Welcome to 2025, folks. It’s a new year full of opportunities, challenges, and trends. “The future is now,” isn’t it? New Year is a high time to look back, analyze your past, and try and gaze into the crystal ball to make wild predictions or extrapolate based on what you know. While you do this for your personal life or think about professional goals, I will try to do the same for the whole profession. In this article, I will briefly go through my predictions from last year to see how I did with my foresight and then try to predict what trends are going to be in 2025. Sit tight as we are starting to review Business Analysis Trends!
Business Analysis Trends Retrospective for 2024
Conversations around AI
Easily Won Bet
It was probably the most obvious prediction that worked like a charm. Whenever you look or go, people are talking about how artificial intelligence will conquer the world, and if you do not use it – you are already behind everybody in the race. What supports the fact that this prediction did play out:
- Business Analysis Conferences are a great place to see what the community cares and thinks about. In 2024, around 2-3 out of 8 topics were dedicated to AI application in business analysis or in projects BAs worked with. Even more topics briefly mentioned AI in business analysis.
- An amount of separate events considering AI also grew up, with a few speaking about specifics for BA. They grew enough to become visible.
- In 2024, two books on AI for business analysts were published. The first was by Dr. Kitty Hung, titled Business Analysis in the era of Generative Artificial Intelligence: How to upskill ourselves in an Intelligence Led Automation World. By name only, you could feel how fundamental this book is. Having PhD in computer science and more than 20 years in business analysis and AI research, Dr. Hung created a serious work on the foundations of AI for business analysts. Before, from what I know, no one took such a huge step, so it is a pioneering book. I had a chance to speak with Dr. Hung and create a podcast so that you could learn more about her work.
What Else?
- The second book on the topic was Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis by Angela Wick, released just two months after the first one, also pioneering the business analysis connection with AI. This book discusses this connection more from the practical side, showing how daily tasks are influenced by AI and how business analysts must evolve and rise above their current tasks to a strategic level to stay afloat. While I learned about Dr. Hung’s book later in 2024 and did not have a chance to read it, this one did not evade me. I did the book review and interview with Angela Wick during the BA&Beyond conference. You can watch the video below.
- In 2024, I started seeing A LOT of jobs for BA/PO and adjacent professions that either mentioned AI as a topic to work on or required AI-related skills, education, or experience. For example, This interesting shift was not so visible in 2023. I did a brief research, and from around 10,000 vacancies worldwide (mainly in the USA, Canada, and Europe), around 5% mentioned AI in the job description. This is massive, truth be told. While specifics were not always precise, the trend checks out.
- The number of questions regarding AI in business analysis grew in 2024 on different forums, like Reddit. I cannot say it was that much in 2023. Interest is definitely there. People speak about it and are definitely interested. I could confirm the hype because the most popular video (by the amount of views) on my YouTube channel was about diagraming with Chat GPT.
So What?
In 2024, almost any tool business analysts would use in their work added AI into functionality. Miro, Slack, Atlassian products, Lucidchart, Trello, Notion, and many-many more came up with features like AI Assistant to help with mundane and creative tasks.
All things considered, this was an easy win to bet on AI. It is clear that the hype continues, and every business analyst should start looking at how to use it in their daily jobs. Otherwise, unless the hype somehow goes away, we are screwed.
Cybersecurity
Where Are We Now?
In 2024, cybersecurity remains a pressing priority for businesses, but for business analysts, its importance is still emerging. The fact is that cybersecurity discussions predominantly center around engineers who directly work with the matter. The gap is still there if we talk about typical business needs and their translation into implementation. At the same time, cybersecurity has been a very technical area since the beginning. While products still need someone to collect requirements, business analysts do not take a massive part in this. At least yet. And I do not see the growing recognition of the value BAs can bring.
The shift-left approach in cybersecurity has created opportunities for BAs to contribute to identifying security requirements early in the project lifecycle. However, this often translates into indirect involvement, with BAs acting more as facilitators than directly contributing to technical solutions. Their role primarily involves ensuring security considerations align with business objectives and compliance needs.
Impact By Business Analysts
From my point of view, the most publicly visible contribution was made by Bindu Channaveerappa, the new Regional Director for the EMEA region from IIBA. The first was the latest book, Cyber Security and Business Analysis: An essential guide to secure and robust systems, introduced in the summer. This was the first foundational work for business analysts, specifically on the topic known to me. I interviewed Bindu and will post it on my YouTube channel later this year. The second contribution by Bindu is in progress, and it is the course for business analysts.
Besides that, people spoke on the topic several times during the conferences. I do not remember any atomic events that had any impact. In 2024, only 43 people received IIBA-AAC certification, according to the IIBA Directory – the one introduced by IIBA in 2018. In total, around 600+ people received it so far. Many factors, of course, affect the amount of certifications. Yet a steady trend shows that interest and demand are still low.
The rise of AI potentially creates room for BAs to engage. However, the technical nature of these solutions often places the primary responsibility on engineers, leaving BAs in a supporting role. So, for now, for BAs looking to expand their impact, developing a foundational understanding of cybersecurity principles is as far as we should get. While BAs are not yet central, the future may differ, and we should be ready.
Data
So Far We Are Here
The confusion between business analysis and business analytics persists in 2024, with no signs of resolution. The terms are often used interchangeably, leading to misunderstandings about the roles. No one still sees one as a part of another; people are either totally confused or see it as a very different profession. Unfortunately, I do not see much done by organizations or certification bodies to keep fixing the issue. Numerous small contributors, including myself, make atomic efforts, yet it’s not enough. The good thing is that there is no confusion within the experienced community, which is a win, but it is still the Dark Ages outside or with novices.
From theory to practice, data analysis seems to have become a must-have skill for BAs outside typical data analyst / BI engineer professions. Employers increasingly seek IT Business Analysts, Requirement Engineers, Product Owners, and others who can analyze, interpret, and visualize data as part of their responsibilities. Many job descriptions now expect BAs to be proficient in tools like SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or Python. The growing reliance on data for everything from customer behavior analysis to operational efficiency fuels the trend. Businesses recognize the advantage of having a BA who understands processes, writes requirements, and can leverage data insights to optimize them.
How Trend Continues
I should say that this trend was not too visible for me while I worked for a specific IT market. As soon as I started looking around the globe, my understanding changed massively. Today, I can say that any BA has to start looking into Data Analysis. It has been five-six years since the Data Analysis hype began, and I, like many others, totally missed it. Yet there is still time, as getting relevant skills will take 6-9 months, while the trend seems to have no end within the next 10 years or so. So, becoming (at least partially) an expert with data is one of the best investments you could make right now.
Business Analysis Trends Predictions for 2025
Is Business Analysis Dead?
The identity of Business Analysis as a distinct profession remains in question. A primary reason is the persistent misunderstanding of its role, compounded by the overlap with positions like Product Owners, Project Managers, and Data Analysts. These blurred boundaries make it difficult for organizations to define the responsibilities of a Business Analyst clearly, leading to misconceptions about its relevance.
Additionally, formal education for Business Analysts is not widely available. Unlike careers such as engineering or finance, which benefit from established academic programs globally, Business Analysis lacks a structured educational pathway. Only a handful of universities offer degrees or focused programs for aspiring BAs, further fueling the perception that it is not a standalone profession. This absence of formalized learning creates inconsistencies in how Business Analysts are trained and prepared for their roles.
The lack of a unified identity and widespread education prevents it from achieving the recognition it deserves as a standalone profession. Or being a professional at all. The role’s survival and growth depend on addressing these gaps, ensuring it adapts to the changing needs of modern businesses while retaining its unique value proposition. I foresee that in 2025, this is still going to be a trending problem, and I will spend time researching the question further. Luckily, I am not the only one. In 2024, I had dozens of conversations with globally recognized leaders, and they feel the same about the issue. I hope we will find time to work on it and maybe find a solution.
