business developer
Role lens
Are you passionate about identifying new opportunities and driving business growth? As a business developer, you’ll be at the forefront of expanding a company’s market presence and securing its future success.
Business developers are vital to companies seeking to increase their market share. Your days will involve analyzing market trends, identifying potential clients, and collaborating with marketing and sales teams to develop strategies for lead generation and sales support. You'll be a strategic thinker, constantly assessing a company’s strengths and finding ways to leverage them for competitive advantage.
- • Conducting strategic analyses of products and services to identify core advantages.
- • Developing and implementing marketing campaigns to generate leads.
- • Collaborating with sales teams to support sales efforts and close deals.
Are you passionate about identifying new opportunities and driving business growth? As a business developer, you’ll be at the forefront of expanding a company’s market presence and securing its future success.
Could business developer fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Analytical Thinking?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Future Outlook for business developer
The outlook for business developer is exceptionally stable. While AI tools will assist with daily tasks, the core of this role relies on human judgment, resulting in a high resilience score of 75.1%.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could business developer change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
How could business developer change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
This role remains strongly human-led where carry out sales analysis depends on trust, nuance, and real-world judgement.
Where AI may become a co-pilot
AI is more likely to assist supporting tasks such as expand store regional presence, documentation, search, and workflow coordination.
Tasks most exposed to automation
Automation pressure appears selective rather than broad, with the strongest signal currently coming from Cognitive software.
Detailed Analysis Vital Signs, AI Vectors & Megatrends
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Vital Signs, AI Vectors & Megatrends
Vital Signs
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Megatrend Signals
0-100%Model-derived scores. Indicates structural exposure to megatrends, not direct demand.
Technical Details
NexFuture™ v2.0 combines O*NET ability and activity profiles with ESCO skill group distributions and six global megatrend signals. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture™ Methodology White Paper for full details.
What people in this role usually do
Marketing & Sales
A typical day as a business developer
09 09:00 · Morning analyse business plans
10 10:30 · Mid-morning carry out sales analysis
12 12:00 · Midday expand store regional presence
14 14:00 · Afternoon apply business acumen
15 15:30 · Late afternoon collaborate in the development of marketing strategies
17 17:00 · Wrap-up identify new business opportunities
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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corporate sustainability
A business practice to conduct long-term sustainable growth by seeking environmental, economic, and social strategies as its three main pillars.
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sales strategies
The principles concerning customer behaviour and target markets with the aim of promotion and sales of a product or a service.
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services marketing
The set of marketing activities for businesses that provide services to improve brand awareness and raise sales. It focuses on intangible commodities.
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customer insight
The marketing concept referring to the deep understanding of the customer's motivations, behaviours, beliefs, preferences, and values that help understand the reasons why the way they do. This information is then useful for commercial purposes.
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vertical markets
A vertical market is a market in which vendors offer goods and services specific to a particular industry, trade, profession, or other group of customers with specialised needs.
- brand marketing techniques
- business analysis
- financial analysis
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carry out sales analysis
Examine sales reports to see what goods and services have and have not sold well.
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analyse business plans
Analyse the formal statements from businesses which outline their business goals and the strategies they set in place to meet them, in order to assess the feasibility of the plan and verify the business' ability to meet external requirements such as the repayment of a loan or return of investments.
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apply business acumen
Take appropriate actions in a business environment in order to maximise possible outcome from each situation.
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identify new business opportunities
Pursue potential customers or products in order to generate additional sales and ensure growth.
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study sales levels of products
Collect and analyse sales levels of products and services in order to use this information for determining the quantities to be produced in the following batches, customer feedback, price trends, and the efficiency of sales methods.
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expand store regional presence
Identify and develop strategies to expand the company's regional coverage.
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collaborate in the development of marketing strategies
Work together with a group of professionals to develop marketing strategies performing market analysis and financial viability while staying aligned with the company's goals.
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manage accounts
Manage the accounts and financial activities of an organisation, supervising that all the documents are correctly maintained, that all the information and calculations are correct, and that proper decisions are being made.
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liaise with managers
Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how business developer aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
Scan to continue on mobileGrowth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does business developer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What skills are most important for a business developer?
- Strong analytical skills, excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, and a strategic mindset are crucial. You’ll also need to be comfortable with market research, data analysis, and presenting information effectively.
- Can I work as a business developer as a freelancer?
- Yes, while this role is typically an employment position, freelancing is also a common arrangement. Many companies hire freelance business developers for specific projects or to supplement their existing team.
- How does the role differ from a sales role?
- While both roles involve generating revenue, a business developer focuses on the bigger picture – identifying new markets, developing strategies, and building partnerships. Sales roles are more focused on closing deals with existing leads.