Data is everywhere and is slowly seeping into every facet of our lives and our work.

Many say that the

future belongs to those who can talk to this data. Here are five reasons why you should be thinking of
making that big leap into analytics.

1. Data is the most valuable commodity to any organization today

International Data Corporation (IDC) projects that by 2020 we will have generated 40 zettabytes (ZB)
of data, and the worldwide revenues for big data and business analytics (BDA) will reach $150.8
billion in 2017, an increase of 12.4% over 2016. Every industry and every sector has realized the
potential of structured and unstructured data and if not already, they plan to employ big data
initiatives this year. In India the Data Analytics industry is predicted to grow 60 times in the next 10
years. Big Data Analytics will become a core business practice for most organizations and they will
use it to understand their business and their customers in fundamentally new ways. It is commonly
predicted that without the help of data backed insights, companies will lose their power and edge in
the marketplace. With data growing at such momentum and taking on such value in an organization,
we even go so far as to predict that soon every function will involve some kind of data analysis and
hence there will limited to no growth for those with no data analysis skills.

2. There are hundreds of unfilled data jobs waiting to be filled

The supply demand gap of analytics talent is bigger than there ever was. It is estimated that by 2018
there will be a 50-60% shortage of data geeks. In India there will be 200,000 new data related jobs
in the next three years. And what happens when you are in demand? You get paid higher salaries, get
more perks and your career path is phenomenal. But just how much are salaries in the data industry?

3. Data scientist salaries are higher than IT

Believe it or not, Data Scientists salaries are averaging 15 % higher than IT salaries. They have
increased 300% in the last ten years and this trend is only expected to continue as the data industry
evolves and innovations in the way data is collected, stored and used increases. According to an
information week survey big data practitioners and data scientists are two emerging categories that,
while their job descriptions are not consistently defined, are two titles at the top of the pay scale.

According to Jigsaws 2014 Analytics Salary Report, the average salary of data analytics professional
in India is 11 lakhs per annum. Those professionals who are skilled in SAS, R and Hadoop earn a 10-
20% premium in salary, averaging about 11.6 lakhs per annum.

4. Great potential for career growth

Data Scientists are needed everywhere. You can work in different domains and because of the
shortage of analytics talent, as you gain experience you can quickly move up the ladder. As such it is
also easier to more quickly move into a strategy related role.

5. Great work life balance with a challenging and stimulating work environment

Data scientist ranked highest in a Glassdoors study for work life balance. It received a 4.4 rating for
on a five-point scale. Whats more, as a data scientist you will be part analyst, part artist. Every
project will be different. You will look at all sorts of data and then find unique ways to garner insights
which you will present in visually stimulating ways. Your insights will bring real change to an
organization.

Business analytics is used by companies to derive insights from terabytes of data and automate and
optimize business processes. Data has become one of the biggest assets and companies deploy
business analytics to predict future outcomes, find patters and relationships and perform statistical
analysis. Though the job roles of BA and BI are used interchangeably, there are some key
differentiators.
The major role of a BA is data mining, statistical analysis, predictive modelling, multivariate
testing and A/B Testing. Business Analytics career in India has emerged as the preferred role of
choice in IT and ITeS industries.

The Business Analyst is also required to support decision making roles with real-time
analysis. Business Analysts also work closely with the senior management and provide support in
data-driven decision making that impacts matters related to product development to marketing. In
this article we tell you how to start a Business Analytics career in India.

There is a continued strong demand for business analysts especially in India where candidates (also
those with an MBA) can land opportunities in IT and ITeS industries. According to a LinkedIn
article, India has at least 1.2 million business analysts and by 2020 India is pegged to have the
highest number of business analysts. Some of the major sectors where Business Analysts have a
promising start are retail, banking, healthcare, ecommerce, hospitality, manufacturing among others.

Kick-start a Business Analytics career in India

One of the most promising career paths in IT today, the job description for business analysts
sometimes converge analytics and project management roles. If you are interested in a Business
Analyst role, a background in mathematics and engineering is a must, backed by good analytical and
communication skills.

However, there are those who believe candidates with a business background can also make a career
in BA. By upskilling themselves with short online courses, these candidates can also get a good grip on
business analytics and start a career. Be absolutely sure of the choice of your career and get a good
understanding of the lay of the land.

Skills required by Business Analytics candidate: A Business Analyst should be proficient in

applied statistics, have knowledge of statistical suite such as SAS, R, SPSS, should know SQL, Hive,
knowledge of testing frameworks and a working knowledge of BI visualization tools such as Tableau
vs. Qlikview vs. Spotfire. Skills may vary depending on the organizations requirement. However, this
is a basic knowledge framework required for making the cut.