Solution Knowledge
Solution knowledge has become crucial for Business Analysts in 2024. More and more job descriptions emphasize familiarity with specific tools and systems. Employers now expect BAs to have hands-on experience or an understanding of popular enterprise solutions like Salesforce, SAP, Oracle ERP, and Microsoft Dynamics. There are many other tools, but these platforms dominate the landscape, making them essential for streamlining processes in industries like finance, retail, and logistics.
There are domain or role-specific tools there that dictate business analysis trends. For example, proficiency with data tools such as Tableau and Power BI is also required. This again reflects a growing expectation for BAs to conduct data analysis. In e-commerce, knowledge of platforms like Shopify or Magento helps BAs contribute to seamless online shopping experiences. In healthcare, familiarity with EMR (Electronic Medical Records) systems ensures compliance and efficient patient management.
This trend grows further with each year. It creates a dilemma for business analysts: should we stay generalists or become specialists with some tools? Should you learn all those tools, one specific tool, or will companies let you do that when they hire you? Where and how to learn? How do we get experience in those tools if no one hires without experience? These are questions I do not have answers to. Yet, I plan to find them and share them with you later this year.
Key Business Domains
In 2025, Business Analysts will be in high demand across diverse domains, with some industries standing out due to their growth and reliance on digital transformation. Here are a few examples:
- Finance and Banking: This domain remains a major employer for BAs, driven by the need for regulatory compliance, process automation, and customer-focused solutions. Tasks often include integrating financial systems and optimizing workflows for services like payments and loans.
- Healthcare: The push for digitization and patient-centric care has made healthcare a growing field for BAs. Analysts work on implementing EMR systems, optimizing supply chains for medical equipment, and ensuring compliance with health regulations.
- E-commerce and Retail: With online shopping surging, BAs contribute to building seamless user experiences, inventory management systems, and personalized marketing strategies. Knowledge of platforms like Shopify, Magento, and analytics tools is highly beneficial for business analysis trends in 2025.
- IT and Software Development: IT remains a core domain for BAs due to the continued adoption of Agile methodologies. Analysts facilitate team collaboration, manage requirements, and ensure delivery aligns with business goals.
- Energy and Sustainability: Renewable energy projects and green tech initiatives increasingly require BAs to optimize operations, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Public Sector: Governments rely on BAs to streamline operations, implement citizen-facing technologies, and ensure transparency in public services.
Certifications
Certifications like IIBA’s CBAP and PMI-PBA, along with those from organizations like Scrum Alliance or Coursera, are often promoted as ways to boost a Business Analyst’s career. They are designed to prove your knowledge of industry standards, tools, and methods, potentially giving you an edge in the job market.
Certifications can be a helpful step for those starting out or building their careers, but not in a way promoted. There is a definite value in learning and getting the knowledge. By applying new tricks, you might become better, get promotions, and grow. For some employers, certifications show that you’re serious about the field and understand more than the basics of best practices.
At the same time, not everyone is convinced about their value. Various business analysis experts argue that certifications don’t always reflect real-world skills. Memorizing concepts for an exam doesn’t prepare you for real challenges, like dealing with changing project goals or managing difficult stakeholders. Seconding them, many employers do not care about certifications at all. In some cases, organizations are not mature enough to understand and treat external bodies as an authority. In others, they cannot justify spending money on certifying their employees since it would not affect tasks people do, or rates employees sell their consultants.
Moreover, certifications for Business Analysts often come with a significant financial investment. Fees typically range from $500 to $2,000 or more, depending on the provider and the certification level. These costs can be even higher when factoring in additional expenses, such as training courses, study materials, and exam preparation resources. For professionals pursuing intensive programs, the overall expenditure may quickly escalate to thousands of dollars, while there is no straight correlation between certification and career success.
Ultimately, certifications can be a valuable tool, but they’re not a guarantee of success. They work best when paired with real-world experience and a commitment to learning and improving throughout your career.
Parting words
That is all I wanted to share regarding my predictions for business analysis trends in 2025. I hope I have also given some thought to you and that you can make your own predictions. If you have any ideas, feel free to comment on a platform where you found this article. Let’s gather as many as possible and check what went according to our guesses at the year’s end! Meanwhile, I wish you all, my dear readers, Happy New Year, best of luck, and great success! Cheers!
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