Organizations today face constant pressure to align their business goals with technology. Two roles have emerged as critical players in this space: business architects and solution architects. While both focus on creating value through technology, their approaches, responsibilities, and areas of expertise differ significantly.
Understanding these differences helps companies hire the right talent and helps professionals choose the career path that fits their strengths. Let’s break down what sets these roles apart and where they overlap.
What Does a Business Architect Do?
A business architect works at the intersection of business strategy and execution. Think of them as the person who translates big-picture business goals into actionable blueprints. They don’t deal with specific technologies or technical implementations. Instead, they focus on understanding what the business needs to achieve and mapping out the capabilities required to get there.
Business architects play a role in business transformation by determining business capabilities, value streams, and creating models that represent how an organization operates. They work closely with executives, strategists, and other stakeholders to ensure everyone understands the business structure and where improvements are needed.
Their work includes creating capability maps, defining value streams, and building frameworks that show how different parts of the organization connect. Business architects assess enterprise capabilities and help rationalize proposed investments. They ask questions like: What does our business do? How do we create value? Which capabilities need strengthening?
When Mohammed Bawaji works with organizations on HR transformation, he follows a similar approach by mapping out people capabilities before recommending specific solutions. Business architects operate in that same strategic space, focusing on the “what” and “why” before anyone touches the “how.”
What Does a Solution Architect Do?
A solution architect is responsible for designing and developing technology solutions that meet business requirements and goals. Once the business architect has outlined what needs to happen, the solution architect steps in to figure out how to make it happen technically.
Solution architects translate business problems into technical specifications. They choose the right technology stack, design system integrations, and ensure the proposed solution actually works within the existing IT landscape. Solution architects bridge the gap between concept and implementation by acting as a channel between enterprise architecture and technical architecture.
Their responsibilities include designing system architectures, selecting appropriate technologies, creating technical documentation, and working with development teams to ensure proper implementation. They need deep technical knowledge across multiple platforms, programming languages, and infrastructure components.
Solution architects work with developers, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical specifications and design solutions that meet those requirements. They’re involved throughout the development process, from initial planning through implementation and maintenance.
Key Differences Between Business Architect Vs Solution Architect
Focus Area
Business architects focus on business strategy, capabilities, and organizational structure. Solution architects focus on technical design and implementation. One lives in the world of business processes and value streams. The other lives in the world of systems, platforms, and code.
Level of Technical Involvement
Business architects typically have a background in business, while solution architects often have a more technical background. Business architects need to understand technology at a conceptual level, but they don’t design technical solutions. Solution architects need hands-on technical expertise and must stay current with emerging technologies.
Deliverables
Business architects produce capability models, value stream maps, business process documentation, and strategic roadmaps. Solution architects create technical architecture diagrams, system specifications, integration designs, and proof-of-concept implementations.
Stakeholder Interaction
Both roles require strong communication skills, but they interact with different groups. Business architects spend more time with business leaders, executives, and operational managers. Solution architects work more closely with development teams, IT operations, and technical vendors.
Project Scope
Business architects tend to focus on the big picture and how various solutions can work together to achieve business goals. They operate at the program or portfolio level. Solution architects often get into the specifics of how a particular solution will be implemented. They work at the project or solution level.
Why Is Solution Architecture Important for Businesses? — Learn how smart architecture enhances efficiency, scalability, and decision-making; please read this blog.
Where the Roles Overlap
Despite their differences, business architects and solution architects must collaborate closely. The Business Architect, just like the Solution Architect, is a business technology strategist. Both roles require understanding how technology creates business value.
The handoff between these roles is critical. Business architects define the business solution vision, which becomes a key input for solution architects. When this collaboration works well, organizations get solutions that truly address business needs while being technically sound and maintainable.
Mohammed Bawaji emphasizes the importance of bridging strategy and execution in his work on HR systems. The same principle applies here: business architects set the strategic direction, and solution architects execute the technical implementation.
Skills Required for Each Role
Business Architect Skills
Business architects need strong business acumen and strategic thinking abilities. Business architect skills include experience with business process modeling, enterprise architecture, and associated tools. They must visualize growth, build high-level models, and translate complex subjects into clear recommendations.
Communication skills are critical. Business architects need communication skills to evangelize business architecture up and down the corporate chain of command. They also need persuasion skills to align different teams around common frameworks like capability models.
Other important skills include:
- Understanding business strategy and market dynamics
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving
- Stakeholder management
- Change management
- Process modeling and documentation
Solution Architect Skills
Solution architects need deep technical expertise. Solution architects must possess in-depth expertise and long-term experience on both the technology and non-technology side of projects. They need strong knowledge of software development, system integration, cloud platforms, and database design.