How can candidates with a business background start a Business Analytics career in
India?

While most engineers gravitate towards the data engineering and information management field,
candidates with a business background can easily transition into the Business Analyst role. MBA
holders can sharpen their skills by a) enrolling in analytics courses, b) participating in mentoring
sessions and boot camps to lands their dream job. And though companies dont expect deep
knowledge of tools, a basic understanding of R and SAS can help in landing the right job. Some of the
basic attributes are strong business and analytical skills.

Job opportunities for Business Analysts: A good knowledge of domain area and with an
understanding of analytical tools and exposure to database management can lead to a promising
career in Business Analytics. From leading financial institutions, to consultancies such as Deloitte,
E&Y, and global retailers Target, Walmart and online leader Amazon require Business Analytics
professionals.

India has job vacancies for 50,000 data analytics professionals: Study

According to a study by online analytics training institute Edvancer, close to 50,000 positions
related to analytics currently available to be filled in India. This is expected to rise to 80,000-
1,00,000 in 2018. Jobs in data analytics are up for grabs. According to a study by online analytics
training institute Edvancer, close to 50,000 job vacancies related to analytics are currently available in
India. This is expected to rise to 80,000-100,000 in 2018.
The study, Analytics & Data Science India Jobs Study 2017, was carried out over a period of six
months by Analytics India Magazine, in association with Edvancer Eduventures. Aatash Shah,
Founder & CEO, Edvancer Eduventures said that in 2016, there was a demand for 20,000 to 25,000
analytics professionals last year which has now risen 50,000 in 2017. There is a huge shortage of
skilled talent in the analytics space. Demand is outstripping the current supply, he added.

According to the study, the median salary being offered by advertised analytics jobs in India is Rs 10.5
lakh per annum. It further said that 28 percent of all analytics jobs offer a salary range of Rs 6 lakh-Rs
10 Lakh. And about 24 percent of the jobs in analytics are offered a salary of Rs 3 lakh-Rs 6 lakh. Shah
explained that an absolute fresher trained in the analytics space can get a package of Rs 6 lakh per
annum. He said that this increases much faster with the years of experience. In terms of sectors,
banking & financial (BFSI) sector continues to be the biggest influencer in analytics job market.
About 46 percent of all jobs posted on analytics were from banking sector. A year ago, this stood at
42 percent.
Among companies, the ten leading organisations with the most number of analytics job openings
this year are Amazon, Citi, HCL, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, KPMG, EY &
Capgemini, according to the study.

Automation, which is the buzzword currently, involves machine-learning and this is a part of data
science. This is replacing a lot of traditional jobs, said Shah. He added that companies want people
who can implement it practically and banking is one of the largest users of analytics.

When it comes to other sectors, e-commerce has dipped in terms of analytics jobs this year. About 10
percent of analytics jobs were in the e-commerce sector as opposed to 14 percent a year ago. The
media/ entertainment sector, on the other hand, contributes 7 percent of all analytics jobs as opposed
to 4 percent a year ago. Shah said that they are seeing a growth of almost 200 percent every year and
there has also been an increase in the number of students being trained every month.

Compared to worldwide estimates, India contributes just 12 percent of open jobs opening currently.
The no. of jobs in India are likely to increase much faster versus the rest of the world as more analytics
projects get outsourced to India due to lack of skills across the world, the study said.
Source: Analytics & Data Science India Jobs Study 2017
IFIM Business School launches Executive PGDM (with industry partnership IBM)

IFIM Business School, Bangalore, in association with IBM has announced the launch of its Executive
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (EPGDM) programme in Business Analytics of 15-month
duration. The AICTE approved programme has been designed for working executives from all levels of
management. According to IFIM Business School, the programme intends to equip participants with
relevant theoretical and practical knowledge to implant Business Analytics solutions in their
organizations and also to move up the ladder in their existing industry/company.

According to NASSCOM, the Indian BA market is estimated to grow to about USD 2.3 billion by end
of 2017-18. However, there is an acute gap between the demand and supply of skilled manpower in
this area.

The program has been developed with a strong industry orientation. Some of the Software/Tools for
hands-on training and live projects in the program are IBM SPSS/Cognos/InfoSphere, Social
Network Analytical tools etc. The programme will deliver learning in an accelerated mode, with a
focus on developing application skills with strong foundation in Analytics. The students will have to
undergo 3 terms, with duration of 6 months, + 6 months + 3 months respectively. They can choose
their area of specialization besides the functional specializations offered like Marketing Analytics,
Financial Analytics & Risk Assessment, HR Analytics, Operations Analytics etc. The students are also
required to do an industry project wherein they will be jointly mentored by industry professionals as
well as IFIM faculty.

