This is the first of three courses in the Google Business Intelligence Certificate, which will help develop the skills needed to apply for entry-level roles as a business intelligence (BI) professional. People who work in BI help organizations access the right data, use data to help businesses grow and improve, and put insights into action. In this course, you’ll discover the role of BI professionals within an organization and explore BI tools you can use on the job.
Foundations of Business Intelligence
New year. Big goals. Bigger savings. Unlock a year of unlimited access to learning with Coursera Plus for $199. Save now.
Foundations of Business Intelligence
This course is part of Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate
Instructor: Google Career Certificates
Top Instructor
124,929 already enrolled
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8
(1,531 reviews)
Advanced level
Designed for those already in the industry
Flexible schedule
Approx. 23 hours
Learn at your own pace
99%
Most learners liked this course
What you'll learn
Understand common careers and industries that use BI
Investigate the impact data can have on business decision-making
Explain the important role that BI professionals have in businesses
Develop a BI project plan
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Assessments
13 quizzes, 2 assignments
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your Data Analysis expertise
This course is part of the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate from Google
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
Begin learning about business intelligence and the roles of BI analysts and engineers within organizations. You’ll discover the tools and techniques BI professionals use to make business decisions and improve processes. In addition, you’ll explore the similarities and differences between BI and data analytics.
What's included
15 videos15 readings5 quizzes1 assignment5 plugins
Explore the BI process, which involves engaging with stakeholders, using tools to make the most of available data, and applying the power of rapid monitoring to make smart business decisions. In addition, you’ll start building career resources by enhancing your online presence, developing strategies for networking and mentorship, and creating a portfolio that will impress future hiring managers.
What's included
13 videos6 readings3 quizzes1 plugin
Consider the importance of context from a BI perspective. You’ll explore data limitations, including how to address constant changes and access big-picture insights in a timely manner. You’ll also discover strategies that BI professionals use to anticipate and overcome these limitations. Finally, you’ll develop an understanding of how context influences metrics.
What's included
7 videos9 readings2 quizzes1 assignment1 plugin
Finally, you’ll complete an end-of-course project. The project is an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge you developed during this course in a workplace scenario. For this project, you’ll prepare project planning documents and solve a business problem using BI.
What's included
5 videos11 readings3 quizzes
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.8 (392 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Data Analysis
Coursera Instructor Network
Microsoft
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.8
1,531 reviews
- 5 stars
81.48%
- 4 stars
14.99%
- 3 stars
2.02%
- 2 stars
0.52%
- 1 star
0.97%
Showing 3 of 1531
EP
4
Reviewed on Feb 17, 2024
Sometimes I feel it was more about job search, not BI. Tests may be more interactive, more random and questions better, but from time to time I interpreted those differently.
EA
5
Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023
Very insightful course, packed with useful information for someone that is about to embark on Business Intelligence.
TD
5
Reviewed on Dec 18, 2023
This course has not only taught me the basics of BI but also the tips to design CV and present oneself in Personal Interview have been of immense help
New to Data Analysis? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Organizations of all types and sizes have business processes that generate massive volumes of data. Information is constantly created by computers, the internet, phones, texts, streaming video, photographs, sensors, and more. In the global digital landscape, data is increasingly imprecise, chaotic, and unstructured. As the speed and variety of data increase exponentially, organizations are struggling to keep pace.
Business intelligence is the work involved in gathering, structuring, interpreting, monitoring, and reporting this data in accessible formats that enable stakeholders to understand and use it effectively. Organizations rely on this information to make better strategic and operational business decisions. As a result, there is high demand in the marketplace for business intelligence professionals with the skills and expertise to achieve these goals.
Business intelligence professionals are critical to many organizations today. They use data to help solve business problems, performing a variety of tasks that enable decision makers to understand and use data effectively. Some common responsibilities of BI professionals include gathering project requirements from stakeholders, retrieving and organizing large datasets, and creating visualizations and dashboards to report insights to others. Organizations use the intelligence they share to make decisions, develop new processes, create business strategies, and conduct deeper analyses.
As businesses generate more and more data, there is increased demand for BI professionals to transform this data into meaningful business insights. BI skills are transferable to jobs across multiple industries, including financial services, education, healthcare, and manufacturing. The Google Business Intelligence Certificate will help you prepare for a job in the BI field.