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What does a business intelligence architect do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Bart Downing

A business intelligence architect is in charge of establishing data structures and business intelligence for an organization. Their responsibilities typically include designing systems and tools according to the company's needs, studying the feedback of clients, processing and analyzing extensive data, identifying areas needing improvement, and implementing solutions against problem areas. They must also provide technical support to various departments and employees, enforcing corrective measures as required. Furthermore, as a business intelligence architect, it is essential to lead teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's data security policies and regulations.

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Business intelligence architect responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real business intelligence architect resumes:

  • Manage and execute various BO reporting projects within organization.
  • Train report developers to leverage OLAP data source for the development of SSRS reports.
  • Develop front-end, metadata and ETL specification to support business requirements for reporting across the organization.
  • Design and implement a unique metadata driven ETL solution for aggregate facts using partition switching and parallel processing.
  • Develop and lead teams to develop SSRS reports base upon company standards and business requirements.
  • Save over $100k/year by creating SSIS packages to automatically import and export data to new expense-reporting and reimbursement system.
  • Direct support of business intelligence and analytics teams.
  • Perform architecture and configuration analyses of DEV and QA environments.
  • Design and implement SSIS templates to standardize logging, notification and database connections.
  • Provide development best practices and technical support on the installation/configuration and development using Informatica.
  • Collaborate with database administrators on database design, data mart structure and the technical architecture of the data delivery environment.
  • Design logical model for financial information, using star and snowflake modeling methodologies.
  • Implement VBA automation that significantly streamline processes and reduce reporting workloads by several hours per week.

Business intelligence architect skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Business Intelligence Architects are proficient in Analytics, Power Bi, and Dashboards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Business Intelligence Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Analytics, 12%

    Performed as technical owner for introducing Tableau desktop and server as a preferred data visualization tool for analytics.

  • Power Bi, 9%

    Utilized Power BI, Tableau, SSRS and Excel for data visualization.

  • Dashboards, 5%

    Designed and developed performance dashboards used by senior management to monitor business performance and status.

  • Visualization, 5%

    Evangelized data visualization throughout the organization by designing, developing & maintaining visual display of all the mission critical data sets

  • ETL, 5%

    Designed and implemented a unique metadata driven ETL solution for aggregated facts using partition switching and parallel processing.

  • Java, 4%

    Lead for the custom scheduler for Business Objects (Crystal, Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence) via Java SDK.

Most business intelligence architects use their skills in "analytics," "power bi," and "dashboards" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential business intelligence architect responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a business intelligence architect to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." Business intelligence architects often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "picked up qlikview and created a dashboard for senior leaders for analysis and reporting. "

Communication skills. Many business intelligence architect duties rely on communication skills. "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project," so a business intelligence architect will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways business intelligence architect responsibilities rely on communication skills: "focused on oracle performance query tuning developed reports in business objects and microstrategy dimensional modeling focused on telecommunication/mobile systems"

Creativity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of business intelligence architects is creativity. This skill is critical to many everyday business intelligence architect duties, as "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "queried erp systems several times a day to pick up inventory updates. "

Detail oriented. A big part of what business intelligence architects do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to business intelligence architect responsibilities because "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical business intelligence architect tasks: "created high level and detail design documents for etl design specifications, data migration and data scrubbing processes. "

Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for business intelligence architect responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of business intelligence architects all the time, as "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." An excerpt from a real business intelligence architect resume shows how this skill is central to what a business intelligence architect does: "developed technology solutions (informatica powercenter, qlikview, sap business objects), streamlining processes and reducing costs. "

Most common business intelligence architect skills

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Compare different business intelligence architects

Business intelligence architect vs. Analytical data miner

An analytical data miner specializes in providing analytical services to help organizations make decisions and optimize their daily operations. They may work in the medical, manufacturing, information technology, construction, and finance industries. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place of employment, it typically includes gathering and analyzing data through software and applications, examining statistical information, maintaining records, and presenting detailed reports in adherence to the company's protocols and guidelines, including its policies and regulations.

