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

Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Creating Business Value with Data and Looker
Skills you'll gain: Looker (Software), Dashboard, Data Governance, Digital Transformation, Real Time Data, Google Cloud Platform, Data Modeling, Data Management, Data Warehousing, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Data Sharing, Big Data, Cloud Storage, Analytics, Business Intelligence, Data Presentation, Data Processing, Database Design, Performance Tuning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Universiteit Leiden
Population Health: Predictive Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Predictive Analytics, Predictive Modeling, Risk Modeling, R Programming, Statistical Modeling, Sample Size Determination, Statistical Inference, Regression Analysis, Statistical Machine Learning, Feature Engineering, Sampling (Statistics), Data Manipulation, Data Validation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
EDHEC Business School
Investment Management with Python and Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Investment Management, Portfolio Management, Text Mining, Asset Management, Network Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Machine Learning Methods, Financial Data, Unstructured Data, Predictive Modeling, Web Scraping, Machine Learning, Advanced Analytics, Financial Statements, Applied Machine Learning, Financial Market, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Return On Investment, Risk Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
PostgreSQL for Everybody
Skills you'll gain: Stored Procedure, Database Design, SQL, Relational Databases, NoSQL, PostgreSQL, Database Architecture and Administration, Database Theory, Database Management Systems, Data Modeling, JSON, Scalability, Database Management, Query Languages, Cloud Applications, Data Manipulation, Text Mining, Databases, Data Integrity, Data Import/Export
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
BI Dashboards with IBM Cognos Analytics and Google Looker
Skills you'll gain: IBM Cognos Analytics, Dashboard, Business Intelligence, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Looker (Software), Data Visualization Software, Business Intelligence Software, Analytics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
29 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Generative AI Engineering with LLMs
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Natural Language Processing, Generative AI Agents, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Text Mining, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Artificial Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Application Development, Artificial Intelligence, Feature Engineering, Document Management, Machine Learning Methods, Jupyter, Data Processing, Applied Machine Learning, Performance Tuning, Application Frameworks
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
429 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Tableau Software, Data Visualization, Business Analytics, Statistical Visualization, Business Process, Business Process Improvement, Presentations, Data Visualization Software, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Graphing, Stakeholder Communications, Data Manipulation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Northwestern University
What is Social?
Skills you'll gain: Social Media Marketing, Target Audience, Social Media Strategy, Digital Transformation, Social Media Management, Professional Networking, Marketing Strategies, Content Strategy, Business Transformation, Market Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IE Business School
Market Research and Consumer Behavior
Skills you'll gain: Survey Creation, Surveys, Market Research, Business Research, Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Strategies, Research Design, Data Analysis, Research Reports, Market Analysis, Research Methodologies, Experimentation, Customer Analysis, Focus Group, Business Marketing, Decision Making
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
4.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Databases for Data Scientists
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Database Design, Database Management Systems, NoSQL, Data Warehousing, Relational Databases, Database Management, Database Administration, Databases, Database Architecture and Administration, Query Languages, Database Theory, Data Modeling, Data Analysis, MongoDB, Big Data, Data Architecture, Data Access, Data Integrity, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Toronto
Plant Bioinformatic Methods
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Network Analysis, Research Reports, Molecular Biology, Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology, Biology, Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Synthesis, Big Data, Statistical Methods, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis Software, Data Mining, Experimentation, Scientific Visualization, Life Sciences, Interactive Data Visualization, Statistical Analysis, Databases
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Text Marketing Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Supervised Learning, Unstructured Data, Marketing Analytics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Text Mining, Machine Learning Algorithms, Tensorflow, Machine Learning Methods, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Python Programming, Data Visualization, Semantic Web, Marketing, Statistical Methods, JSON, Data Science, Data Structures
Build toward a degree
3.1
Rating, 3.1 out of 5 stars
15 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months