GitHub Copilot for Business Analysts: 10 Practical Use Cases You Can Try Today

[nikhil-thampi]

Business Analysts (BAs) often navigate complex requirements, legacy systems, and stakeholder communication—all while keeping pace with development teams. GitHub Copilot, your AI pair programmer, isn't just for developers. It can supercharge BA productivity by translating intent into code, documentation, and diagrams.

In this blog, we explore 10 real-world use cases for GitHub Copilot tailored for BAs—with hands-on prompts and sample code to try yourself in VS Code.

Please note that I have refrained from including a screenshot of the GitHub Copilot results for you to try it yourself and fully appreciate its capabilities.

---

1. 🔍 Reverse Engineer Legacy Systems

Scenario: Understand undocumented codebases and extract business rules.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Summarizes function logic
• Explains complex if-else branches
• Traces flow of data

Try This Prompt:

# Explain the business logic of the following function

Sample Code:

def calculate_bonus(salary, years):
    if years >= 5:
        return salary * 0.10
    elif years >= 3:
        return salary * 0.05
    else:
        return 0

---

2. 🧬 Generate ERDs or Data Models

Scenario: Visualize data relationships from SQL or ORM models.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Generate Mermaid or PlantUML diagrams
• Parse SQL to detect foreign keys

Try This Prompt:

-- Convert the following SQL to a Mermaid ER diagram

Sample Code:

CREATE TABLE Department (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100)
);

CREATE TABLE Employee (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100),
  dept_id INT,
  FOREIGN KEY (dept_id) REFERENCES Department(id)
);

---

3. 🚧 Translate Requirements into SQL or Data Pipelines

Scenario: Convert business questions into SQL or Python data logic.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Translate user stories to SQL queries
• Generate Python scripts using Pandas for analysis

Try This Prompt:

-- How many users signed up via referral in the last 30 days?

Sample Code (Table Definition):

CREATE TABLE Users (
  id INT, name TEXT, signup_date DATE, referred_by TEXT
);

---

4. 🧪 Create Mock Data for Testing/Demos

Scenario: Generate realistic datasets for testing or demos.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Suggest hardcoded or script-generated mock data
• Use libraries like Faker in Python

Try This Prompt:

# Generate mock JSON data for 5 customer orders

Sample Code:

import random
import json

orders = [
  {"order_id": i, "amount": round(random.uniform(10, 200), 2)} for i in range(1, 6)
]
print(json.dumps(orders, indent=2))

---

5. 📄 Auto-Generate Documentation from Code

Scenario: Summarize functions, APIs, and modules.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Write docstrings
• Generate README sections

Try This Prompt:

# Add docstring explaining what this function does

Sample Code:

def filter_high_value_orders(orders):
    return [o for o in orders if o["amount"] > 100]

---

6. 🔗 Map System Integrations and Dependencies

Scenario: Visualize how services interact in a system.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Extract REST/API call flows
• Create sequence diagrams

Try This Prompt:

' Create a sequence diagram for the following flow:
' 1. User submits form
' 2. Frontend calls Backend API
' 3. Backend stores data in DB

Sample Output:

@startuml
actor User
User -> Frontend: Submit Form
Frontend -> Backend: POST /submit
Backend -> DB: Save Data
@enduml

---

7. ✅ Generate Acceptance Criteria

Scenario: Draft Gherkin-style tests from user stories.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Write Given-When-Then scenarios
• Cover happy and edge cases

Try This Prompt:

# Write Gherkin scenarios for a login feature

Sample Output:

Scenario: Successful login
  Given the user is on the login page
  When the user enters valid credentials
  Then they are redirected to the dashboard

---

8. 📃 Write or Review JSON/YAML Specs

Scenario: Create or validate structured config files.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Suggest fields for OpenAPI specs
• Validate config templates

Try This Prompt:

# Create OpenAPI spec for GET /users

Sample Output:

paths:
  /users:
    get:
      summary: Get user list
      responses:
        '200':
          description: A JSON array of users

