What Is a Business Intelligence Developer? And How to Become One

Business intelligence (BI) is the process of using data to produce more informed business decisions. Business intelligence developers—sometimes called business intelligence engineers— are engineers who develop, design, and maintain BI solutions, including data models, dashboards, and reports.

In this article, you’ll discover what a business intelligence developer does and what it takes to become one. Afterward, if you're interested in learning more about business intelligence, consider enrolling in the IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst Professional Certificate to build the key data skills required for this role.

What does a business intelligence developer do?

A business intelligence (BI) developer works with the data needed to generate informed business insights. This often means supervising the software and systems a business uses to collect, store, and analyze data, and then creating visualization reports to present data to stakeholders.

Business intelligence developers often need to know the programming languages Python and SQL so they can easily work with data and databases. They also need experience with data visualization tools and business intelligence software to ensure the collected data is easily understood and, therefore, more useful to the company's decision-makers. 

Business intelligence developer responsibilities

Your duties and responsibilities as a BI developer will vary depending on where you work, the size of the company, and the type of data being analyzed. However, in general, a BI developer is responsible for the following:

• Formulating dashboards and reporting systems based on a business’s requirements  

• Working to support the building of data pipelines by specifying technical requirements

• Developing, testing, and maintaining dashboards and interfaces 

• Managing and optimizing databases

• Designing database technical queries 

• Troubleshooting BI tools

• Translating data into business terms, users can understand 

• Creating data visualizations, such as graphs and charts, for easy presentation 

• Working with other members of the BI team and the wider organization

• Developing effective workflows

• Implementing AI tools to automate systems

Business intelligence developer: career growth and salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field for business intelligence developers, which falls under the larger category of software developers, is expected to grow by 17 percent from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than average, making this a potentially lucrative job opportunity with lots of career mobility [1].

Business intelligence jobs, including the position of business intelligence developer, often pay well. According to Glassdoor, the average annual base salary for a business intelligence developer in the US is $98,279 and these types of roles can often include additional compensation, such as bonuses or profit-sharing [2]. Keep in mind, your compensation as a business intelligence developer may be influenced by factors like your years of experience, industry, location, and education level.

Business intelligence developer skills

To be a successful business intelligence developer, you'll need experience working with business intelligence tools such as Tableau and Microsoft BI, along with a mix of other technical and workplace skills. Technical skills represent the practical aspects of your role, while workplace skills contribute to how productive you are in a work environment.

Workplace skills

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Attention to detail

• Public speaking

• Collaboration

Technical skills

• Programming: You'll need to know at least one language (but likely more) to effectively work with data and databases. Common BI developer languages include Python and SQL.

• Data visualization tools: Since your work will involve translating raw data into visualizations that provide important insights, it will be important to work with software designed to do just that. Some of the key data visualization tools that BI developers use include Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, Qlik Sense, Sisense, and Looker.

• Database management: You may have to manage the databases your company uses, ensuring data optimization, integrity, and security.

• Performance monitoring: You'll be tasked with ensuring that your company's BI tools work effectively. You'll likely have to monitor performance and troubleshoot as needed.

• Documentation: You may need to create or maintain documents about the BI processes your company uses.

Build your Microsoft Power BI skills with the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate. Over eight courses, you'll learn how to use Power BI to connect to data sources and transform them into meaningful insights.

The use of artificial intelligence in business intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important business tool in recent years, including for business intelligence. Integrating AI into business intelligence can enhance the capabilities of BI tools, giving them the ability to learn and develop as they take in more data. Ready to learn more? Enroll in the IBM Generative AI for Business Intelligence (BI) Analysts Specialization.

How to become a business intelligence developer

Business intelligence developers tend to begin in entry-level positions such as data analyst, data entry assistant, SQL developer, or junior developer. Through each of these roles, you'll gain the necessary experience and skills to advance in your career. Generally, you'll need around two to four years of experience before applying to become a business intelligence developer. 

1. Earn a degree

To become a business intelligence developer, employers typically expect you to have a bachelor's degree. Relevant majors include: computer science, business, mathematics, information technology, or software development. According to Zippia, 69 percent of BI developers have a bachelor’s degree and 23 percent have a master’s [3]. 

2. Gain experience

Since a business intelligence developer requires a few years of experience, you'll likely need to get started in a relevant entry-level role, such as a junior developer or associate data analyst. Focus on gaining experience strengthening your programming abilities and working with a company's data to generate meaningful insights.

3. Keep developing yourself professionally

It may be helpful to get a certification or earn a certificate. Certifications show your commitment to learning and your willingness to stay ahead of the trends in business development. They are a credential that verifies your industry-standardized knowledge and generally require passing an exam.

Business intelligence developers may consider certifications such as:

• CFI Certified Business Intelligence and Data Analyst (BIDA)

• IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

• PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)

You can also earn certificates, which can aid you in your journey to becoming a business intelligence developer by helping you understand foundational processes and tools while building your skill set. Examples of Professional Certificates on Coursera that may increase your BI developer job opportunities include:

• IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate

• Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate

• SAS Visual Business Analytics Professional Certificate

• Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate

Learn about business intelligence on Coursera

Whether you're new to the field of business intelligence or you're interested in advancing your skills, you'll find learning options on Coursera.

• Beginner level: Prepare for a business intelligence career with the IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst Professional Certificate. In this ten-course series, you'll learn about data collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting, honing your skills in developing data models and deriving invaluable insights for making informed decisions.

• Advanced level: Strengthen your knowledge of business intelligence with the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate. Over three courses, you'll build on your data analytics skills and experience so you're prepared to take your career to the next level. Prior experience in foundational analytical principles, skills, and tools is encouraged.