PROCESS MINING

Systematic data-based monitoring and optimization of processes

WHAT IS PROCESS MINING?

Process Mining is a methodology that enables processes to be monitored and optimized systematically and on the basis of data. This is done by evaluating so-called event logs which contain data on the actual sequence of process steps as well as the time intervals between individual steps.

The objective of Process Mining essentially comprises two aspects:

Process-Compliance

Analyze and monitor to what extent a process corresponds in reality (“Current Process”) to the initially defined process image (“Target Process”), i.e. whether the individual process steps and their sequence meet expectations. For example, it could involve the detection of compliance violations (e.g. a buyer purchases goods without prior approval and without first creating a purchase order)

Process-Performance

Analyze and identify inefficiencies and optimization potentials in processes. If, for example, the time between two process steps is noticeably long (a “bottleneck”), targeted optimization can be carried out. This usually involves improving the throughput speed of the respective step (e.g. through automation measures such as robotic process automation) or eliminating the step completely in the course of a new process design

In principle, Process Mining can be applied to any kind of process. The central prerequisite is the availability of event logs that can be extracted from Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) or Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP).

Process Mining is therefore purely data-based and thus offers the possibility of objective and fact-based knowledge gain. The knowledge gained then forms the basis for the continuous monitoring of process compliance and the systematic optimization of process performance.

WHAT DOES EXPERIENCE SHOW, WHAT IS THE ADDED VALUE OF PROCESS MINING?

The market research company IDC gained two key pieces of information in a study:

Lack of transparency

The majority of companies lack transparency on the unused potential of existing process inefficiencies

Losses due to process inefficiencies

The existing process inefficiencies lead to a loss of approximately 20-30% of the turnover of these companies

If you consider how the complexity of processes increases with the growing number of process steps, variants, and people involved in different departments, it becomes clear that each of the people involved only ever sees a part of the whole. In this context, inefficiency is often only measured by the output of the overall process, but it is difficult to estimate where in the process it really exists. Inefficiencies may only creep in over time, as new requirements from clients, products and markets create process exceptions that then become the rule after a certain time.

In order to be competitive in today’s market environment, companies must establish processes that offer a certain degree of flexibility to respond to new requirements and are both efficient and compliant. The prerequisite for this is a comprehensive understanding of their own processes and procedures. Process Mining helps, for example, to find answers to the following questions:

  • Which clients should be served on a priority basis based on their payment behavior?
  • Which people do not follow the purchasing process?
  • Which suppliers have the best delivery times to be able to keep their own delivery promises?
  • Which production line generates the most manual corrections?

In this sense, Process Mining helps to ensure continuous “Process Performance Hygiene” in order to detect process deviations and inefficiencies as quickly as possible. In this way, efficiency and compliance can be sustainably controlled and improved.

DATACLUE HELPS YOU ON YOUR WAY TO PROCESS PERFORMANCE HYGIENE

In order to successfully implement Process Mining in the long term, a joint analysis of the initial situation is an absolute prerequisite. Depending on the status quo in terms of skills, data basis and technology, we then define both the target and the starting point for an independent data analysis. According to your requirements, we guide and accompany you at the desired speed on your way to becoming a data-driven company.

We are happy to start with an initial workshop in which we discuss a specific application situation from your company together and devise a possible solution approach as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or prototype. Based on the jointly-developed objectives and the associated requirements, our team of experts can then work out the MVP in an agile development process. The MVP can then be individually extended step-by-step with additional data and functionalities. We act proactively with integrity and precision at all times. The technologies we use can be flexibly expanded and offer sufficient scalability in the long term.

Feel free to contact us and our team of experts will help you find the right solution for you to generate real added value from your data.