Are Business Process Management (BPM) and Process Mining the same?

Business Process Management (BPM) and Process Mining are two terms that are frequently used in the field of business operations. They refer to different processes, yet they are often used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion. In this article, we will delve deeper into the differences between BPM and Process Mining to gain a better understanding of each.

In short, they are not the same. While both deal with processes and aim to optimise them, they approach the task from significantly different angles. BPM is a management approach that focuses on aligning all aspects of an organisation with the wants and needs of clients, including the optimisation of processes.

Process Mining is more technical than BPM. It requires specialised software tools and expertise to analyse and optimise processes effectively. Insights drawn from Process Mining are data-driven and provide a granular look at how processes can be optimised.

In conclusion, BPM and Process Mining are two different concepts used to optimise business operations.

What is Process Mining?

Process Mining is a relatively new and emerging field that deals with the analysis and optimisation of business processes through the use of data-driven techniques. It involves the extraction of knowledge from event logs generated by information systems to gain process insights and improve business performance.

At its core, it is a method of discovering, monitoring and analysing business processes. It allows organisations to identify inefficiencies, errors, and areas where improvements can be made within a process. As a result, businesses can optimise their processes to achieve higher productivity, increased efficiency, and better customer satisfaction.

Process Mining is a technical approach to process optimisation. It requires specialised software and process mining tools and expertise to analyse and optimise processes effectively. The insights drawn from Process Mining are data-driven and provide a granular look at how processes can be optimised.

The process mining solution involves three main steps: data extraction, process discovery, and conformance checking. Data extraction involves the conversion of raw data into a format that can be analysed. Real process discovery is the process flow’s identification, visualisation, and analysis. Finally, conformance checking involves comparing actual processes with idealised processes to identify deviations, errors, and inefficiencies.

What is Business Process Management (BPM)?

Business Process Management (BPM) is a framework that organisations use to manage and improve their business processes. BPM is an essential part of any organisation’s digital transformation initiatives as it helps them to streamline their operational processes and improve customer service.

Basically, at its core, BPM involves the identification, mapping, execution, and optimisation of business processes. This framework enables organisations to automate their operations, standardise their processes, and improve efficiency.

BPM provides businesses with a structured approach to managing their processes. It involves documenting the steps in a process, identifying the inputs and outputs, and determining the roles and responsibilities of those involved. Thus once these details are determined, BPM tools can be used to automate the process flow and monitor its performance.

BPM also involves continuous process improvement. This consists in analysing the process data to identify operational inefficiencies, errors, and areas for improvement. Changes can then be made to the process flow to optimise it for better performance.

How does Process Mining relate to BPM?

Process mining is a relatively new field that has emerged as a way to analyse and optimise business processes. It provides a data-driven approach to process improvement that is complemented by the more traditional, document-based approach of business process management (BPM).

Process mining differs from BPM in several ways but is also closely related. BPM is concerned with the design, execution, and monitoring of business processes. It starts with creating process models, which are graphical representations of the steps in a process. These models are used for process automation and monitoring the process performance.

Process mining, on the other hand, uses data to discover, monitor, and improve processes. It starts with collecting data from IT systems, such as ERP or CRM enterprise systems. This data is then analysed to identify the actual process flow, deviations from the ideal process, and areas of inefficiency with process mining tools.

One of the main benefits of process mining technology is that it provides a more accurate picture of what is happening in an organisation than process models created through BPM. Process models are often based on assumptions and can be incomplete or outdated. Process mining, on the other hand, uses actual data from the organisation to create a more accurate and up-to-date understanding of the organisation’s processes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while process mining and BPM have different approaches to process improvement, they are closely related and can be used together to provide a more comprehensive approach to business process management.

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