Process Mining en
Process Mining en
Contents
1 Process Mining – an Overview 5
3.1 Healthcare 13
3.2 Manufacturing 13
3.3 Government 14
3.4 Education 15
3.5 Technology 15
3.6 Telecommunications 16
3.8 Utilities 17
3.10 Services 18
7 References 29
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Processes live at the heart of any modern
organization. Business processes are series of
functions or activities carried out in a specific
order to achieve organizational goals [1]. These
processes range from simple flows such as
processing an invoice to complex ones such as
product development or customer service.
As businesses expand and their operations
become more complex, maintaining efficiency,
and ensuring that processes operate as planned
can be difficult. Process Mining offers a solution
to this challenge.
Process Mining is a field that combines elements
from data analytics and business process
management to analyze, monitor, and improve
real-life processes [2]. It is an innovative approach
that turns event logs data residing in IT systems
into insightful, actionable information, helping
organizations to optimize their processes. In
today’s data-driven world, where processes are
increasingly complex and digital, Process Mining
has emerged as a crucial tool for understanding
and improving process performance.
The primary goal of process mining is to bridge the gap between traditional business process
analysis and how processes are really performed. This is achieved through three key activities:
01
Process Discovery
Automatically generating process models from event logs, giving an accurate visual
representation of the processes as they are really performed.
02 Conformance Checking
Comparing the discovered processes with existing process models or norms, to
identify deviations and compliance issues.
03
Process Optimization
Using insights gained from the analysis to optimize processes, enhance operational
efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.
Process Mining tools and techniques are versatile and can be applied across various domains,
such as supply chain management, healthcare, finance, and government. By unlocking the
potential of available logs data that organizations already possess, Process Mining offers a
powerful means to transform process management and drive digital transformation.
Process Mining 04
PROCESS MINING –
AN OVERVIEW
In the modern business landscape, organizations
continually strive to optimize their operations. At
the heart of this endeavor are business processes.
Business processes are series of functions or
activities carried out in a specific order to achieve
organizational goals [1]. They are fundamental to
any organization's operations, regardless of size or
sector. They range from simple flows such as
processing an invoice to complex ones such as
product development or customer service.
Understanding business processes is essential for
improving efficiency, productivity, and customer
satisfaction.
Organizations need business processes for many
reasons, such as efficiency, clarity, accountability,
performance measurement, and innovation and
improvement. However, as businesses grow and
processes become more intricate, it becomes
challenging to maintain efficiency and ensure that
these processes are running as intended. This is
where Process Mining can help.
1.1. What is Process Mining?
Process Mining is a field that combines elements from data analytics and business process
management to analyze, monitor, and improve real-life processes [2]. It uses the digital footprints
left behind in today’s information systems in the form of event logs -records of events that have
taken place within an organization's IT systems- to understand and improve how these processes
work.
Unlike traditional business process management, which relies on planned models, Process
Mining builds on actual data, providing an objective view of process flows. Process Mining
provides a detailed, data-driven view of how processes really operate within an organization. This
visibility allows businesses to optimize efficiency, improve performance, and ensure compliance
with regulations and standards. Figure 1 shows an example of process discovery output, one of
the techniques in Process Mining.
608
374
413
Process Mining has evolved significantly since its beginning, developing alongside advances in
technology and the growing need for process optimization in various industries. Throughout its
development, Process Mining has transitioned from an academic concept to a component of
business process management in organizations worldwide. Its ability to provide transparent,
data-driven insights makes it an invaluable tool for businesses seeking to thrive in an increasingly
data-centric world. Figure 2 illustrates major milestones in the evolution of Process Mining field.
Process Mining 06
Emergence
of Process Maturation and
Mining Commercialization
Technological
Concept Integration with
Advancements
Early
and Increased Big Data and AI
Foundations
Late 1990s Data Availability 2010s
- Early 2000s
With Process Mining, businesses can gain deep insights into their operations. It allows for the
discovery of the actual flow of processes, revealing inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and deviations
from intended workflows [2]. Organizations can use these insights to optimize processes,
enhance compliance, and improve overall operational efficiency. In essence, Process Mining
bridges the gap between the theoretical model of how things should work and how things really
work, enabling data-driven decision-making for process improvement. Figure 3 illustrates key
benefits of adopting Process Mining.
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1.3. Event Logs
Event logs are the main data source for Process Mining. They are records of sequential events
that have occurred within an organization's various IT systems, like ERP, CRM, or EPM tools.