Solution architects need strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems concepts. They must design for scalability, performance, and reliability while managing technical risks.
Other critical skills include:
- Multiple programming languages and frameworks
- Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- System architecture and design patterns
- Technical leadership
- Project management
- Vendor evaluation and management
Career Paths and Education
Becoming a Business Architect
Business architects often come from backgrounds in business analysis, project management, business consulting, product management, or technical architecture. There’s no single path into this role.
Desired qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in physics, math, computer science, or information technology management, plus many years of experience in senior business analysis or solution architecture roles. Many business architects also pursue certifications like the Certified Business Architect (CBA) from the Business Architecture Guild.
The average business architect salary in the United States is $109,343 per year. Experienced professionals in this field can earn significantly more, especially in large organizations where business architecture maturity is high.
Becoming a Solution Architect
Solution architects generally hold a bachelor’s degree or master’s related to computer information systems, software engineering, or computer science. Companies may require applicants to have five to 10 years of experience with information technology systems or network administration.
Many solution architects start as software developers, system administrators, or technical leads before moving into architecture roles. Certifications from vendors like AWS, Microsoft, or Cisco can boost career prospects and earning potential.
The average salary for a solutions architect is $211,304 per year in United States. Top earners in major tech companies or specialized industries can command even higher compensation.
Business Architects vs Business Analysts: What’s the Difference? — Explore how each role shapes strategy and operations; please read this blog.
Which Role Fits Your Organization?
Organizations need both roles, but at different stages and for different purposes. If you’re defining business strategy, reorganizing capabilities, or mapping out future business models, you need a business architect. If you’re implementing specific technology solutions, upgrading systems, or integrating new platforms, you need a solution architect.
The most successful digital transformations happen when these roles work together. Business architects provide the strategic context and business requirements. Solution architects bring technical expertise and implementation know-how. Together, they ensure technology investments actually deliver business value.
Dr. Mohammed Bawaji‘s approach to HR transformation demonstrates this principle. Understanding what people capabilities an organization needs (business architecture thinking) must happen before implementing specific HR systems or tools (solution architecture work).
Common Misconceptions
Business Architects Are Just Business Analysts
Wrong. While business analysis is part of business architecture, a business architect is not the same as a business analyst. Business analysts focus on specific projects and requirements. Business architects work at a higher level, creating enterprise-wide frameworks and strategic blueprints.
Solution Architects Just Code
Also wrong. Solution architects are not typically involved in project development directly but are responsible for ensuring project resources are used efficiently and effectively. They design and guide rather than build.
These Roles Are Interchangeable
Not at all. While both are architect roles, the business architect vs solution architect distinction matters. They require different skill sets, serve different purposes, and operate at different levels of abstraction.
The Future of These Roles
Both roles continue to grow in importance. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for solution architects is expected to grow 13% between 2023 and 2033. Business architecture is also gaining recognition as organizations realize they need strategic guidance before jumping into technology implementations.
As digital transformation accelerates, the boundary between business and technology continues to blur. Both business architects and solution architects will need to expand their knowledge. Business architects will need stronger technology literacy. Solution architects will need deeper business understanding.
The organizations that thrive will be those that recognize the value of both roles and create environments where they collaborate effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business analyst become a business architect?
Yes, business analysts can transition into business architecture roles. As business analysts develop in their careers and work on enterprise programs, many develop business architecture skill sets or grow into business architect positions. The transition requires developing strategic thinking, gaining broader organizational perspective, and learning to work at the capability and value stream level rather than just project requirements.
What’s the main difference between business architect vs solution architect?
The main difference lies in focus and deliverables. Business architects focus on business strategy, capabilities, and organizational design while creating models and roadmaps. Solution architects focus on technical design and implementation, translating business requirements into working technology solutions. One operates in the business strategy space, the other in the technical implementation space.
Do solution architects need business knowledge?
Absolutely. Solution architects must have a deep understanding of business requirements and goals to design solutions that actually meet organizational needs. They need enough business understanding to ask the right questions, challenge requirements when needed, and propose solutions that make business sense, not just technical sense.
Which role pays more: business architect or solution architect?
Generally, solution architects earn higher salaries. Business architects average around $109,000 annually, while solution architects average around $211,000. The difference reflects the specialized technical expertise and years of hands-on experience required for solution architecture roles. Both salaries vary based on location, experience, company size, and industry.
Can one person be both a business architect and solution architect?
In small organizations, one person might wear both hats, but this is challenging. The roles require different skill sets and mindsets. Business architecture requires strategic thinking and business process expertise. Solution architecture requires deep technical knowledge and hands-on system design experience. Most professionals specialize in one area, though some experienced architects can bridge both domains over time.