Feature
Process mining aims to uncover, monitor and improve processes across the organization, by extracting knowledge from event logs available in information systems.
The starting point for process mining is an event log, Wil van der Aalst, researcher and professor at RWTH Aachen University, explained. “Each event in such a log refers to an activity (i.e., a well-defined step in some process) and is related to a particular case (i.e., a process instance). The events belonging to a case are ordered and can be seen as one ‘run’ of the process.”
Event logs may store extra information about events. In fact, van der Aalst says whenever possible, process mining techniques use this extra information, like the resource (person or device) executing the activity, the timestamp of the event or data elements recorded with the event.
3 Types of Process Mining
There are three main classes of process mining:
- Discovery: This type of process mining takes an event log and produces a model without any theoretical information. Process discovery is the most prominent process mining technique.
- Conformance: Conformance checking measures the alignment between the process model and reality.
- Enhancement: With this type of process mining, additional information is used to improve or extend an existing process model.
Use Cases for Process Mining
Van der Aalst outlined multiple applications for each type of process mining:
Use Cases for Discovery
- For discussing problems among stakeholders
- For coming up with process improvement ideas
- For model enhancement
Use Cases for Conformance
- To check the quality of documented processes
- To identify deviating cases and pinpoint what they have in common
- For auditing purposes
- To identify process fragments where the most deviations occur
Use Cases for Enhancement
- To extend or improve an existing model
Related Article: What Is Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)?
The Benefits of Using Process Mining
Joe Mislinski, process mining expert and principal consultant at Doculabs, says process mining produces what Celonis calls a “digital x-ray” of the actual as-is process, with all its qualities and its flaws — the friction, rework, errors and omissions are there for all to see.
“The client can often get defensive, but ultimately, it is what it is, and they have to deal with the cold hard facts of the process and all its warts,” Mislinski said.
The reason for this is that shining a spotlight on those friction points is what allows organizations to get to work solving them — and the benefits of doing that are numerous. They include:
Improved Process Efficiency
Process mining helps pinpoint areas to streamline. “By identifying unnecessary steps, redundancies and rework, organizations can optimize processes, leading to faster execution and reduced waiting times,” said Mislinski.
Enhanced Compliance
Process mining can help ensure adherence to regulations and internal policies. By highlighting deviations from the standard process, organizations can identify and address compliance risks proactively.
Improved Customer Experience
Streamlined processes often translate to faster turnaround times and fewer errors. “This translates to a smoother customer journey and increased customer satisfaction,” said Mislinski.
Better Resource Allocation
Another area where process mining can assist is with resource allocation, helping to identify where resources are being over or underutilized. “This data-driven approach allows for more strategic resource allocation, optimizing overall productivity,” Mislinski said.
Standardized Processes
Process mining not only brings out all the details (good and bad) of a specific process, it can also uncover variations in how a process is executed across different departments or teams. “This facilitates standardization efforts, leading to consistent and predictable outcomes,” Miskinski said.
Continuous Improvement
“Process mining fosters a data-driven approach to process improvement,” explained Mislinski. “By enabling ongoing monitoring and analysis, organizations can continuously identify and address inefficiencies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.”
Improved Employee Experience
Last but not least, utilizing process mining can lead to a better employee experience. By streamlining workflows and eliminating bottlenecks, process mining can contribute to a more efficient and less frustrating work environment for employees, Mislinski said.
How to Measure the Success of Process Mining Initiatives
Today’s process mining tools have many out-of-the-box options for measuring as-is and improved processes, Mislinski explained. However, there are several other key performance indicators (KPIs) he pointed out that organizations can follow:
Efficiency Metrics
- Cycle Time: Track the reduction in cycle time to quantify efficiency gains.
- Process Throughput: Measure the increase in throughput after process improvements are implemented based on process mining insights.
- Rework Rate: Track the decrease in rework rates as a measure of improved process quality.
Cost Metrics
- Cost per Unit: Track the decrease in cost per unit after process improvements.
- Resource Allocation: Measure the optimization of resource allocation based on process mining insights.
Compliance Metrics
- Compliance Rate: Track the improvements in compliance with regulations or internal policies after process adjustments identified by process mining.
- Audit Findings: Analyze the number and severity of audit findings related to process adherence before and after process mining initiatives.
Customer Satisfaction Metrics
- Customer Satisfaction Score: Track the increase in customer satisfaction scores after process mining is implemented.
Additional Success Factors
- Number of Processes Mined: Track the number of processes successfully analyzed and improved using process mining, which indicates score and impact of the initiative.
- Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate ROI by comparing the cost of process mining against quantifiable benefits like cost savings or revenue increase.
- User Adoption: Track the number of users actively using process mining tools and insights within the organization, with higher adoption indicating the iniative’s impact and cultural shift toward data-driven process management.
Related Article: How Process Mining Unearths Your Company's Digital Footprints
Utilizing Process Mining for Better Business
According to the Task Force on Process Mining, a group consisting of more than 70 process mining experts across 50+ organizations, an increasing number of people consider process mining one of the most important innovations in the field of business process management.
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Businesses wouldn’t get anything done without processes. And it’s within the best interest of the organization to make sure those processes are standardized, streamlined and as efficient as possible.
