Salesforce Business Analyst | Jobs & Career Path

Salesforce is a cloud-based customer-relationship management (CRM) platform used by many companies. Becoming a Salesforce business analyst can open doors for new employment opportunities and experiences.

Now is a great time to become a certified Salesforce business analyst, as the computer and information technology industry is growing at a rate much faster than the average industry. According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 377,500 new job openings every year over the next 10 years in the computer technology industry.

What Is a Salesforce Business Analyst?

Salesforce business analysts (BAs) wear many hats, but their main role is to improve a business and manage projects in order to increase efficiency. They use many skills such as data analysis, project management, and communication with stakeholders.

A Salesforce business analyst oversees many areas of the business and uses data to inform decisions. While their job description might look different depending on the business needs, the role is project-based, meaning they work on large projects at one time and oversee entire business processes. In any given day, they might find themselves building Salesforce applications, doing software development, automation, or problem-solving.

Responsibilities of Salesforce Business Analysts

Here are some of the most common responsibilities of a full-time Salesforce business analyst.

Analyzing Data

Salesforce business analysts are responsible for handling large amounts of data. Business analysts spend a lot of time importing and exporting data and understanding the information lifecycle of the business they are working with.

Configuring Salesforce

The power of Salesforce lies in its ability to become whatever a business needs. Salesforce BAs will meet with businesses to determine their specific needs and create custom dashboards reflecting the key objectives of the business. Moving from practical needs to technical configurations requires analytical thinking and technical prowess.

Identifying Ways To Solve Business Problems

Salesforce BAs will receive short, non-technical overviews called user stories that outline the needs of the business. From this point, they will work with Salesforce developers to create bespoke solutions for the unique problems each business faces on its path to efficiency.

Documentation

To ensure that businesses' needs are met, Salesforce BAs will need to keep careful records. BAs will keep track of user stories, process maps, new configurations, and more. BAs may also need to approve consumer-facing documents created by others.

Collaborating with Businesses and Technical Teams

Business analysts will need strong communication skills as they bridge between technical teams of developers and end-users with practical problems to solve. Business analysts may even facilitate onsite workshops and meetings to discuss key objectives.

Managing User Access

Some businesses work with sensitive data and Salesforce professionals will be in charge of building the access structure to the platform. Security considerations such as access controls, encryption, and licensing must be taken into account.

Creating Training Materials

Helping new clients through the onboarding process is another important responsibility of a Salesforce business analyst. Creating process checklists, trainings, and instructive videos or documents may all be part of the role.

Key Skills Required of Salesforce Business Analysts

Becoming a successful Salesforce business analyst will require both hard and soft skills. Many of the skills used by Salesforce business analysts can be applied in multiple contexts. Here are some of the most important skills you will need:

• communication skills
• workflow optimization
• project management
• business analysis
• collaboration and teamwork
• data analysis
• software proficiency

You do not need to be an expert in all of these skills to become a Salesforce BA. Many BAs build their skills slowly over a period of years.

Career Paths for Salesforce Business Analysts

Gaining skills as a Salesforce business analyst can create a range of career options due to overlaps in industry skill requirements. Learning Salesforce can prepare you for success in the following roles.

Data Analyst

Much of a Salesforce BA's job has to do with analyzing and interpreting data. Individuals who start in Salesforce often move on to become data analysts in other contexts with ease.

Quality Assurance Specialist

Because Salesforce BAs are always keeping business requirements and end-user needs in mind, they have many of the core skills needed to become a quality assurance specialist. Maintaining a strong understanding of customer needs and desires can be helpful in many contexts.

Project Manager

Learning Salesforce gives you a crash course in process mapping, agile organization, and other effective methodologies. Business analysts can often turn their Salesforce credentials into project management qualifications without much trouble.

Functional Consultant

Functional consultants create a bridge between users and technical teams. Functional consultants will need the ability to communicate complex technical concepts simply for business stakeholders as they implement solutions to technical problems.

Tech Specialist

After several years in a Salesforce business analyst job, individuals will be full-fledged tech specialists with the flexibility to pursue their own initiatives and offer their services in many technical contexts. Tech specialists can focus on a specific software or market themselves as generalists who are able to solve many different technical problems.

Sales Manager

Working as a business analyst can also help you develop the skills needed to lead a sales team as a sales manager. Sales has a lot to do with understanding client needs and communication effectively, so Salesforce BAs will be ready to apply these skills in multiple settings such as professional selling and management.

Cybersecurity Specialist

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields of employment and having experience with a cloud-based platform will be an advantage for individuals looking to become a cybersecurity specialist. Learning the more technical aspects of Salesforce can prepare you to work with many types of information systems and security protocols.

Database Administrator

Professionals who understand the Salesforce ecosystem and earn a Salesforce administrator certification (Salesforce admin) will be well-prepared for other roles such as database administrators and information systems managers.

FAQs About Salesforce Business Analysts

Find answers to these common questions about becoming a Salesforce BA.

Do Salesforce Business Analyst Roles Require Coding?

Not all Salesforce business analysts need to code. There are multiple aspects to the business analyst role and some individuals may specialize in areas other than coding. Learning Salesforce's language Apex can be tremendously useful, however. Individuals who can code in Apex will have a great deal more flexibility.

Is a Salesforce Business Analyst Certification Worth It?

Yes, Salesforce is a popular tool and certified Salesforce business analysts are in high demand. Earning qualifications in Salesforce creates a clear path to employment and further professional opportunities. A Salesforce business analyst certificate is a worthwhile investment with strong financial and professional returns.

Is It Difficult To Be a Salesforce Business Analyst?

Being an effective Salesforce business analyst requires a degree of technical savvy, analytical skills, and communication skills. Most individuals who apply themselves and pursue proper training will be able to succeed as business analysts with enough time and effort. Some individuals find that the job becomes easier with practice and experience.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Salesforce Business Analyst?

The Salesforce platform gives aspiring business systems analysts a stable platform to work within as they grow, take on progressively bigger Salesforce projects, and eventually develop their own systems. Salesforce offers a solid training platform called Trailhead that can help individuals learn the system inside and out.