This program is a step ahead to bridge the gap between industry demand and supply of skilled
manpower in the field of Business Analytics. The programme aims at enabling the students to find
meaningful patterns in large volumes of structured and unstructured data and to make information
driven business decisions that impact the performance of the company. After completion of the
programme, students are expected to have an understanding of business management with a Total
Enterprise approach and acquire understanding of key functional areas that will help them handle
different roles of management, like, decision making, problem solving, strategic thinking and
leadership.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Chandrasekhar, Director, Center of Business Analytics, IFIM said, In
the coming years, Business Analytics will play a major role for organizations, irrespective of their
size, to succeed in competitive global markets. To be successful in this field, students have to possess
domain knowledge, questioning ability, interpretation of results, Communication / presentation
skills apart from various tools and techniques.

The course is structured in such a way to meet the above objectives. In first term, there will be
foundation courses, in second term, there will be electives in chosen two areas of specialization like-
Marketing, HR, Finance, Logistics & Supply chain and in third term, along with electives there will be
a live project with Industry.

Program Highlights

Recognized 15 month EPGDM program approved by AICTE

Only Institute in Bangalore to offer ePGDM in Business Analytics in association with IBM
Career Education

Convenience of weekend classes that do not disrupt work schedule

Certification from IBM on program completion

Hands-on experience at the IBM Business Analytics Lab on campus using advance s/w for
descriptive & predictive analytics and Business Intelligence tools.
 Placement Assistance

Data and Analytics are going to be the basis of competitive advantage for businesses in this new era
where organizations are fast realizing that they need to enable their workforce with the capability to
transform data into insights for better decision making. Programs like Career Education are infusing
such skills in future software engineers and business managers to address this challenge, said Karthik
Padmanabhan, Country Leader, Ecosystem Development, IBM India / South Asia.

The key career options after the completion of the programme may be that of business analysts, data
scientists, information analysts and project managers. The programme will be delivered by
experienced faculty from IFIM and IBM. Besides there will be seminars and invited talks from
Industry experts on a continuing basis.

Here are 10 highlights from Analytics India Industry Study 2017:

1) The analytics/data science/Big Data industry in the country is currently estimated to be $2 billion
annually in revenues. "The increased adoption of Big Data by SMEs is a strong indicator of
sustainable growth for the industry," Mr Bansal of AnalytixLabs said.

2) The industry is expected to almost double by 2020 with a sizable portion of around 24 per cent
being attributed to Big Data. Of all the annual flow, 12 per cent can be attributed to advanced
analytics, predictive modelling and data science.

3) Almost 60 per cent of analytics revenue in India comes from software and services exports to the
US. Among other countries are the UK (8.4 per cent), Australia and Canada. Revenues generated from
Indian firms amount to 4 per cent of total analytics revenues.

4) In terms of sectors contributing to analytics revenue, finance and banking (BFSI) continue to be
the largest. This contribution stands at 37 per cent of the total amounting to $756 million in revenues
- a 31 per cent increase compared to last year.

5) "India is definitely emerging as a growing hub for analytics," Analytics India Magazine CEO and
founder Bhasker Gupta said.

6) In terms of cities, Delhi and the NCR region is the biggest contributor amongst other Indian cities.
Revenue of $565 million comes from the capital city (28 per cent of the total market size). Bengaluru
follows suit at 27 per cent.

7) Around 12,000 freshers were added to the analytics workforce in India this year, up from 8,500 last
year.

8) Almost 40 per cent of analytics professionals in India are employed with large-sized companies,
with more than 10,000 of total employee base.

9) Midsize organisations employ 33 per cent of all analytics professionals in India.

10) Start-ups employ 27 per cent of analytics professionals.

The global BPO business analytics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 34% during the period
2017-2021.

According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is rising cost pressure to maintain
in-house IT systems. Labor arbitrage is considered to be one of the prospective benefits of BPO and
knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) processes.
Firms that incorporate an outsourcing strategy need not invest in resources or worry about handling
their limited available resources. Outsourcing of data analytics processes helps them gain access to
skilled talent and advanced analytics technologies in another country while maintaining a lean
workforce. Client firms can develop an economical cost structure as they need not pay for extra office
space, hardware, equipment, or specialized talent. In addition, they require fewer investments for in-
house staff training. Thus, outsourcing enables client firms to focus on their core competencies and
obtain a competitive edge in the market.

