Analytics is the system of applying certain methods and techniques to understand the performance of data, generally in an organization or industry. The application of analytics can be used to uncover and interpret relevant patterns of data, which can be later used to make better decisions. Analytics relies on good data as part of its usefulness, as well as the aspects of statistics, computer programming, and operations research to quantify performance. Analytics exists in business when companies use statistics and software processes in assessing how a particular product, service, or project measures up in scope. Businesses perform analytics to pinpoint strengths, identify challenges or weaknesses that may exist, and pull out key data points to help make decisions regarding future growth for the organization.

Learning analytics is a key skill that helps you solve problems to existing challenges. When you use analytics tools to research data patterns, you use methods of analyzing performance characteristics that are essential to a business organization. This is important in today's world of big data. Understanding analytics can make you a valuable asset when assessing areas rich with recorded information, performance indicators, and target goals.

What are typical careers that use analytics?

Analytics is found in a wide range of careers, including business analyst, budget analyst, financial controller, data scientist, and operations researcher. Individuals who move into these and other careers in data analytics often work with raw data and algorithms through mechanical processes to make assumptions and theories. Essentially, with knowledge of analytics, you can move into a job that requires a familiarity with numeric relationships, data structures, and trends and metrics relevant to an organization.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn analytics?

When you take online courses in analytics, you can gain a new understanding of key concepts like data analysis and visualization, mathematical optimization, regression analysis, predictive modeling, and other areas focused on business analytics. Taking online courses about analytics can help you achieve basic data literacy to help you make more informed decisions in any area you work in, like finance, operations, or marketing. As you branch out, you may advance your analytics understanding to include how to extract and manipulate data points, how to use different statistical analysis methods to break down the data, and how to eventually interpret and present your findings.

What are the benefits of taking an online Analytics course?

Online Analytics courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Analytics skills. With a wide range of Analytics classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Analytics career.

What Analytics courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Analytics, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Analytics Courses - Learn Analytics Online

Explore the Analytics Course Catalog

ESSEC Business School
Strategic Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Business Analytics, Forecasting, Peer Review, Data Presentation, Predictive Analytics, R Programming, Customer Analysis, Information Technology, Digital Transformation, Business Marketing, Advanced Analytics, Marketing Strategies, Statistical Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Analytics, Business Analysis, Data Synthesis, Data Analysis, Data Storytelling
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Unilever
Supply Chain Management and Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Demand Planning, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Planning, Process Improvement, Customer Demand Planning, Capacity Planning, Logistics Management, Supplier Management, Logistics, Analytics, Transportation Management, Corporate Sustainability, Scheduling, Inventory Management System, Production Schedule, Forecasting, Security Management, Expense Management, Operating Expense, Risk Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
380 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google
Google Business Intelligence
Skills you'll gain: Business Intelligence, Data Modeling, Dashboard, Database Design, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Integration, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Warehousing, Data Presentation, Performance Tuning, Data Pipelines, Data Visualization Software, Business Reporting, Data Integrity, Business Analytics, Real Time Data, Requirements Elicitation, Scalability, Business Process, Data-Driven Decision-Making
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Amazon Web Services
Fundamentals of Analytics on AWS
Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Lakes, Analytics, Data Architecture, Data Warehousing, Data Management, Data Analysis, Big Data, Business Analytics, Data Storage, Amazon Web Services, Machine Learning, Data Strategy
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Extract, Transform, Load, Power BI, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Copilot, Data Modeling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Star Schema, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Visualization Software, Spreadsheet Software, Data Validation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Data Storage
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
IBM Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Requirements Elicitation, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Risk Analysis, Process Mapping, Process Optimization, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Scope Management, Process Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Visualization Software, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Data Analytics and Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Storytelling, Power BI, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Dashboard, Data Modeling, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Excel Macros, Infographics, Data Transformation, Data Analysis Software, Data Validation, Data Analysis, Microsoft Power Platform
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: AI skills
Google Cloud
Google Cloud Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Governance, Data Presentation, Data Management, Data Pipelines, Data Visualization Software, Dashboard, Data Lakes, Data Architecture, Cloud Infrastructure, Generative AI, Data Infrastructure, Data Cleansing, Data Transformation, Cloud Computing, Data Access, Data Storage Technologies, Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Analytics
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
163 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Google
Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study
Skills you'll gain: Interviewing Skills, Data Analysis, Google Analytics, Data Processing, Analytical Skills, Artificial Intelligence, R Programming, Data Storytelling, Project Documentation, Presentations, Portfolio Management, LinkedIn
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Applying Data Analytics in Finance
Skills you'll gain: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Portfolio Management, Financial Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Analytics, Financial Trading, Financial Market, Performance Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Investment Management, Risk Management, Regression Analysis, Algorithms
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
217 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Amazon Web Services
Getting Started with Data Analytics on AWS
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Analytics, Data Analysis, Dashboard, Data Literacy, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Visualization, Amazon Web Services, Big Data, Amazon S3, Business Intelligence, Cloud Computing
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
888 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Emory University
Introduction to Social Media Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Social Media Marketing, Social Media, Marketing Analytics, Text Mining, Consumer Behaviour, Data Mining, Customer Insights, Market Analysis, Data Analysis Software, Trend Analysis, Research
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
108 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks