How is process mining different from business process mapping?

Mapping relies on interviews and observation (subjective). Mining uses actual system data (objective). Mining shows what really happens, including exceptions and variations people forget to mention.

What data do I need for process mining?

Minimum: Case ID (what), Activity (what happened), Timestamp (when). Better: Resource (who), attributes (details). Most ERP/CRM systems can export this data.

How long does a process mining project take?

Initial analysis: 2-4 weeks. Ongoing monitoring: continuous. The first project takes longer due to data preparation; subsequent analyses are faster.

Can process mining work with unstructured processes?

It works best with structured, system-driven processes. For ad-hoc work, you need event logging in place. Task mining (recording user actions) can help capture unstructured work.

Book Free Assessment Calculator

Process Mining

Analysing event logs from IT systems to discover, monitor, and improve business processes. Reveals how processes actually work versus how they're supposed to work.

In-Depth Explanation

Process mining uses data from IT systems to create an objective, data-driven view of business processes. It reveals what actually happens, not what people think happens.

Process mining techniques:

Discovery: Create process models from event logs
Conformance: Compare actual vs designed processes
Enhancement: Identify improvement opportunities

What process mining reveals:

Actual process flows and variants
Bottlenecks and delays
Rework and loops
Compliance deviations
Automation opportunities
Process exceptions

Data requirements:

Event logs with: Case ID, Activity, Timestamp
Additional attributes improve analysis
Common sources: ERP, CRM, ticketing systems

Leading platforms:

Celonis, UiPath Process Mining, Minit
Often integrated with automation platforms

Business Context

Process mining removes guesswork from process improvement. Companies discover 30-50% more process variants than documented, revealing hidden inefficiencies.

How Clever Ops Uses This

We use process mining to identify automation opportunities for Australian businesses, ensuring we automate the right processes based on data, not assumptions.