TSG Training

Day: 1 October 2025

  • How To Become A Business Analyst

    How To Become A Business Analyst

    What Is a Business Analyst?

    A Business Analyst (BA) is a professional who analyses and improves business processes to help organisations operate more efficiently. They act as a bridge between business objectives and technical solutions, identifying challenges, proposing data driven improvements, and implementing strategic change.

    Business Analysts are in high demand across industries such as finance, IT, telecommunications, and government. As organisations rely more on data and technology, the need for skilled analysts continues to rise.

    If you are wondering how to become a Business Analyst, this guide will walk you through what the role involves, the skills you will need, and how you can get qualified through TSG Training’s Business Analysis courses.

    What Are the Responsibilities of a Business Analyst?

    While specific duties vary by organisation, typical responsibilities include:

    • Understanding and mapping existing business processes

    • Gathering and analysing data to support decisions

    • Identifying inefficiencies and proposing improvements

    • Collaborating with stakeholders and technical teams

    • Creating documentation, reports, and business cases

    • Supporting testing and implementation of new systems

    • Managing change during new process rollouts

    • Providing project management and training support

    In essence, a Business Analyst ensures the alignment between business goals and the technical tools or processes that deliver them.

    Is a Business Analyst Role Right for Me?

    To succeed as a Business Analyst, you will need a balance of analytical, technical, and soft skills. Key attributes include:

    • Strong analytical and problem solving skills

    • Clear and confident communication

    • Excellent stakeholder management

    • Objectivity when evaluating data and processes

    • The ability to work independently and collaboratively

    • Awareness of industry trends and emerging technologies

    If you enjoy solving problems, using data to drive decisions, and working across teams, this could be the perfect career path.

    How To Become a Business Analyst

    There is no single route to becoming a Business Analyst, but there are a few proven paths to success.

    1. Build Foundational Knowledge

    Many Business Analysts start in related roles such as software testing, project management, or data analysis before specialising. These areas provide valuable experience with systems and stakeholder collaboration.

    2. Gain Recognised Qualifications

    While a degree is not always required, industry recognised certifications can significantly boost your credibility and employability. Employers often prefer candidates with formal training from bodies such as:

    These certifications demonstrate your understanding of business analysis principles, tools, and best practices.

    3. Learn Core Tools and Techniques

    Familiarity with software such as SQL, Excel, data visualisation tools, and process modelling software is invaluable. Understanding frameworks like Agile and Scrum also helps when working on projects with technical teams.

    4. Gain Practical Experience

    Hands on experience, whether through a project at work or a dedicated Business Analyst course with TSG Training, is key. Practical exercises help you apply analytical thinking and stakeholder management in real world scenarios.

    business analysis certification

    Business Analyst Qualifications at TSG Training

    At TSG Training, we offer a wide range of Business Analysis courses designed for every career stage from beginners to experienced professionals.

    Our most popular options include:

    • BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis
      A three day course covering strategy analysis, requirements engineering, investigation techniques, and exam preparation. Ideal for newcomers and those transitioning into the BA role.

    • BCS Data Management Essentials
      Focuses on data management standards, database procedures, and enterprise level data governance. Perfect for professionals looking to enhance their data handling skills.

    We also run free webinars that offer insights into the latest BCS programmes and career pathways in Business Analysis. You can watch The New BCS Programmes Webinar Recording, hosted by Ademar Albertin, to learn more about which qualification suits you best.

    Why Choose TSG Training

    TSG Training has a long standing reputation for delivering accredited business analysis, software testing, and IT management training. Our courses combine expert instruction with practical learning, ensuring you leave with both knowledge and confidence.

    Our trainers are certified professionals with real world experience, and all courses include exam preparation to help you succeed.

    Explore our full Business Analysis training catalogue to take your first step toward becoming a certified Business Analyst today.

  • The Test Automation ROI Checklist

    The Test Automation ROI Checklist

    Test automation is one of those topics that everyone agrees is important, but not everyone agrees on where to start. Organisations want faster releases, fewer bugs, and lower costs, but without a clear strategy, test automation can quickly become a bottomless pit of scripts, tools, and maintenance overhead.

    That’s where ROI (return on investment) comes in. The smartest teams don’t automate everything. Instead, they automate the right things. And just as importantly, they know what to skip.

    Why ROI matters in test automation

    Automation isn’t free. It takes time, tools, training, and ongoing maintenance. If you automate the wrong things, like one-off tests that are never run again, you can actually slow down delivery instead of speeding it up.

    Thinking in terms of ROI keeps you focused. It ensures that every automated test provides more value than it costs to build and maintain. In other words: automate where it saves you time, reduces risk, or increases confidence. Skip the rest.

    What to automate first

    Here’s a simple checklist to prioritise automation. If a test meets several of these criteria, it’s a strong candidate for automation.

    High-repetition tests

    If you’re running the same tests over and over, automation pays off quickly. Instead of testers spending hours clicking through the same scenarios, you let the scripts do the heavy lifting.

    Stable functionality

    Automation works best when the system under test doesn’t change every five minutes. If requirements or UI designs are still in flux, your automated scripts will constantly break, draining ROI. Focus first on areas of the application that are stable and core to the business.

    Business-critical processes

    If a failure would result in significant financial losses, damage to the business’s reputation, or compliance penalties, that’s a prime candidate for automation. Automated tests provide a safety net to catch issues before they reach production.

    Multiple configurations

    When you need to run the same test in different browsers, devices, or environments, automation delivers huge value. Instead of multiplying manual effort, automation lets you scale execution effortlessly.

    Data-driven

    If a test involves running the same logic with different data inputs, automation is a perfect fit. You can parameterise inputs and let the script run through dozens or hundreds of scenarios quickly.

    What to skip (for now)

    Equally important is knowing what not to automate. Automation may seem tempting, but it could ultimately drain time and budget with little return.

    One-off tests

    If a test will only ever be executed once or twice, the investment in automation rarely pays back. Manual execution is simpler and faster.

    Changing functionality

    Areas of the system that are under constant design or development change will break your automated scripts repeatedly. It’s better to wait until the functionality stabilises.

    Subjective tests

    Automation is great for checking what should happen. However, it’s poor at evaluating how it feels or if it’s intuitive. Leave exploratory, usability, and visual assessments to human testers.

    Weak tooling support

    If your tools can’t easily interact with certain technologies, such as legacy mainframes or highly dynamic UI components, automation becomes fragile and costly. In such cases, stick with manual testing or explore alternative strategies.

    Building your automation ROI strategy

    Here are practical steps to apply the checklist in your organisation:

    Audit current test suites

    Which tests take the most time? Which areas cause the most incidents?

    Score tests against the ROI checklist

    Prioritise those that meet multiple ‘yes’ criteria.

    Start small, deliver value early

    Automate a small, high-impact subset first. Show results before scaling.

    Measure outcomes

    Track saved time, reduced defects, and the speed of releases. Then use this data to demonstrate ROI.

    Getting automation right

    Test automation isn’t about automating everything; it’s about automating the right things. With a clear ROI-driven checklist, you can prioritise high-value tests, skip the low-yield ones, and build a sustainable automation strategy.

    The organisations getting real benefits from automation aren’t the ones with the biggest suites; they’re the ones with the smartest strategies. Start with ROI, automate for value, and let humans do what they do best: explore, question, and create insight. Your automation journey isn’t about replacing testers. It’s about giving them the freedom to focus on the work that really matters, while the scripts take care of the rest.

    Enhance your testing skills with TSG Training and leverage test automation to your advantage.