skills like collecting, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data. In addition, participants prepare for a career in business analytics or data analytics by reviewing case studies that incorporate both predictive and prescriptive analytics.

Those interested in comparing learning options can also browse Noble’s in-person and live online data analytics and data science classes to find the perfect class.