Collaboration tools for business analysts are often the key to successful projects. A business analyst is someone who helps a company understand their needs, goals, and challenges—and then find solutions to those problems. The best way for a business analyst to do their job is in collaboration with stakeholders and team members.
Collaboration tools for business analysts can include anything from project management software to video conferencing platforms. Your choice of collaboration tools will depend on your own unique situation as well as what types of projects you usually work on.
Table of Contents
Collaboration Tools For Business Analyst
Our team just got into the groove of using collaborative software (Asana) for clarifying project requirements. There was the initial buzz that typically surrounds the introduction of a new tool and everyone was (and still is) quite excited to get on board with it. The benefits are undeniable. We are able to collaborate more; project information and key decisions are more easily passed across; and each member of the team knows exactly what the next person is working on, what tasks are outstanding, what tasks are in the pipeline and what phase the project is at.
Collaboration in the workplace is not an easy task no matter how you look at it. You can have a group of people who share the same values, character and attitude towards work…and still fail at getting things organized.
If things start slipping out of control, don’t scratch off the problem as a dead-end street. There is a huge pool of tools and applications that can provide solutions to collaboration challenges. Such is the joy of living in a technology-powered age!
Okay, I’ll cut to the chase. What I wish to accomplish in this article is an introduction to five collaboration software tools which happen to be free. They have wide and varied uses, but there’s something they all share: your team can use them to improve collaboration.
AdvanSeez prides itself with simplicity and accessibility. What I especially like is that the software is divided into two modules. One is the strategic planning module for decision-making and the other is the action plan module. With this application, you can clearly differentiate between processes and bring your work on each of them together. “Separate, but complementary”, AdvanSeez emphasizes.
Lucidchart
Are you keen on flowcharts, organizational charts, mock-ups and modelling in general? If you find yourself nodding in agreement, then Lucidchart may become a favourite of yours.
Aside from being an all-around make-me-a-chart solution, the software provides neat customizability of shapes and styling. It also has Google docs’ integration and you can track and change any diagram simultaneously with your team. It functions as a collaboration software in the purest sense.
Actually, Basecamp is one of the top project collaboration software tools that business analysts can use on project teams and it comes with a 60-day free trial. It is perfect for:https://a62bf4050c182a4144ff89873a1dbaed.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
- Sharing files
- Leading discussions
- Tracking the progress of a project
- Collaborating on documents
- Assigning tasks
- Performing deadline/due date checks
- Posting calendars
You can think of it as a convenient organizer for all project needs.
While LucidChart is for the chart geeks, Podio is a customization fanatic’s best friend. This is a customizable tool for collaboration purposes. The software lets you match apps to your company’s unique vision. If you happen to be from a company with operations that differ a lot from the standard structure of corporate operations, this is the solution for you.https://a62bf4050c182a4144ff89873a1dbaed.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
For maximum reach when collaborating, Podio is integrated with both Dropbox and Google apps. BAs can also fire up one of Podio’s many predefined apps.
Yonix is “built by business analysts for business analysts”. It’s a more sophisticated tool with a universe of options to explore. With Yonix, you can:
- Save and work with your documentation
- Establish requirements and analyze them
- Upload, share and link files to projects
- Discuss and collaborate, add and invite team members/stakeholders to your project
- Create dictionaries, references and set up rules
These are just a subset of Yonix’s complete features.
All these five tools are extremely helpful in collaborative environments. Some of them serve specific needs and excel where others are lacking. Define your project and general needs as a business analyst and pick any one of these (or any other useful collaborative tool you discover, actually). Just don’t skip making your life a bit easier. Technology is certainly one of a business analyst’s best friends.
best tools for business analyst
Business analysis is the process of finding out the business needs.
It includes:
Describing the business needs.
Requirements gathering, prioritizing and describing.
Communicating these requirements and the ways to implement these requirements to the client and technical team.
Deciding the business analysis techniques.
=> Check Here To See A-Z Of Business Analyst Tutorials.
Top Business Analysis Tools
A list of the most popular and commonly used Business Analysis Tools are explained in detail in this article.
The below image clearly depicts the Business Analysis Framework
Business Analysis Framework
What You Will Learn: [hide]
Importance of Business Analysis
Business Analysis Techniques
Business Analysis Process – Sequentially
How Do Business Analysts Analyze Business Requirements?
Most Popular Business Analysis Tools
1) Pipedrive (CRM)
2) Creatio
3) Oracle NetSuite
4) Xplenty
5) Wrike
6) HubSpot
Business Process Diagramming, Wireframing, Flowcharts
7) Microsoft Visio
8) Bizagi
9) LucidCharts
10) Axure
11) Balsamiq
Model Building Designing
12) Pencil
13) BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation)
14) InVision
15) Draw.io
Requirements Management
16) Rational Requisite Pro
17) CASE Spec
Planning
18) Blueprint
Documentation
19) Microsoft Word
Data Manipulation and Analysis
20) MS Excel
21) SWOT
22) R Data Manipulation
Project Management/Testing
23) JIRA
24) Trello
Data Discovery and Data Gathering
25) SQL
26) Teradata
27) Hive
Visualization
28) Tableau
29) Spotfire
30) QlikView
Brainstorming
31) Mindmeister
Automation
32) Python
33) Githhub
Collaboration
34) Google Docs
Call/Meetings
35) Zoom
36) Skype
37) GoToMeetings
Presentation
38) Microsoft PowerPoint
Note Taking
39) MS OneNote
40) Evernote
Analytics
41) Google
42) KISSmetrics
CRM
43) Zoho
44) Sugar CRM
Conclusion
Recommended Reading
Importance of Business Analysis
Poorly defined requirements can badly affect the projects in terms of time, rework and cost.
Hence, defining the requirements correctly is the basic and most important step in the project development process. This, in turn, explains the importance of business analysis and business analyst in the project.
The below image will explain the impact of poor requirements
Business Analysis: Impact of Poor Requirement
[image source]
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Business Analysis Techniques
Strategic business analysis
Analytical business analysis
Investigative business analysis
Project management and much more.
Target to Achieve Through Business Analysis
Enough documentation
Efficiency improvement
Providing nice tools for project management
Business Analysis Process – Sequentially
Get complete information about the business/project.
Focus on the points which requires more attention or which are not discussed in detail.
Defining the scope or describing the requirements in detail. Describing Requirements correctly is important for correct implementation.
Approved requirements will be discussed with the technical teams for implementing these requirements.
Changes required in the project.
Deciding the scope of business analysis is difficult because of its wideness, hence while performing it, the business analyst uses his/her specialty as a Strategy Analyst, Business Architect, or System Analyst.
In short, a business analyst can perform any one role out of the three: Strategy Analyst, Business Architect, or System Analyst.
How Do Business Analysts Analyze Business Requirements?
In this process, a business analyst investigates, defines, and documents the requirements. From this documentation, the Business Analyst will be able to decide the scope, timeline, and resources of the project.
A business analyst will act as a link between the client and the technical team. There are different kinds of business analysis tools that are available. These tools can be categorized based on their functions:
Business Process Diagram, Documentation, Presentation, CRM, Analytics, Taking Notes, Communication (Calls/Meetings), Collaboration, Automation, Brainstorming, Visualization, Data Discovery and Data Gathering, Brainstorming, Visualization, Project Management, Data Analysis, Requirement Management, Planning, and Model Building are few categories.
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Most Popular Business Analysis Tools
Enlisted below are a list of the most commonly used Business Analyst tools that are categorized based on their usage.
Let’s Explore!!
1) Pipedrive (CRM)
Pipedrive – Best for Sales Performance Tracking and Real-time Data Analysis.
Pipedrive Logo
Pipedrive is a CRM tool designed to help you improve your company’s sales numbers. The platform allows you to create custom CRM fields for reports that are completely unique to your business. Pipedrive arms its users with visual dashboards that help you monitor important reports and KPIs from a single place.
The reports, which contain comprehensive and measurable metrics, are presented to users on customizable dashboards. This information can be leveraged to establish and track the progress of an individual or company-wide goals in real-time.
Features
Get valuable insight on sales cycle duration to make the sales process more efficient.
Accurately predict company growth and turnover with sales forecast reports.
Track goals by adding assignees, types, expected outcomes, pipelines, intervals, and durations in Pipedrive.
Create visually stunning reports out of presented metrics with the help of customizable dashboards and the drag-and-drop feature.
=> Visit Pipedrive Website
2) Creatio
Creatio Logo
Creatio is a low code platform with CRM and process automation functionalities. This low code platform will let IT as well as non-IT people build the apps according to their specific business needs. It supports on-premise as well as in cloud deployment. This BPM tool is best for medium to large businesses.
Features:
Creatio offers the CRM solution for Marketing, Sales, and Service.
Its self-service portal will let you collaborate with clients.
It has out-of-the-box solutions that will extend platform functionality.
Creatio CRM is the platform with a wide range of features such as 360? customer view, lead management, opportunity management, product management, document flow automation, case management, Contact Center, and Analytics.
You can personalize the communication with the client through Service Creatio.
It has features for product management like maintaining a product catalog hierarchy.
It will let you group products based on custom or pre-defined product attributes like brand, category, etc.
=> Visit Creatio Website
3) Oracle NetSuite
Oracle NetSuite Logo
Oracle NetSuite is one unified Business Management suite. It has solutions for small to large size businesses. It contains functionalities for ERP, CRM, e-commerce, etc. SuiteAnalytics provides the tool of Saved Search that will filter and match data for answering different business questions.
It provides standard and customizable reports for all transaction types. It will let you create a Workbook without coding and helps you with analyzing the data.
Features:
Oracle NetSuite offers an easy to use, scalable, and agile business solution that provides several functionalities like ERP and CRM and hence suitable for small businesses.
Medium-sized businesses can cut their IT costs in half, reduce financial close times 20% to 50%, and improves quote to cash cycle times by 50% by using Oracle NetSuite.
Oracle NetSuite has functionalities to help global enterprises with their complex functional, industry, regulatory, and tax requirements.
=> Get Oracle NetSuite Free Product Tour Here
4) Xplenty
Xplenty logo
Xplenty is a cloud-based data integration platform that will bring all your data sources together. It offers no-code and low-code options that will make the platform to be usable by anyone.
Its intuitive graphic interface will help you to implement an ETL, ELT, or a replication solution. Xplenty offers solutions for marketing, sales, customer support, and developers.
Features:
Xplenty’s marketing analytics solution will provide omnichannel marketing, data-driven insights, and features to enrich your marketing database.
Its customer support analytics solution will help you with better business decisions and provide comprehensive insights.
Xplenty’s sales analytics solution provides the features to understand your customers, data enrichment, centralized database, for keeping your CRM organized, etc.
=> Visit Xplenty Website
5) Wrike
Wrike Logo
Wrike is a cloud-based project management software. It is a SaaS product. With the help of Android and iOS apps, you will be able to update and provide tasks from anywhere.
Features:
It will help you in setting the deadlines, scheduling, and other processes.
It assists you in balancing resources.
It will support you in keeping a track of the timelines and budget.
It provides Calendar, communication window, and approval window.
=> Visit Wrike Website
6) HubSpot
hubspot new logo
HubSpot is an Inbound Marketing, Sales, and Service Software. Its Marketing Analytics Software will help you with measuring the performance of all your marketing campaigns in one place. It has a built-in analytics facility and provides reports and dashboards.
Features:
You will be able to analyze the site’s performance with key metrics.
You will know about the quality and quantity of traffic.
You can filter the analytics by country or specific URL structure.
For each of your marketing channels, you will get detailed reports.
=> Visit HubSpot Website
Business Process Diagramming, Wireframing, Flowcharts
7) Microsoft Visio
Visio
It is an application for making diagrams. It is a part of the MS Office for Standard and Professional editions.
Features:
Helps in drawing advanced diagrams and templates.
Diagrams can be connected to data sources.
It can display the data graphically.
Advanced shapes are provided for electrical diagrams, floor plans, site plans, and office layouts.
URL: Microsoft Visio
8) Bizagi
Bizagi provides Business Process Management tools. It has three products for on-premise use, i.e. Bizagi Modeler, Studio, and automation. In the cloud, it provides a platform as a service.
Features:
Bizagi Modeler is used for drawing diagrams. It follows BPMN.
It supports Word, PDF, Wiki, and Share Point.
Provides agile automation platform.
URL: Bizagi
9) LucidCharts
Lucidchart Logo
It is a web-based solution for diagrams and charts. You can use it, by getting its subscriptions.
Features:
With this tool, you can draw simple as well as complex diagrams and flow charts.
You can create a connection between the live data and diagrams.
Supports data import for automatic creation of build org charts.
URL: LucidCharts
10) Axure
Axure RP can create wireframe diagrams, software prototypes, and functional specifications. This tool is for web-based and desktop applications.
Features:
Easy to use because of drag and drop facility. You can resize and format the diagram components as well.
For wireframing, it provides many controls like image, text panel, hyperlinks, table, etc.
It provides many forms of control like buttons, text areas, drop-down lists, and much more.
URL: Axure
11) Balsamiq
Balsamiq Mockups Logo
With the help of Balsamiq, you can create the wireframes for websites. Balsamiq also provides a GUI for mock-up.
Features:
It provides an editor.
Drag and drop facility.
You can use Balsamiq as a desktop application and as a plug-in for Google Drive, Confluence, and JIRA.
URL: Balsamiq
Model Building Designing
12) Pencil
pencil
It helps in creating the decision models. It provides a collaborative platform for improved communication.
Features:
The created model can be tested with real data.
It provides traceability to original requirements by allowing you to document and link the requirements.
Decision Model and Notation.
URL: Pencil
13) BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation)
With the help of this tool, you can draw graphical diagrams for business processes.
Features:
Supports mapping of graphics and BPEL (Business Process Execution Language).
Supports the creation of new flow objects.
It has a limited set of elements divided into four categories.
URL: BPMN
14) InVision
With the help of this tool, you can create a design for your product. You can use this tool with DropBox, Slack, JIRA, BaseCamp, Confluence, Teamwork, Microsoft teams, and Trello.
Features:
InVision Cloud: You can create designs for products.
InVision Studio: This tool will help you in designing the screen.
InVision DSM (Design System Manager): With the help of the Design System manager your changes will get sync, and you will be able to access the library from InVision Studio.
URL: In Vision
15) Draw.io
With the help of this tool, you can draw flowcharts, process diagrams, org charts, UML, ER diagrams, network diagrams etc. You can work online or offline. Draw.io provides a training material.
Features:
You can import and export different formats.
It is easy to use.
It is compatible with any browser, desktop or mobile devices.
URL: Draw.io
Requirements Management
16) Rational Requisite Pro
RationalRequisitePro
IBM Rational Requisite Pro tool is for requirements management.
Features:
It provides integration with the Microsoft Word.
Can be integrated with the database.
Helps in prioritizing the requirements, tracking changes, and tracing relationships between requirements.
URL: Rational Requisite Pro
17) CASE Spec
casespec_logo
This tool is by Visual Trace Spec. It is a requirements management tool. It supports importing data from the existing documents.
Features:
It is user-friendly.
You can manage multiple projects.
Reusable data and data structure.
Supports traceability to requirements.
You can generate analysis reports.
URL: CASE Spec
Planning
18) Blueprint
Blueprint logo
It is the tool for agile planning. It will scale your enterprise agility.
Features:
It can create lean documentation from the artifacts.
It can be integrated with JIRA.
It helps to deliver the product faster.
URL: Blueprint
Documentation
19) Microsoft Word
MS Word
It is a word processor. Microsoft Word is available for Windows and Mac OS. The file will be saved with .doc or .docx extensions.
Features:
Built-in spelling checker and dictionary.
You can protect the document with passwords. Passwords can be set separately, to restrict form opening, modifying, and formatting the document.
Other features by Word include Macros, Word art, layouts, numbering etc.
URL: Microsoft Word
Data Manipulation and Analysis
20) MS Excel
MS Excel
This spreadsheet can be used on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You can password to protect this document.
Features:
It supports calculation.
MS Excel also supports macro programming language.
Can use the data from external data sources.
URL: MS Excel
21) SWOT
It is an analysis tool. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and threats.
Features:
Useful for decision making.
Helpful for pre-crisis planning.
It can be used for matching strengths to opportunities and for converting threats to opportunities.
22) R Data Manipulation
It is free software. R is a statistical computing and graphics software.
Features:
It can be used on UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS.
It provides IDE that is specially built for R.
It can manage multiple working directories.
Provides powerful debugging options.
URL: R Data Manipulation
Project Management/Testing
23) JIRA
jira logo
JIRA is a bug tracking and agile project management tool. You can create stories. You can prioritize the tasks as well.
Features:
With the help of JIRA, you can do sprint planning.
You can create your own workflow or can use the existing one.
It can be integrated with the existing tools that you are using.
URL: Jira
24) Trello
Trello
It is a project management tool. It is a web application and is available for free.
Features:
It can be integrated with the existing tools.
Data syncing from all your devices.
You can use it for personal work.
URL: Trello
Data Discovery and Data Gathering
25) SQL
sql
SQL is used for programming. It is used for data operations in RDBMS. It can handle structured data.
Features:
It supports cross-platform.
It is a declarative programming language.
URL: Sql
26) Teradata
Teradata
This tool provides analytics. It is a cloud-based solution.
Features:
You can use this tool for operational excellence, risk mitigation, customer experience, financial transformation, product innovation, and asset optimization.
It supports integrations with SQL, R, and Python and also with the workbenches.
To access a large amount of data, this platform provides you the facility to use an analytic tool and language.
URL: Teradata
27) Hive
Hive
It is the software for the data warehouse.
Features:
You can read, write, and manage large data.
Provides command line tool and JDBC drivers.
URL: Hive
Visualization
28) Tableau
Tableau
This is a tool for creating data visualization. You can combine and access data, and there is no need to write the code.
Features:
You can easily create visualizations using the drag and drop facility.
It can be connected to any database.
Tableau can also be connected to data on-premise or in the cloud.
