Companies are turning to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like Odoo to help manage their complex business functions. Odoo is a comprehensive software application that integrates all the core processes of a company into one unified system.

While an ERP system like Odoo can be a great asset to a business, it is important to have a strong business analyst who can help facilitate the system integration process.

In this article post, we will explain the role of a business analyst and the role of a business analyst in a software implementation project.

What is a business analyst and what role do they play in a software implementation project

Over the last few years, the position of the business analyst has changed and proven to be critical in the successful completion of a project.

The existence of this function in varying degrees of complexity goes back to the period when technology became a key aspect of a company's operations. With the decline of business, the role has become more specialised and is incredibly valuable in the completion of a project.

A Business Analyst maps the digitalisation requirements of a real business into the functionality of an enterprise software platform.

Working with the implementation team

While documenting requirements and procedures, the analyst analyzes them with the client and interacts with architects and developers, always keeping in mind that solutions must be compatible with the needs of future users and the project's business goals.

The BA also collects proposals for non-project-scoped functionality and negotiates their implementation so that they fit within the budget.

A business analyst processes and responsibilities

A business analyst's level of engagement and scope of responsibility varies according to the stage of the software implementation process.

The stakeholder analysis

The elaboration phase is the first step towards implementing a new software solution.

It is essential to get an approximate estimate of the amount of future efforts. This is the very first point of contact with the (potential) consumer.

One of the first business analyst tasks in the project is to analyse all of the interactions. A business analyst analyzes the team structure and the number of people with whom the BA will collaborate; the management structure — who reports to whom; and the client — background, expectations, and priorities.

Here, a business analyst, in tight collaboration with a solution architect and Odoo programmers, studies project's needs, the optimization possibilities that the new software solution implementation offers, and methods to realise it.

In a typical circumstance, the project manager oversees the business analyst's onboarding and answers queries.

If this does not occur, the business analyst must seek solutions proactively, as stakeholder analysis offers an important context for functional and feature preparation and deployment into the solution.

Documentation of requirements

Business analysts work with specifications at all phases of the software implementation lifecycle and act as a constant liaison between the customer and the team.

The business analyst creates necessary documentation (requirements) to keep everyone on the same page by comprehending stakeholders' vision and communicating it to all project participants. Requirements are detailed definitions of what must be included in the implementation process, such as system behavior, features, and properties.