The role of an analyst covers a wide range of specialisations, each with its own focus and responsibilities. Despite their differences, all analysts share the same goal: uncovering insights and providing answers that help with predictions and better decision-making.

Here are some of the most common types of analysts:

Today, we’ll focus on two key IT roles: business analysts and system analysts. We’ll explore their differences and core responsibilities and help you determine which one is the right fit for your business.

A business analyst is a professional who helps companies work smarter by analysing their current processes and data. Their main job is to spot problems, come up with solutions, and guide their implementation.

This role is all about understanding how an organisation runs and finding ways to make it better. Business analysts dig into processes, data, and systems to suggest changes that align with the company’s goals and drive results.

The main areas of focus include:

A system analyst is a professional who designs and improves IT systems to meet business needs. Their main job is to gather requirements, turn them into clear technical specs for developers, and make sure the final product delivers what's expected.

This role connects business needs with technology. System analysts look at the company’s goals and create technical solutions to help achieve them.

The main responsibilities include:

Let’s look at how business analysts and system analysts work together, using an IT company developing a mobile app for restaurant table reservations as an example.

The product owner approaches the business analyst with a problem: "Many users aren’t completing their table reservations in the app. How can we fix this?"

What the business analyst does:

After receiving the business requirements, the system analyst reviews them in detail and begins working on the technical implementation.

What the system analyst does:

The business analyst leads the product demo for the client, highlighting how the new feature addresses the identified issue and improves conversion rates. Meanwhile, the system analyst explains the technical aspects of the implementation, detailing how the functionality was built and how it can be scaled in the future.

The average annual salaries of business and system analysts are based on data from Glassdoor and Indeed. The figures provided are estimates and may vary significantly depending on grade, qualifications, company, and region.

Basic Education. A degree in economics, management, marketing, or project management is a good starting point.

Courses and Certifications:

Basic Education. A degree in IT or related technical fields, such as:

Courses and Certifications:

If you enjoy talking to people, negotiating, analysing processes, and coming up with ways to make things run smoother, this could be your role. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to think strategically are key. A great business analyst knows how to work with data, spot connections, and think about the bigger picture.

This role is perfect for tech enthusiasts who love solving complex problems and creating well-structured solutions. If you’re detail-oriented, enjoy process modelling, and like diving into the technical side of things, this might be the job for you. Strong technical knowledge, a systematic mindset, and a sharp eye for details are essential here.

Yes, transitioning between these two roles is possible, as they share several overlapping skills. However, understanding their differences in approach and areas of expertise is critical for success.

Business analysts usually focus on broader business needs and processes. To move into system analysis, you’ll need to deepen your understanding of IT and technical systems.

Useful tips:

System analysts focus on the technical details of projects. To transition to a business analyst role, you will need to focus on business strategy, process management, and stakeholder collaboration.

Useful tips:

The roles of system analysts and business analysts overlap but each has a unique focus and requires specialised knowledge and skills. Attempting to combine both roles into one person or substituting one for the other can lead to mistakes, reduced efficiency, and increased risks.

A single analyst can effectively manage projects with a narrow scope and straightforward business and system requirements. For example, in a team with well-defined processes, documented instructions, and minimal variability in requirements, a system analyst might perform the role of a business analyst.

When business stakeholders have a clear vision, relevant experience, and are highly engaged, a dedicated business analyst may not be necessary.

When business representatives have a deep understanding of the processes and can quickly answer any questions from the system analyst, the absence of a business analyst poses less risk.

If business processes are not yet established, there are no standard procedures, and the goals need to be carefully studied, a business analyst becomes indispensable.
A system analyst cannot thoroughly understand business needs without prior analysis from a business analyst, increasing the likelihood of errors.

In projects starting from scratch, where business stakeholders have only a vague vision of the desired outcome, the system analyst might rush into designing solutions without fully aligning them with the business goals.

In industries like finance, logistics, or healthcare, a business analyst is crucial to bridge the gap between business requirements and technical capabilities.

The decision depends on your business’s current needs, the nature of your project, and the expertise of your team. To select the right specialist, consider these key aspects: