Interim roles in data analytics and BI - how to know what role your organisation needs

In an increasingly data-driven world, the need for skilled professionals in Business Intelligence (BI) and data analytics is constantly growing. Companies need to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and technological advances, making interim experts a crucial resource.

However, one challenge companies can face when hiring an interim data/BI expert is knowing exactly what resource they need. There are a number of different roles in data and many of them may have overlapping responsibilities, which makes it difficult to determine which role is most suitable for your company's needs.

To make things a little easier for you, here's a look at the most common interim roles in data analytics and BI.

Interim Data Analyst

A data analyst processes, structures and analyses data to support businesses in making informed decisions. This can involve performing analyses to understand what happened and why, but also to predict future events and recommend actions. For example, an Interim Data Analyst's work week may include automating reporting, creating dashboards, data visualisation and data modelling.

A Data Analyst often uses tools such as Power BI, Tableau and advanced analytical methods such as machine learning and statistical analysis to process and understand large amounts of data. Therefore an Interim Data Analyst may be the right solution if your company has a lot of data but lacks the skills to fully utilise it.

Interim Data Engineer

While a Data Analyst works on interpreting data, a Data Engineer's focus is on building and maintaining the data infrastructure needed to collect, store and manage data.

A Data Engineer builds data warehouses and pipelines that allow data to be analysed both accurately and efficiently. The role is therefore essential in ensuring that data is accessible, secure and usable by Data Analysts and other specialists. A Data Engineer often works with tools such as SQL, Python and Hadoop.

An Interim Data Engineer can help, for example, if your company is building a BI function or if you need to scale up your data infrastructure.

Interim Chief Data Officer (CDO)

A Chief Data Officer (CDO) is responsible for the company's data strategy and ensures that the data collected is used to create business value. A CDO is also responsible for data protection and regulatory compliance, such as GDPR. This is crucial for companies that work with large amounts of sensitive information. This also means that a CDO must have a high level of technical and business understanding and be able to work seamlessly with both technical experts and the top management.

An interim CDO may be the right resource if your company is facing a major transformation, lacks a clear data strategy, or if you need to build your data infrastructure to handle large amounts of data efficiently and securely.

Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO)

While a CDO focuses on data management, a Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for the company's overall IT strategy, system architecture, goal setting and budget.

The role involves translating business needs into technological solutions, ensuring efficient IT systems and driving digitalisation and innovation. The CIO acts as a link between IT and the business, often focusing on strategic planning and business development.

If your company is undergoing technological changes, such as a digitalisation or restructuring of the IT environment, an interim CIO can help ensure that technology is aligned with business objectives and that the data strategy is integrated smoothly.

An interim CIO can also help implement new technological solutions such as cloud computing and AI, which can streamline the entire business.

Interim BI Developer

A BI Developer or BI Specialist focuses on developing and implementing business intelligence solutions that help companies analyse and present data in a user-friendly way. This may involve creating dashboards and reports in tools such as Power BI or Tableau to give business users access to data and insights.

An interim BI specialist may be suitable if your company needs to develop or enhance your BI tools to give the business easy access to real-time, business-critical insights.

Interim Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is an expert in advanced data analysis, machine learning and AI. They develop algorithms and models to find patterns in large data sets and predict future trends. Data Scientists often work with predictive analytics, creating insights that can help companies optimise operations and make strategic decisions.

An interim data scientist can be a great solution if your company wants to develop AI solutions or create predictive models based on complex data sets.

When is what resource needed?

Do you need an interim solution in data analytics?

At Greenstep, we also offer interim roles in data analytics, such as CDO, CIO, Data Analysts, Data Engineers, BI specialists and Data Scientists. We provide you with the flexibility and expertise you need during change projects or growth. Contact us to find the right interim solution for your organisation.