Event logs are crucial because they provide raw data that reflects the actual execution of
business processes. They are the objective traces of process activities and are essential for an
accurate Process Mining analysis.
Event data can be originated from many sources and in different formats, including database
systems, transaction logs, ERP systems, APIs, CSV files, and spreadsheets (Figure 4).
An event log typically contains information about each event within a process, including a
timestamp (indicating when the event occurred), a case identifier (the instance or context of the
process to which the event belongs), and the activity or state (what happened). Additional data
may include the resource (who performed the activity) and other relevant attributes. Figure 5
shows an example of a log entries.
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1.4. Process Mining Main Techniques
Process Mining encompasses a set of techniques that are critical for analyzing and improving
business processes. The three primary techniques are process discovery, conformance checking,
and process optimization [5]. These three techniques form a thorough approach for
understanding, monitoring, and improving business processes.
Process Discovery
01 Process Discovery is the first and fundamental step in Process Mining. It involves
automatically generating a process model from event logs data. This model visually
represents the actual execution of a process, as it happened, based on the event
logs in the IT systems. Discovery is crucial for organizations that lack formal
documentation of their processes or where the existing documentation is
outdated. It provides a starting point for process analysis and improvement.
Process discovery helps to understand the true nature of a process — how it is really
being carried out — as opposed to how people think it is being executed. It reveals all
variations of the process, including the most common paths, exceptions, and
deviations.
Conformance Checking
Process Optimization
03 Process optimization involves using the insights gained from process discovery and
conformance checking to make informed changes to the process. Optimization
may include automating certain steps, reordering tasks to reduce delays,
eliminating redundant activities, or implementing controls to ensure compliance.
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Process Mining
Landscape Overview
The recent years have witnessed a remarkable
acceleration in the adoption of Process Mining
technology. In 2021, the worldwide revenue for
Process Mining industry experienced a significant
surge, increasing by 46%. This upward trajectory is
expected to continue, with projections indicating
growth to $2.3 billion by 2025. This represents a
robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
33% from 2020 to 2025 [3]. Furthermore, by the
year 2025, it is anticipated that 80% of
organizations, motivated by the dual goals of cost
reduction and improved efficiency through
automation, will integrate Process Mining
capabilities into a minimum of 10% of their
business operations [4].
Process Mining 04
Organizations have noticed the importance of automation in business process management.
Forrester Consulting investigated the practices of process improvement within enterprises [6].
This study involved a survey targeting 461 decision-makers globally who are involved in process
management. The results showed a clear trend: 78% of these leaders emphasized that quickly
identifying and automating essential processes is vital for achieving success. Despite this, many
still depend on manual discovery methods, such as interviews and workshops, which are not only
time-consuming but also subject to biases and errors. Interestingly, only about 36% of the
participants indicated that their organizations predominantly use automated discovery tools,
including process or task mining. These tools are notably more efficient in enhancing the analysis
of processes objectively and can be applied on a larger scale.
Process Mining, despite being a relatively recent technological innovation, has experienced a
remarkable surge in its application over the past decade. HSPI Management Consulting has
conducted an extensive study and compiled a database highlighting the diverse use cases of
Process Mining [7]. Figure 6 presents a clear depiction of this technology's increasing adoption
rates. Additionally, Figure 7 provides an insightful overview of how these use cases are distributed
across various countries, revealing a notable concentration of Process Mining users in Europe.
This trend aligns with the historical context, as Europe was the birthplace of most early Process
Mining research and pioneering companies. Furthermore, Figure 8 offers a detailed breakdown of
how these use cases are spread across different industries.
120
Case Distribution Per Year (2005-2020) 113
96
100
85
80 73 79
67
60
52
41
40 34
20 18
1 1 1 5 5 6
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Russia 1%
4%
10% 17% India 1.2%
Europe 47.9%
South Korea 4.8%
4%
Canada 1.2% Saudi Arabia 0.5%
5%
15% USA 5.6% South Africa 0.3% China 0.5%
3%
6% Colombia 0.3% Indonesia 0.2%
6% Argentina 0.2%
8% 22%
Brazil 3.8%
Australia 4.1%
Figure 8: use cases per industry [7] Figure 7: use cases per country [7]
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Process Mining
Use Cases
This section presents a selection of use cases from
various industries, illustrating the application of
Process Mining in different scenarios. The benefits
and impacts of Process Mining in each of these
contexts will be highlighted, providing an in-depth
understanding of its utility and effectiveness.
Process Mining 04
3.1. Healthcare
80%
reduction in the
and 44 nursing homes. In its strive to achieve process excellence,
Alexianer initiated a pilot project to analyze event logs with
time between Process Mining in order to better understand the billing process
patient discharge and think of a way to optimize critical emergency room processes
and the issuance of which improve quality of care for patients. As a result, there was an
the final invoice 80% reduction in the time between patient discharge and the
issuance of the final invoice.
3.2. Manufacturing
TK Elevator (TKE) used Process Mining for credit and rebill processes
[9]. TKE is a global manufacturer of elevators, escalators, and moving
walkways. It operates in over 100 countries and employs over 50,000
employees and 24,000 service technicians. The reason for choosing
credit and rebill processes is their sophistication with many points of
interaction, in addition to their large number of cases.
1. This process encompasses the entire journey from identifying a requirement for goods or services to making the payment to the supplier.
2. Refers to the complete set of processes from receiving a customer’s order to collecting the payment for that order.
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3.3. Government
In Austria
In Spain
Process Mining 14
3.4. Education
3.5. Technology
Process Mining 15
3.6. Telecommunications
3. A percentage reduction on invoice amounts offered to buyers for early payment within a predetermined period, aimed at accelerating payment and enhancing
Process Mining 16
3.8. Utilities
4. In the utilities sector, this process spans from measuring usage (via meters) to issuing bills and collecting payments from customers.
5. This process covers the entire cycle from manufacturing goods, managing inventory levels, to fulfilling and deploying orders to customers.
Process Mining 17
3.10. Services
6. Initiates with a customer’s request for a product or service and ends with the creation and processing of the order to meet that request.
Process Mining 18
PROCESS MINING
AS A REGULATORY
ENABLER
“RegTech is a portmanteau of the words
‘Regulatory’ and ‘Technology’, and it refers to the
use of advanced and emerging technology for
adherence to regulatory requirements.” [18]
Process Mining 04
4.1. Process Mining for Regulated
Entities (CompTech)
Real-Time Monitoring
Process Mining enables real-time monitoring of business
processes and automating reporting, ensuring they adhere
to predefined standards and regulatory requirements.
Standardization of Processes
By identifying deviations from processes, Process Mining
encourages standardization, which is often a key
component of regulatory compliance.
Risk Management
Process Mining offers predictive insights that can be used
to preemptively address compliance risks before they
materialize.
Process Mining 20
4.2. Process Mining for Regulators
(SupTech)
Risk-Based Regulations
Process Mining help regulators to identify areas that pose
higher risks of non-compliance to focus on them. It can
also be used to predict future compliance risks based on
historical data.
Collaborative Compliance
Process Mining can facilitate collaboration between
regulators and regulated organizations by providing a
common framework and language for discussing process
efficiencies and compliance and how to improve them.
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EMERGING
TRENDS,
INNOVATIONS,
AND FUTURE
OUTLOOK
Process Mining 04
5.1. Emerging Trends and Innovations
Process Mining-as-a-Service
The rise of cloud-based Process Mining solutions is making
the technology more accessible to a wider range of
businesses, reducing the need for significant upfront
investment in IT infrastructure.
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5.2. The Role of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) in Process Mining
The use of AI (and its subfield Machine Learning (ML)) in
Process Mining is transformative, offering major
enhancements of existing capabilities and opening new
avenues for innovation in process analysis and optimization.
Organizations can achieve a more profound, predictive, and
dynamic understanding of their processes, leading to
significant improvements in efficiency, compliance, and
decision-making. Figure 12 illustrates how AI is playing a
transformative role in Process Mining.
Enhanced Decision-Making
The integration of AI in Process Mining facilitates deeper,
data-driven insights, enabling more informed decision-making.
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5.3. Process Mining, Automation, and Task Mining
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that automates routine tasks using software
bots. These bots mimic human actions to perform tasks such as data entry, report generation,
and system integration with high efficiency and accuracy. RPA is user-friendly, scalable, and
reduces the risk of human error, making it ideal for repetitive, rule-based processes in various
industries.
Process Mining has a wider scope compared to RPA, and its implementation doesn't always
involve RPA. However, it plays a crucial role in enhancing RPA projects. Not every task is suitable
for RPA, while RPA is a potent tool for automation, its success hinges on thoughtful
implementation. By visualizing and pinpointing processes primed for automation, Process
Mining aids in the effective development, testing, and deployment of RPA bots based on these
identified processes.
