Offering amazing client support is not just nice to have. It's a requirement to run your business nowadays.

Clients are more demanding than ever. Especially when it comes to the speeding money and quality of the support they are expecting from the service provider. And they have every right to be. In the USA alone, 30% of clients stopped doing business with a company over poor Client management support. It’s the same across the globe. Businesses worldwide are searching for ways to develop a better strategy to manage their future client-service provider relationships. As the number of service industries evolves, businesses are increasingly relying on a new breed of analysts. They are more client-focused, data-driven and skilled in using technological tools to solve problems. But if you do not have the right resources, then there is no value in keeping the wrong one in the business who can't add any positive value. So from this level of business need, some companies are introducing an interesting service, called Business Analysis as a Service (BaaS).

What is BaaS?

BaaS (Business Analysis as a Service) is an emerging sector with an expected growth rate of 20% per year; it's no surprise that this sector is highly sought after. Business Analysts often take on the role of facilitator, looking at a company's business problem from many different angles until they find a solution that not only benefits the company but also satisfies the clients. Their role has transformed into one that focuses on technology and data for problem-solving rather than just being conversant in general business practices. This means that companies need to be open-minded to changes in their work as well.

Through various research, automation has been put into practice for the business analysis process. But the business analyst might be better utilized by conducting detailed analysis and decision-making in advance and freeing up time for additional tasks, rather than spending hours on client support.

BaaS is an emerging industry where clients can buy their happiness (business analysis as a service to help them with their complex needs in decision-making and strategic planning).

How do BaaS work?

Why not have your business analysis serviced like you do your car?

When your car needs a service, you book it in, arrive, hand over the keys, return later that day, pay and drive home. You trusted the dealership to do what you paid them to do, service the car. You never asked for a specific mechanic, you never asked for a subject matter expert, all you wanted was for the service to be completed, the logbook to be signed and to have a checklist of the agreed work that was performed. No hassle, all done.

Similarly, the way you and your internal clients (Product Owners, Project Managers, Development Leads etc) receive business analysis should be no different. You should have the confidence and expectation that you will receive the right outcomes to drive the initiative in the right direction. When your business needs analysis, you book it with us, you return later, pay, and receive the agreed outcomes.

You never need to ask for a specific consultant, based on your task type, the service provider will engage with your SMEs, you never need to ask for special requests as they scope and identify the requirements to the appropriate levels, highlight any risks or assumptions and deliver the agreed outcomes, bringing value for money, in shorter timeframes resulting in improved initiatives. No hassle, all done.

BaaS can be used to solve any problem that involves data collection or data interpretation at scale, including Data collection, Data interpretation, Compliance reporting, Timely financial reporting for all departments within the organization, The creation of dashboards for the management team, and Statistical models for predictive analysis. However, business analysis is a broad service offering that can cover anything to do with innovation, people, processes, and technology. In addition, the customers of Business Analysis also vary including Product Managers & Owners, Developers, Testers, and Solution Architects, all the way through to CIOs, CEO, and Company Directors.

It’s called Business Analysis as a Service, and the service should be second to none.

In a BaaS model, the service provider works in collaboration with you and your internal clients to establish the required services needed to deliver the analysis for the organisation’s improvements to its products and services. They will document the needs, define an appropriate approach, set timelines etc.

This provides an opportunity to identify the competencies and capabilities required to fulfil this need. The assigned BAs would work to develop an approach and delivery plan, provide consistent reporting to ensure the agreed-upon outcomes are being delivered, and manage any issues that may be putting these outcomes at risk.

This model puts the accountability of business analysis outcomes back to the BA Team and BA Manager, rather than on the shoulders of the individual or the team they are working in. In doing so, it provides the BA Team Manager with the ability to forward plan resourcing, forward plan capability uplifts, and assign the right person to deliver the right service. This results in the right service, delivered at the right time, with the right analysis, resulting in better outcomes for your organisation.

This model works in both small and large team environments, agile and waterfall.

Why BaaS?

In the current business world, there are three major reasons, why you should hire a vendor for Business analysis support.

a. Lower Operational Cost

b. Improve Client Support performance

c. Stand out against the competition