---

9. 🔊 Explain Technical Concepts in Plain English

Scenario: Help stakeholders understand code/config without jargon.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Translate code into simple explanations
• Summarize scripts or functions in natural language

Try This Prompt:

# Explain in plain English what this function does

Sample Code:

def notify_users(users):
    for user in users:
        if user["active"]:
            print(f"Notify {user['name']}")

---

10. ⚖️ Model Business Workflows as Code

Scenario: Visualize business processes using Mermaid/PlantUML.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Turn step-by-step text into diagrams
• Useful for stakeholder walkthroughs

Try This Prompt:

### Convert the following business process to a Mermaid diagram:
1. Customer logs in
2. Customer searches for product
3. System displays results
4. Customer adds item to cart
5. Checkout

Sample Output:

graph TD
  Login --> Search --> Results --> Cart --> Checkout

Loading

---

🚀 Final Thoughts

GitHub Copilot is a powerful ally for Business Analysts looking to improve productivity, clarity, and speed. Whether you're reverse engineering old systems, creating diagrams, or translating requirements, GitHub Copilot makes these tasks more intuitive and efficient.

Try these prompts in VS Code today and see how AI can elevate your analysis game!

[jtyzzer]

Nice! Great suggestions!

[nikhil-thampi]

Thanks Jeff! Great to see your feedback! ❤️

[igorlestin]

cool

[prabhatadvait]

This is really creative and booster that will save time , but what if i want to learning writing complex queries will copilot will be helpful for it?

[nikhil-thampi]

I would say the answer is depends. I am assuming you are trying to write SQL queriues. In that case, you will have to provide necessary details like table details and additional data information so that Copilot can help you to take an informed decision.

[prabhatadvait]

Thank you for answering it sir, actually i am learning the sql by solving question from various website , sometimes i get stuck and really don't understand what's the point of question so , my question is how can i use it to understand the question ,to learn the sql without totally getting dependent on it , is it the prompt that i need to follow or some trick ?

[onurcelebi96]

Excellent write-up 👏
I think one of the most underrated Copilot use cases for Business Analysts is prompt engineering for requirement translation especially when converting stakeholder requests into precise SQL or API specs.

A practical trick I use:

“Generate SQL for this business logic, but include inline comments describing why each filter exists.”

This not only clarifies intent for developers but also teaches junior analysts how to reason about data logic, not just produce code.

GitHub Copilot becomes a kind of “logic mirror” it reflects your analytical structure back at you.
Amazing potential here for structured thinking! 🚀

[aj2893252-ship-it]

Business Analysts (BAs) often navigate complex requirements, legacy systems, and stakeholder communication—all while keeping pace with development teams. GitHub Copilot, your AI pair programmer, isn't just for developers. It can supercharge BA productivity by translating intent into code, documentation, and diagrams.

In this blog, we explore 10 real-world use cases for GitHub Copilot tailored for BAs—with hands-on prompts and sample code to try yourself in VS Code.

Please note that I have refrained from including a screenshot of the GitHub Copilot results for you to try it yourself and fully appreciate its capabilities.

1. 🔍 Reverse Engineer Legacy Systems

Scenario: Understand undocumented codebases and extract business rules.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Summarizes function logic
• Explains complex if-else branches
• Traces flow of data

Try This Prompt:

# Explain the business logic of the following function

Sample Code:

def calculate_bonus(salary, years):
    if years >= 5:
        return salary * 0.10
    elif years >= 3:
        return salary * 0.05
    else:
        return 0

2. 🧬 Generate ERDs or Data Models

Scenario: Visualize data relationships from SQL or ORM models.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Generate Mermaid or PlantUML diagrams
• Parse SQL to detect foreign keys

Try This Prompt:

-- Convert the following SQL to a Mermaid ER diagram

Sample Code:

CREATE TABLE Department (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100)
);

CREATE TABLE Employee (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100),
  dept_id INT,
  FOREIGN KEY (dept_id) REFERENCES Department(id)
);

3. 🚧 Translate Requirements into SQL or Data Pipelines

Scenario: Convert business questions into SQL or Python data logic.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Translate user stories to SQL queries
• Generate Python scripts using Pandas for analysis

Try This Prompt:

-- How many users signed up via referral in the last 30 days?

Sample Code (Table Definition):

CREATE TABLE Users (
  id INT, name TEXT, signup_date DATE, referred_by TEXT
);

4. 🧪 Create Mock Data for Testing/Demos

Scenario: Generate realistic datasets for testing or demos.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Suggest hardcoded or script-generated mock data
• Use libraries like Faker in Python

Try This Prompt:

# Generate mock JSON data for 5 customer orders

Sample Code:

import random
import json

orders = [
  {"order_id": i, "amount": round(random.uniform(10, 200), 2)} for i in range(1, 6)
]
print(json.dumps(orders, indent=2))

5. 📄 Auto-Generate Documentation from Code

Scenario: Summarize functions, APIs, and modules.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Write docstrings
• Generate README sections

Try This Prompt:

# Add docstring explaining what this function does

Sample Code:

def filter_high_value_orders(orders):
    return [o for o in orders if o["amount"] > 100]

6. 🔗 Map System Integrations and Dependencies

Scenario: Visualize how services interact in a system.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Extract REST/API call flows
• Create sequence diagrams

Try This Prompt:

' Create a sequence diagram for the following flow:
' 1. User submits form
' 2. Frontend calls Backend API
' 3. Backend stores data in DB

Sample Output:

@startuml
actor User
User -> Frontend: Submit Form
Frontend -> Backend: POST /submit
Backend -> DB: Save Data
@enduml

7. ✅ Generate Acceptance Criteria

Scenario: Draft Gherkin-style tests from user stories.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Write Given-When-Then scenarios
• Cover happy and edge cases

Try This Prompt:

# Write Gherkin scenarios for a login feature

Sample Output:

Scenario: Successful login
  Given the user is on the login page
  When the user enters valid credentials
  Then they are redirected to the dashboard

8. 📃 Write or Review JSON/YAML Specs

Scenario: Create or validate structured config files.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Suggest fields for OpenAPI specs
• Validate config templates

Try This Prompt:

# Create OpenAPI spec for GET /users

Sample Output:

paths:
  /users:
    get:
      summary: Get user list
      responses:
        '200':
          description: A JSON array of users

9. 🔊 Explain Technical Concepts in Plain English

Scenario: Help stakeholders understand code/config without jargon.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Translate code into simple explanations
• Summarize scripts or functions in natural language

Try This Prompt:

# Explain in plain English what this function does

Sample Code:

def notify_users(users):
    for user in users:
        if user["active"]:
            print(f"Notify {user['name']}")

10. ⚖️ Model Business Workflows as Code

Scenario: Visualize business processes using Mermaid/PlantUML.

What GitHub Copilot Can Do:

• Turn step-by-step text into diagrams
• Useful for stakeholder walkthroughs

Try This Prompt:

### Convert the following business process to a Mermaid diagram:
1. Customer logs in
2. Customer searches for product
3. System displays results
4. Customer adds item to cart
5. Checkout

Sample Output:

graph TD
  Login --> Search --> Results --> Cart --> Checkout

Loading

🚀 Final Thoughts

GitHub Copilot is a powerful ally for Business Analysts looking to improve productivity, clarity, and speed. Whether you're reverse engineering old systems, creating diagrams, or translating requirements, GitHub Copilot makes these tasks more intuitive and efficient.

Try these prompts in VS Code today and see how AI can elevate your analysis game!
Hi

[GittBUB]

I would like to add that an analyst can also review responses from an API endpoint before the frontend is ready to visualize it.

All they need to do is obtain the json response, then using Agent mode in VS Code, ask Copilot to organize the data into a flat file. Using the flat file, they can review and analyze the data for accuracy.

In my past roles, developers would overlook the need for data analysis. We also viewed it as "throw-away work," meaning work that was only needed for one task, then it would never be used again. This caused such tasks to be very low in the priority list. This in turn meant that the analyst could not review the data until the frontend was complete. Copilot can change this by avoiding another developer backlog item and empower the analyst.

[quesosycremasmrvaca-creator]

Wondefull