Differences between the business analyst and software architect

Business analyst:

A business analyst is responsible for analyzing the business needs of their clients to help identify business problems and propose solutions. He is the one who defines the requirements of the business application. He plays a significant role in bridging the communication between management and the IT, by which the organization can witness an increased ROI and a more motivated and a productive work force.

Software architect:

The role of an architect is almost like that of an ex-developer and is unique compared to the job of developers or project managers, because it requires long-term involvement, transverse to projects and teams. He must work hand-in-hand with the business analyst especially to understand the needs started by him and design the tool according to the requirements stated by the analyst. He must be a technical evangelist and must be able to build a durable architecture independent with regard to API/framework providers. His expertise must be such that he must be able to bridge the gap between developers, project managers and business experts.