All the keys to understanding the Business: Data Analyst.

The Data Analyst processes database extractions. He analyses them and interprets them so that the company can make business improvements. It is the one that will make it possible to guide future actions to be taken.

Business computer graphics data analyst

The Data Analyst is responsible for the analysis of data from the company’s activity. It collects and processes the data in order to submit relevant recommendations. Its missions are to bring data to life by interpreting them.

It uses information gathered through different channels to facilitate decision-making by managers.

To do this, the Data Analyst uses various tools and languages, including Excel but also SAS, SQL, VBA, ACCES or R.

His skills in statistical techniques and his mastery of figures make this task easier. He also understands and practices the different SQL database languages. Depending on the company it integrates and the missions assigned to it, it can also use tools such as Hadoop or Spark to transform raw data into useful information. But it is generally the more technical Data Scientists who use them.

Its role responds to the challenge of enhancing the value of the mass of data collected by companies. Her interpersonal skills allow her to interact with the business lines and simplify technical issues. Thus, he is able to provide a coherent vision of his company’s activities.

Very often, the Data Analyst works for a type of company from various sectors of activity where data analysis creates added value (banking, insurance, e-commerce, automotive industry…).

Given the considerable increase in the number of data collected, the Data Analyst is most likely to see his position evolve over the next few years. Too much data collected is awaiting analysis and therefore not used. The Data Analyst’s mission is to remedy this situation, which is faced with increasingly important and very varied data. Its role is to find new ways to process data with the support of new tools.

DATA ANALYST MISSIONS

• Collect, process and study statistical data to produce business analyses and recommendations,
• Build and develop reports from Business Intelligence (BI) & Web Analytics to enable the different teams to have a coherent vision on the business results of the products and their proper technical functioning,
• Manage analysis tools that allow internal decision-makers or customers to monitor the evolution of their sites or products,
• Ensure the proper interpretation and dissemination of analysis reports resulting from BI & Web Analytics.
• PROFILE
• This profession requires a diploma from Bac + 4 to Bac + 5 in the field of statistical studies. The Data Analyst can have a Master’s degree in Statistics / Econometrics or a Master’s degree in Big Data for example.

Business knowledge, particularly in marketing and customer relations, will be appreciated. After having acquired significant experience, the Data Analyst may eventually evolve into a Data Scientist position.

SKILLS

• Mastery of statistical and datamining techniques (SAS, SPSS, VBA, ACCES) or SQL database languages (R), and web analytics tools,
• Legal and regulatory knowledge of data management (use, deadlines, lifespan, etc.),
• Mastery of statistical and datamining techniques (SAS, SPSS, VBA, ACCES) or SQL database languages (R), and web analytics tools,
• Fluent in English.
• QUALITIES
• Power of proposal,
• Rigour,
• Responsiveness,
• Analytical and synthetic mind,
• Good writing skills,
• Excellent interpersonal skills,
• Organizational skills.
• DATA ANALYST’S SALARY
• As a Junior, the Data Analyst can expect to earn at least 35k €/year. Obviously, this remuneration is variable. Nevertheless, with many important missions to his charge, the Data Analyst can earn up to 80k €/year once an Expert.

Also, if he subsequently becomes Data Scientist, he will be entitled to a more substantial remuneration (up to 180k €/year).

Big data businesses: the future is in data

The professions related to database analysis (data) are becoming more and more strategic. These new digital professions are already in high demand in startups, large groups and web professionals.

When we say that today’s students will work in jobs that do not yet exist, this is particularly true of Big Data jobs. Unknown a few years ago, they have just emerged and are expected to explode in the near future.

With the digitisation of the economy, companies now have huge databases of information on their customers. Marketing experts, on the other hand, can track consumer trends on the web. And of course, the major cultural and scientific institutions also have their own statistical data.
“Today, a growing part of our lives and memories is stored on the Internet, whether for work, leisure, consumption or cinema,” explains the director of Scality, a digital startup that offers new storage solutions.

All these databases are stored on huge servers in data centres managed by specialized companies. They must be organized, secured and exploited.

In large companies, we first need computer scientists and engineers to design the architecture of these databases. IT security specialists must also ensure that they are protected, especially when it comes to personal data.

But the real innovation is to “make these data talk” and use them for commercial purposes. For example, among the thousands of buyers of a product, we will search for those who have chosen a particular option by classifying them by age, home, standard of living, etc.
This is what the data analyst will do, a profession at the crossroads of IT, statistics, but also marketing.

Even more expert, the data scientist will analyze multiple sources and extract major trends to guide the entire strategy of a company. He must master the IT environment, statistical tools and the challenges of the company’s business sector. A real “five-legged sheep”, especially since there is still little training in this profession.

Opportunities that swell with databases

Due to the growth in needs, big data offers great opportunities

Data specialists can work in large groups such as banking, insurance and finance. Unless they are driven out by marketing startups or new data processing software.

But they can also work for those who store and process data:

• data centres, for example as TelecityGroup
• Internet service providers such as Bouygues, SFR or Free,
• hosts like 1and1.fr which offers bandwidth to websites, but also servers to professionals,
• infrastructure manufacturers such as Alcatel Lucent.

Computing, webmarketing, stats: all these paths lead to data
Training in the most advanced trades is still limited. Computer science schools have begun to create some specializations and some grandes écoles opened in 2014 a year of training open to graduates of five years of higher education and leading to a specialized master’s degree:

• the specialized master’s degree in “Data Science” from ENSAE ParisTech
• the specialized material “Big Data: analysis, management and responsible valuation” from EM Grenoble
• Also, the Master of Science “Data management” of the ESG management School.

As we can see, engineering and management schools are neck and neck on these training courses.

Similarly, an IT engineering school, EPSI, has joined forces with IDRAC, a business school, to open an MBA in strategic management of marketing data analysis in September 2014. It is intended for students with a baccalaureate + 4 years of higher education who wish to become data analysts.

Data centers, which house the servers that store the famous data, need technicians who can maintain them and control the energy, cooling & air conditioning, networks and standards of these locations.
No matter how much we talk about “cloud” to refer to the outsourcing of company data, servers are not in the clouds but do exist!

The DUT in networks and telecommunications or the DUT in electrical engineering and industrial computing (GEII) can lead to positions in data centres.