There are three suggested ways to use Process Mining for RPA:
Task Mining is another crucial component in the landscape of business process automation and
optimization. It plays a pivotal role in the broader context of process optimization and
automation. By providing detailed insights into how tasks are executed at the user level, it
complements Process Mining and enhances the effectiveness of RPA implementations.
Task Mining focuses on capturing and analyzing user interaction data while performing their
work [19]. It collects data on how employees conduct tasks on their computers, including actions
like clicking, typing, and navigating through applications. While Process Mining provides a
macro-level view of processes across the enterprise, Task Mining dives into the micro-level
details of how individual tasks are performed.
Task Mining complements Process Mining by providing detailed insights into tasks that are not
captured in system logs, which is where Process Mining primarily draws its data from.
The insights from Task Mining can be used to further refine RPA implementations. By
understanding the nuances of how tasks are performed, RPA bots can be programmed more
effectively to mimic human actions. Figure 13 shows some applications of Task Mining.
Process Mining 25
Identifying Automation Opportunities
Task Mining helps in identifying repetitive, rule-based tasks
performed by humans that are ideal candidates for RPA.
Tasks Standardization
It can reveal variations in how different employees perform
the same task, offering opportunities for task
standardization and optimization.
Error Reduction
Task Mining helps identify areas prone to human error,
allowing to implement measures to reduce these errors,
which might improve quality and compliance.
Process Mining 26
CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Process Mining 04
In this paper, a thorough exploration of Process Mining has been undertaken. The study has
focused on comprehending its multifaceted impacts and potential, and regorously investigates
how Process Mining not only transforms existing business processes but also provides leaders
with essential insights for future-proofing their operations. By examining Process Mining from
diverse perspectives – including its applications, landscape, trends, and future potential – key
insights have been gathered. These insights are of great value to business leaders and
decision-makers across various industries. The exploration into Process Mining aims to reveal
the subtle ways this technology can be utilized to effect significant enhancements in
organizational performance and strategic outcomes.
Drawing on the insights from this study, the following strategic recommendations are presented
for organization’s leaders (Figure 14). These recommendations are intended as a guide to
effectively harnessing Process Mining to enhance organizational operations and strategy.
In conclusion, this paper underscores the pivotal role of Process Mining in reshaping the
contemporary business landscape. For leaders and executives, the adoption of this
technology is not just a step towards innovation but of strategic importance. Process
Mining emerges as a key driver of efficiency, transparency, and competitive advantage,
offering a clear pathway to transforming data into actionable insights. It is a technology
that not only addresses current operational challenges but also equips organizations to
navigate the complexities of the future. Thus, for any business aiming to excel in an
increasingly data-driven era, embracing Process Mining is a decision of strategic
foresight and operational excellence.
Process Mining 28
References
Process Mining 04
1. M. Kirchmer, High Performance Through Business Process Management: Strategy Execution in a Digital
World, Springer Cham, 2018.
4. Gartner, “Gartner Magic Quadrant for Process Mining Tools,” Gartner, 2023.
5. M. Ghasemi and D. Amyot, “From event logs to goals: a systematic literature review of goal-oriented
process mining,” Requirements Eng, vol. 25, 2020.
6. Forrester, “Future-Proof Your Firm’s Process Optimization Strategy: Why Enterprises Must Streamline
and Automate Critical Processes to Compete In A Digital-First World,” Forrester, 2023.
7. HSPI, “Process Mining: a database of Applications, 2021 Edition (vers. 2),” HSPI Management Consulting,
2021.
9. appian, “3 Process Mining Success Stories and 6 Common Use Cases,” [Online]. Available:
https://appian.com/blog/acp/process-mining/process-mining-success-stories.html.
10. fluxicon, “Auditing with Process Mining,” IEEE Task Force on Process Mining, 2023. [Online]. Available:
https://www.tf-pm.org/resources/casestudy#:~:text=,26%20April%202023.
12. M. L. Rosa, “Process Mining at The University of Melbourne,” IEEE Task Force on Process Mining, 2020.
[Online]. Available: https://www.tf-pm.org/resources/casestudy#:~:text=,18%20August%202020.
18. “RegTech: The Future of Regulatory Landscape,” Communication, Space & Technology Commission
(CST), 2022.
19. J. Dirnberger, B. Loidl and U. Brunner, “Fundamental Framework for Task Mining Technology Adoption:
Results from a Qualitative Empirical Study,” in 9th International Conference on Computer Technology
Applications (ICCTA 2023), Vienna, Austria, 2023.
Process Mining 30
www.cst.gov.sa
Process Mining 04