Process
mining software is a type of programming that analyses data in enterprise
application event logs in order to learn how business processes are actually
working. The goal of process mining software is to identify bottlenecks and
other areas of inefficiency so they can be improved.
Process mining software is especially useful
to optimize workflow in process-oriented disciplines, such as business
process reengineering (BPR) and business process management (BPM).
Vendors of process mining software claim the technology can analyse millions of
transaction records and spot deviations from normal workflows that might
indicate increased risk.
If the software is used to analyse the
transaction logs of an ERP or CRM system or the audit logs
of a workflow management system, for example, data visualization components
in the software can show users what processes are running at any given time.
Some process mining software also allows users to drill down to view the
individual documents associated with a process.
If a
process model doesn't already exist, the software will perform business
process discovery to create one automatically, sometimes with the aid of
artificial intelligence techniques, such as machine learning. If there is
a model, the process mining software will compare it to the event log to
identify discrepancies and their possible causes.
The technology is often applied to the most
common and complex business processes executed in most organizations, such as order
to cash, accounts payable and supply chain management. An
organization might use process mining software to find the cause of unexpected
delays in invoice processing, for example, by examining the logs of the
accounts payable module in an ERP system. Analysis of an audit log can
also spot deviations from important regulations, such as U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley
Act (SOX) rules for archiving business records or HIPAA requirements
for protecting medical records.
The
broader benefits of the efficiencies enabled by process mining software include
reduced risk, improved customer satisfaction more revenue, and better
transparency of IT systems and business processes.
At least a dozen commercial software vendors
specialize in process mining software, and academic organizations offer free
versions. Many of the products have integration that allows them to work with
popular brands of enterprise applications.
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