The annual salary of analytical data miners is $31,927 lower than the average salary of business intelligence architects.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between business intelligence architects and analytical data miners are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like power bi, visualization, and etl.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a business intelligence architect are more likely to require skills like "analytics," "dashboards," "business intelligence solutions," and "data warehousing." On the other hand, a job as an analytical data miner requires skills like "python," "tableau," "bi," and "metrics." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Analytical data miners tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $90,088. In contrast, business intelligence architects make the biggest average salary, $111,153, in the manufacturing industry.On average, analytical data miners reach similar levels of education than business intelligence architects. Analytical data miners are 4.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Business intelligence architect vs. Bi consultant

BI Consultants improve the company's internal processes through data analysis and consultation. Their primary duties include monitoring data storage, documenting work processes, preparing data analysis reports, reviewing and validating the companies' data, and monitoring analysis outcomes and metrics. Other duties performed by these professionals include implementing data analysis methodologies, developing analysis and data collection procedures and policies, and creating or identifying new processing and data collection programs. Also, these professionals develop models for analyzing key sector behaviors.

On average, bi consultants earn a $19,423 lower salary than business intelligence architects a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Business intelligence architects and bi consultants both require similar skills like "analytics," "power bi," and "dashboards" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that business intelligence architect responsibilities requires skills like "java," "business intelligence solutions," "ssis," and "data architecture." But a bi consultant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sql server," "ssis packages," "tableau server," and "repository."

On average, bi consultants earn a lower salary than business intelligence architects. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, bi consultants earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $99,100. Whereas business intelligence architects have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $111,153.In general, bi consultants achieve higher levels of education than business intelligence architects. They're 7.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for business intelligence architects in the next 3-5 years?

Bart DowningBart Downing LinkedIn profile

Director of Business Development, Alliance Water Resources, Inc.

The enhancement of GIS (Geographic Information Systems), AMR (Automated Meter Reading) and Leak Detection Technology. The advancement of these technologies will significantly help control and sustain the rates customers pay for water and wastewater services.

Business intelligence architect vs. Architect and developer

An Architect And Developer is focused on the technical design, architecture, and development of products. They generally work as a part of the development team.

An average architect and developer eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of business intelligence architects. The difference in salaries amounts to architects and developer earning a $4,750 lower average salary than business intelligence architects.By looking over several business intelligence architects and architects and developer resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "dashboards," "etl," and "java." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a business intelligence architect is likely to be skilled in "analytics," "power bi," "visualization," and "business intelligence solutions," while a typical architect and developer is skilled in "application development," "api," "c++," and "javascript."

Architects and developer earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $125,314. Comparatively, business intelligence architects have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $111,153.architects and developer typically earn similar educational levels compared to business intelligence architects. Specifically, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Business intelligence architect vs. Senior business analyst

A Senior Business Analyst's responsibilities may vary upon the organization or company. However, most of the time, the duties will focus on overseeing a company's business operation to analyze risks and come up with strategies that would boost financial gains and company efficiency. A Senior Business Analyst will work closely with various teams while monitoring and evaluating their performance and progress, coordinate with departments, lead fellow skilled professionals, gather and analyze data, and identify opportunities. All while prioritizing customer satisfaction and adhering to the company policies and standards.

Senior business analysts typically earn lower pay than business intelligence architects. On average, senior business analysts earn a $18,876 lower salary per year.According to resumes from business intelligence architects and senior business analysts, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "power bi," "visualization," and "etl. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A business intelligence architect uses "analytics," "dashboards," "business intelligence solutions," and "azure." Senior business analysts are more likely to have duties that require skills in "project management," "business analysis," "business process," and "user stories. "The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for senior business analysts, with average annual pay of $106,639. Comparatively, the highest business intelligence architect annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.In general, senior business analysts hold similar degree levels compared to business intelligence architects. Senior business analysts are 1.8% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of business intelligence architect

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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