{"id":2559212,"date":"2025-05-15T11:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2559212"},"modified":"2025-05-15T11:07:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:07:42","slug":"considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/analytics\/considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst","title":{"rendered":"Considerations for working with benchmark comparisons in Business Analyst Pro vs. Business Analyst Web App"},"author":78361,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23341,22941],"tags":[778722],"industry":[],"product":[36711,36561],"class_list":["post-2559212","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-analytics","category-mapping","tag-arcgis-pro-3-5","product-bus-analyst","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":321952,"user_firstname":"Sarah","user_lastname":"David","nickname":"Sarah David","user_nicename":"sdavid","display_name":"S David","user_email":"sdavid@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2022-11-08 21:39:20","user_description":"S David writes about ArcGIS Business Analyst.","user_avatar":""},{"ID":78361,"user_firstname":"Gemma","user_lastname":"Goodale-Sussen","nickname":"Gemma Goodale-Sussen","user_nicename":"ggoodalesussen","display_name":"Gemma Goodale-Sussen","user_email":"ggoodalesussen@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2020-08-06 15:49:58","user_description":"Gemma is a writer at Esri, focusing on content for the ArcGIS Business Analyst team.","user_avatar":""}],"short_description":"Explore data with the benchmark comparisons workflow in Business Analyst Pro and Business Analyst Web App.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App and the ArcGIS Business Analyst extension in ArcGIS Pro have long been companion applications for spatial analysis. Business Analyst Web App<\/a> is a go-to product for web-based GIS for users who want to understand communities, support business expansion, and identify market opportunities. It is updated three times a year, in line with ArcGIS Online product releases.<\/p>\n

Business Analyst Pro<\/a>, on the other hand, is part of Esri\u2019s powerhouse ArcGIS Pro desktop software and is released for download twice a year. It extends the web capabilities with more advanced workflows, territory design, customer analysis, and more.<\/p>\n

Because Business Analyst products are developed in tandem, workflows in one application often serve as inspiration for the other application. This is the case with\u00a0benchmark comparisons<\/a>, which allows Business Analyst Web App users to compare sites using criteria and benchmark values. For example, you might compare SAT scores across school districts in Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2794852,"id":2794852,"title":"Comparison image","filename":"Comparison-image.png","filesize":122011,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/analytics\/considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst\/comparison-image","alt":"Benchmark comparisons workflow in Business Analyst Web App and Business Analyst Pro","author":"78361","description":"","caption":"","name":"comparison-image","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2559212,"date":"2025-05-15 17:42:16","modified":"2025-05-15 17:43:27","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":800,"height":251,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":146,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":241,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","large-width":800,"large-height":251,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":251,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":251,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","card_image-width":800,"card_image-height":251,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Comparison-image.png","wide_image-width":800,"wide_image-height":251}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

In Business Analyst Web App, the benchmark comparisons<\/a> workflow compares sites using criteria and benchmark values that you set. Results are displayed on a map and in the Results<\/strong> pane. On the map, the styling can be changed using different comparison methods. The Results<\/strong> pane includes a summary, histogram, bubble chart, and table. In the table, you can compare with geographies to expand the analysis. On the Summary <\/strong>tab, you can use in-app documentation to learn about the underlying statistics<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2561222,"id":2561222,"title":"2024-10-29_12-20-17","filename":"2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","filesize":2145613,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/analytics\/considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst\/2024-10-29_12-20-17","alt":"Explore the benchmark comparisons results in Business Analyst Web App.","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-10-29_12-20-17","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2559212,"date":"2024-11-05 17:26:45","modified":"2024-11-05 17:26:55","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/gif","type":"image","subtype":"gif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","large-width":1280,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17-826x465.gif","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-20-17.gif","wide_image-width":1280,"wide_image-height":720}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

In Business Analyst Pro, the benchmark comparisons<\/a> workflow compares locations using variables and site attributes. Results are displayed on the map and in the Results<\/strong> pane. Significantly, benchmark comparisons are the final capability from the previous ArcGIS Desktop software to be incorporated into ArcGIS Pro\u2014bringing Business Analyst into full equivalency<\/a> with the well-loved (but retired) software product.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2794872,"id":2794872,"title":"BC of Kentucky counties","filename":"BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","filesize":881463,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/analytics\/considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst\/bc-of-kentucky-counties","alt":"Benchmark comparison of counties in Kentucky","author":"78361","description":"","caption":"","name":"bc-of-kentucky-counties","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2559212,"date":"2025-05-15 17:46:09","modified":"2025-05-15 17:46:18","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":1040,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":251,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":416,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":1040,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties-1536x832.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":832,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1040,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties-826x447.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":447,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/BC-of-Kentucky-counties.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1040}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

This article walks through the basic similarities and differences between these two sister workflows in Business Analyst.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is the same between the two workflows?<\/h2>\n

There are many similarities between the two workflows. Fundamentally, both workflows compare sites using variables, allow you to set a benchmark, and visualize the comparison on the map and in the Results pane.<\/p>\n

Choosing variables for comparison<\/h3>\n

Geographic data is the lifeblood of Business Analyst. The benchmark comparisons workflow allows you to explore the data to your heart\u2019s content by choosing as many variables as you want. In Business Analyst Web App, you can compare up to 10,000 sites.<\/p>\n

The experience of selecting variables is nearly identical between Business Analyst Web App and Business Analyst Pro. Both applications use the data browser (Web App<\/a> \/ Pro<\/a>) for adding variables to the comparison, the only difference being how you get there.<\/p>\n

In Business Analyst Web App, click Browse all variables <\/strong>to access the data browser. You can also select from curated variable lists by topic, such as variables reflecting income or spending habits in an area.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2561232,"id":2561232,"title":"2024-10-29_12-28-08","filename":"2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","filesize":44952,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/analytics\/considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst\/2024-10-29_12-28-08","alt":"Browse the data browser in Business Analyst Web App.","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-10-29_12-28-08","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2559212,"date":"2024-11-05 17:27:24","modified":"2024-11-05 17:27:31","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":384,"height":807,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","medium-width":124,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","medium_large-width":384,"medium_large-height":807,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","large-width":384,"large-height":807,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","1536x1536-width":384,"1536x1536-height":807,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","2048x2048-width":384,"2048x2048-height":807,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08-221x465.png","card_image-width":221,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-10-29_12-28-08.png","wide_image-width":384,"wide_image-height":807}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

In Business Analyst Pro, you can add variables from the data browser (by clicking the Add <\/strong>button) as well as site attributes from the input features you added. Site attributes could be things like the area of the polygon (as in the example below, with Kentucky counties) or your own data such as sales volume for a trade area.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2794892,"id":2794892,"title":"Choose variables in pane","filename":"Choose-variables-in-pane.png","filesize":63964,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/analytics\/considerations-for-benchmark-comparisons-in-business-analyst\/choose-variables-in-pane","alt":"Options for adding variables and site attributes in BA Pro","author":"78361","description":"","caption":"","name":"choose-variables-in-pane","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2559212,"date":"2025-05-15 17:48:28","modified":"2025-05-15 17:48:39","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":393,"height":632,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","medium-width":162,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","medium_large-width":393,"medium_large-height":632,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","large-width":393,"large-height":632,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","1536x1536-width":393,"1536x1536-height":632,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","2048x2048-width":393,"2048x2048-height":632,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane-289x465.png","card_image-width":289,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Choose-variables-in-pane.png","wide_image-width":393,"wide_image-height":632}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Setting a benchmark<\/h3>\n

As the name implies, one of the central functionalities of the benchmark comparisons workflow is setting a benchmark against which to compare the data across sites or features. In both Business Analyst Web App and Business Analyst Pro, you can identify the benchmark as a value\u2014such as the median or average of all sites\u2014or as the values for a specific site or feature.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Business Analyst Web App, you can set the benchmark in two different ways:<\/p>\n