Key Vendors

Accenture
Capgemini
Genpact
IBM
TCS

Other Prominent Vendors

HPE
Cognizant
Delloite
Fujitsu
Infosys
Wipro
Capgemini
Tech Mahindra
HCL Technologies
Hexaware Technologies
EXL
WNS Global
Aegis
NTT DATA
BRIDGEi2i Analytics Solutions
Sutherland Global Services

Some of the start-ups that provide an excellent opportunity to pursue Business Analytics career are
Fractal Analytics, Mu Sigma Analytics and AbsolutData.
IT & BPO sector: Automation may eat away 35% low-skilled jobs by 2022

Nasscom had earlier said that its members and their employees need to re-skill or perish
considering the challenges on account of automation. With rising adoption of automation and
artificial intelligence, number of low-skilled workers in Indias IT & BPO sector are expected to
witness a 35 per cent decrease by 2022 . With rising adoption of automation and artificial
intelligence, number of low-skilled workers in Indias IT & BPO sector is expected to witness a 35 per
cent decrease by 2022, according to a report by US-based firm HfS Research.

The report pegged that from 2.4 million low-skilled workers in these sectors in 2016, the growing
adoption of automation could cause the number of jobs to fall to 1.7 million in 2022. The next five
years we can manage, its the five after that when the impact on labor becomes much more
challenging, Phil Fersht, CEO and chief analyst of HfS Research said.

Nasscom, the Indian association representing software companies, had earlier said that its members
and their employees need to re-skill or perish considering the challenges on account of automation.
Nasscom had said that over 40 per cent of the 4 million people employed by Indias IT sector would
need to be re-skilled over the next five years for them to keep their jobs. Nasscom also pointed out that
it had identified new skills such as big data analytics, cloud and cyber-security services, and
internet-of-things (IoT), among others as areas that would create job roles going ahead. It said that a
number of its member firms including TCS, Infosys, Accenture, Genpact were undertaking a skills
initiative that looked at training employees across all levels. This skilling/re-skilling initiative will
translate into 1.5-2 million people working on next-gen technologies in India within 4-5 years, it had
said. HfS Research, in its report, identified low skilled workers as the ones conducting simple entry-
level, process-driven tasks that require little abstract thinking or autonomy.

Notwithstanding the fall in jobs of low-skilled workers in the IT & BPO sector, HfS Research noted
that the number of medium skilled jobs and high-skilled jobs are expected to grow, albeit marginally.
While the medium-skilled workers are seen growing from 900,000 in 2016 to 1 million in 2022, the
number of high-skilled jobs could rise to 510,000 in 2022 from 320,000 in 2016. The trend in India,
nonetheless, is similar to what the research firm expects globally. Internationally, too, low skilled IT &
BPO jobs are expected to fall by 31 per cent, while medium skilled jobs may increase by 13 per cent
and high skilled jobs may rise by 57 per cent.

In February, former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka had said: all you have to do is walk into any one of
our floors at any company in the IT-BPO industry and it becomes starkly clear as you walk around
the floor that a huge number of these jobs are going to go away

Banking On Analytics Is The Way Forward

Technology has taken BFSI segment to a different level and analytics provided the path to this
development. With evolution in technology expectations of consumers have changed and banks have
to ensure the right kind of infrastructure in order to attract more customers.

In order to drive customer behaviour, banks and financial institutions need to understand factors like
personalisation where they ensure each customer is treated individually. Instant gratification is
another factor where customers need to be provided with all services digitally. Followed by
simplification, automation and ubiquity where customers need an omni-channel.

Banks are increasing their spending on data and analytics by 60 per cent. Some companies have 3
types of fraud analytics: Fraud score, anomaly detection and network analysis. We have to identify
who is the right customer first, and then find out what is the right product for him and identify how to
execute it. We use analytics for the sales purpose, where to open a branch etc. Analytics helps us to
identify what we are going to achieve in a given time.
In ATM payment system, the decision has to be taken in the fraction of seconds. There should be
enough data to analyze about the location of withdrawal, when was the last withdrawal done and from
which location and about the current location etc. to prevent fraudulent transactions, Analytics is
going to play a major role not just in payments, but across the segments.

When a customer calls, the agent should know every detail about the customer such as when he/she
called last, was the problem solved etc. Analytics is helping us to know our customers and distributors
better, After analysing a customers risk profile, it is easy to offer the kind of product which the
customer needs and we should always be able to engage with the customer.