URL: Tableau
29) Spotfire
It is a data visualization tool. This tool helps in data discovery, data wrangling, big data analytics, and providing predictive analytics
Features:
Provides visual analytics and smart data discovery.
It can connect location and data.
During data wrangling, Spotfire will build a visual model and it will also document all the changes done.
URL: Spotfire
30) QlikView
QlikView is a tool for developing guided analytics applications.
Features:
It helps in building the analytics applications.
Guided analytics helps in decision making.
URL: Qlik View
Brainstorming
31) Mindmeister
Mindmeister
It is a cloud-based application for visualizing and sharing thoughts. It provides an editor for your ideas.
Features:
You can access Mindmeister from the browser.
It helps in project management.
It creates shareable mind maps.
URL: Mindmeister
Automation
32) Python
Python
Python is a programming language.
Features:
It follows Object-oriented, imperative, functional, procedural concepts.
Python interpreter supports multiple operating systems.
Rich Python library contains many tools. It also provides tools to support web applications.
URL: Python
33) Githhub
GitHub provides a development platform for the developers. It is for all types of businesses.
Features:
Supports development of open source projects.
Can be used on-premise or in the cloud.
GitHub provides code security and access controls.
URL: Githhub
Collaboration
34) Google Docs
GoogleDocs
Read More => How To Strikethrough On Google Docs (A Step-by-Step Guide)
Google docs provide you the facility to create new and modify the existing documents from anywhere. It is free.
Features:
Provides many options for fonts, adding links, images etc.
You can access them from anywhere.
Few in-built templates are also provided.
URL: Google Docs
Call/Meetings
35) Zoom
Zoom
Zoom is a communication tool. It is used for training, webinars, conferencing etc.
Features:
It provides clear audio and video.
Supports wireless content sharing.
It can be used on desktops, mobiles, and laptops for instant sharing of files or messages.
URL: Zoom
36) Skype
Skype is a communication tool for sending messages, video or audio calls.
Features:
Group video calls.
You can make calls to the contacts who don’t have skype at very low rates.
It can be used on desktops, mobiles, and laptops.
URL: Skype
37) GoToMeetings
It is a cloud-based video conferencing tool.
Features:
It is specially made for professional use.
It can be used on any device.
You will be able to schedule a meeting, manage teams, and send messages.
URL: GoToMeetings
Presentation
38) Microsoft PowerPoint
Powerpoint
This tool will help you in creating presentations. It can be used on Windows OS.
Features:
You can add text, images, videos, sounds, links, or even animations in presentations or slides.
You can manage text, font & color, background color etc.
With the help of PowerPoint online feature, you can view presentations even though if you don’t have Microsoft PowerPoint.
Note Taking
39) MS OneNote
OneNote
MS OneNote is a tool which is used for taking notes. It is like a notebook on your digital device. It can be used on desktops, laptops, and mobiles.
Features:
You can save screen clippings.
You can save note by writing or typing anywhere anytime.
It supports Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Saved notes can be shared.
URL: MS OneNote
40) Evernote
It is a note-taking application for mobiles.
Features:
With this tool, you can capture notes, videos, and photos.
You can access notes from anywhere.
You can search the saved notes, and it will save time.
URL: Evernote
Analytics
41) Google
GoogleAnalytics
Google Analytics helps in tracking the website traffic and provides the reports accordingly.
Features:
Provides three steps simple solution.
Free tools will be provided for analysis.
It will provide deeper insights.
It will try to connect insights with the correct customers.
URL: Google
42) KISSmetrics
It will provide analytics for your products or websites. It will analyze for behavior based engagement.
Features:
It helps in increasing the performance by providing you analytics for what is working and what is not.
It supports driving customer engagement by automated emails.
URL: KISSmetrics
CRM
43) Zoho
zoho_logo
This CRM system is for small, medium, and large businesses. It will prioritize emails based on context and analytics.
Features:
It helps in managing your company interactions on social media.
It provides call analytics and reminders.
Provides live chat facility.
44) Sugar CRM
Sugar CRM
It is a customer relationship management application. It is a web-based solution. It provides three editions Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.
Features:
It provides functionalities of marketing campaigns, sales force automation, Mobile & Social CRM, and Reporting.
It supports Linux, Windows, Solaris and Mac OS.
It will help in improving the speed and efficiency.
Conclusion
Business analysis must be done to avoid rework and unwanted expenses. There are several Business Analysis tools that are available in the market.
In this article, we have explained a list of business analyst tools from different categories. Each tool is unique in its own way and performs different functions. You just need to select the right tool as per your business needs.
Conclusion
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