What Laptop is Best for a Business Analyst?

Choosing the right laptop is crucial for any role within a company.

Not every business laptop is equal or even similar. Some models will be far more suited to the tasks of a particular role or industry.

Engaging with experts in computer equipment, such as Hardsoft’s consultants, is a great way to ensure that you receive a business laptop that is ideal for your role.

Let’s look at an example; what would be the best laptop for a business analyst?

What Is A Business Analyst?

First, we must understand an overview of the business analyst role.

Simply put, a business analyst assesses how organisations and companies are currently performing and then identifies strategies for improvement in their operations and systems.

They might be hired to come into a company temporarily as a consultant if something has been going negatively with a business, or to take the business to the next level of profit and success.

Business analysts frequently act as a bridge between stakeholders, project managers, and technical teams, ensuring that business objectives align with the implemented solutions.

The role utilises data analysis, modelling techniques, and industry knowledge to identify opportunities for enhancement and then recommends strategies for optimising business operations.

Their business laptops must be able to handle the software that they use for data analysis and modelling.

Role and Day-to-Day Tasks of a Business Analyst

So, we now know that the best laptop for a business analyst is going to need to handle some potentially power-hungry software.

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the day-to-day tasks of a business analyst to get more insight.

Business analysts engage in a wide range of activities, including:

• Gathering and documenting business requirements
• Conducting stakeholder interviews
• Facilitating workshops
• Analysing data
• Creating process models
• Designing solutions

Business analysts must regularly collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project scope, create project plans, and assist in the implementation and testing of business solutions. Additionally, business analysts play a crucial role in change management and ensuring successful project delivery.

From these tasks, we can tell that the best laptop for business analysts will facilitate them with plenty of multitasking and good communication.

What Functionality Is Required For A Business Analyst’s Laptops?

A business-grade laptop for a business analyst should possess specific functionality to support their tasks effectively.

We already know they are going to need power to use that heavy software and multi-tasking, as well as good communication and collaboration features. Let’s break it down into specific functionality:

1. Processing Power: Business analysts often work with complex data sets and perform resource-intensive tasks, so they will require a powerful processor and ample RAM to handle these tasks efficiently and provide a seamless user experience.
   
2. Software Compatibility: The best laptops for business analysts should be compatible with industry-standard software such as Microsoft Excel, SQL databases, data visualisation tools, and project management software.
   
3. Storage and Memory: The ability to store and access large volumes of data is crucial for business analysts. Sufficient storage capacity, preferably with solid-state drives (SSDs), allows for quick data retrieval, faster application launches, and improved overall performance.
   
4. Display Quality: A high-resolution display with accurate colour reproduction is beneficial for business analysts working with detailed data visualisations, process diagrams, and reports. A larger screen size and an anti-glare coating can enhance productivity and reduce eye strain during prolonged usage. However, they might not need visual display specs quite as sharp as a graphic designer.

We now know what functionality and attributes are important for a high-quality business laptop for a business analyst. So, what are some of the best business-grade laptops on the market today that would meet these criteria?

Best Laptops For A Business Analyst

Here are some top laptop choices for business analysts, which possess all of the above features:

Dell XPS 15 – Dell has excellent laptops in its business-grade collection. Most people are familiar with Dell, but their business models are very reliable and durable. The XPS range is particularly impressive for a balance of power and durability. The Dell XPS 15 would actually be suitable for a wide variety of roles as it is a decent all-round laptop.  This laptop offers a powerful processor, ample RAM, excellent display quality, and SSD storage. A data analyst would be able to achieve their goals easily and comfortably with this device. It is powered by a 4th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M graphics card.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – The Lenovo ThinkPads have a strong reputation for quality among business devices, but the X1 Carbon is especially impressive. It is consistently rated as one of the best business laptops on the market currently.  The X1 Carbon is known for its durability, performance, and portability. The TPM 2.0 chip and a fingerprint reader are some nice standout security features. The 14-inch IPS Anti-glare 6:10 display with choices of HD or Ultra HD + is a great touch. However, it’s the Intel Core i7 that gives the laptop its power. It is also a superior model for collaboration and communication thanks to the High-Def Dolby Atmos speakers, quad array microphone and HD IR webcam.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 – The Surface Laptop 5 from Microsoft is one of the best laptops for a wide range of roles that include using plenty of business software and multi-tasking. It is, therefore, ideal for a business analyst. It comes in choices of 13 inch or 15 inches and i5 or i7 Intel Core processors depending on your power requirements. We recommend the i7 if you are going to be using a lot of heavy-duty software at once. It is a very efficient business laptop with a sleek design and up to 18 hour battery life making it highly portable.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – This provides something a bit different from the Surface Laptop 5 in that it is a 2-in-1 device. Generally, 2-in-1s tend to be less powerful than a traditional laptop but their power capabilities have been rapidly growing more ambitious. Now, these hybrid devices can be a very good option if you are presenting on the go, as they can shift seamlessly between tablet and laptop mode.

MacBook Pro – The MacBook Pros are far better at compatibility than they were a few years ago. They can handle nearly all of the specialist software that a PC business-grade laptop can, and this makes them a strong contender as the best laptop for a business analyst. Along with better compatibility, the new Apple Silicon chips make MacBooks powerful, fast, and efficient, in fact, some of the most efficient business laptops that you can buy. MacBooks are designed for creative professionals and so provide some of the best calibre in crisp visuals and advanced displays. If you are a business analyst who does a lot of presenting of visualised data, then the MacBook Pro should definitely be in your business laptop shortlist.