Process Mining Defined

Process mining is a collection of methods that, essentially, extract the operational data (date, time, user, activity, object, etc.) stored in the event logs of corporate information systems to understand and optimize business processes. As IBM puts it, “process mining applies data science to discover, validate and improve workflows.”

The data extracted from the data mining process can be used to visualize processes and, through the creation of the digital twin, re-engineer it to increase efficiency. 

There are generally considered to be 3 levels of process mining:

• Discovery. The most widely adopted form of process mining, process discovery uses event log data to create a process model without outside influence. In other words, it builds a digital twin or simulation. 
• Conformance. Conformance checking confirms if the intended process model is actually being followed in practice. In other words, it compares a process description to an existing process model based on its event log data, identifying any deviations from the intended model.
• Enhancement. The 3rd and final level of process mining, enhancement extends or improves a model using data derived from an event log or other data sources.

What are the benefits of Process mining?

Process mining technology offers organizations a wide range of benefits including:

• Reduced costs and increased efficiency. Process mining is a powerful tool for spotting bottlenecks, redundancies and other process inefficiencies. 
• Increased transparency and visibility into processes. Process mining produces a wealth of actionable process data that can be used to ensure accountability as well as enhance decision making. 
• Improved compliance and auditing capabilities. One of the often overlooked benefits of process mining is improved compliance. In fact, process mining enables an unbiased and fact-based process compliance checking
• Pinpoints and primes processes for automation
• Increased organizational resilience & agility

Process Mining Solution Providers

While there are too many to list out here, some of the most well-known process mining tools are:

• Celonis Process Mining: As one of the first companies to develop process mining technology, Celonis remains one of the most popular solution providers out there. Last year, the company launched a new platform called “execution management,” which gives clients access to a dashboard showing real-time data on processes and the ability to automate certain tasks.  Celonis has thousands of customers, including ABB, AstraZeneca, Bosch, Coca-Cola, Citibank, Danaher Corporation, Dell, GSK, John Deere, L'Oréal, Siemens, Uber, Vodafone and Whirlpool. 
• UiPath Process Mining: UiPath Process Mining is a Process Mining solution that transforms data from your IT systems into visual interactive dashboards, allowing you to see existing value decreases, bottlenecks, and discrepancies, as well as understanding the root-causes and possible risks. It offers real-time, valuable insights to improve business processes over time.
• Kofax Insight: Kofax Insight combines process monitoring and analysis with rich visualizations, analytics and data integration in a single solution for end-to-end visibility of your operational performance and compliance.
• Nintex Promapp: Establish total visibility and control over your enterprise processes with Nintex Promapp®.  Use visual process mapping software to encourage company-wide collaboration, increase accountability, and improve your processes—all with one easy-to-use platform.