What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Planning Analysts?

Technically, there are many hard skills to acquire as a business planning analyst. To name just a few: database querying languages, statistical analysis software, data visualization, data mining, and programming skills will all be helpful to develop if you are interested in being a business analyst. Some of these can be learned on the job, but if you are able to obtain certifications or working knowledge prior to applying, this will help you stand out.