Process transparency is the key to fact-based decision-making

The article was originally published in Helsingin Sanomat's technology attachment 19 Oct 2022 and translated internally by QPR Software. Helsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newsletter in Finland.

With the help of process mining, firms can locate inefficient operations and identify root causes and consequences of problem areas. This fuels fact-based decision-making and can result in significant cost savings.

Text: Saana Lehtinen

Data amounts are constantly growing in companies and organizations of all sizes. While growing masses of data equals new data management requirements and risks, there are also an almost unlimited number of new opportunities available. Data is a valuable currency both in terms of business development, cost savings, and avoiding fatal miscalculations. Despite this, Finnish companies rarely take advantage of the opportunities available to them. Process mining is a method by which a company's data is effectively utilized. With process mining, companies can identify, analyze, and monitor their business processes. Process mining utilizes already existing data from information systems, for example ERPs, CRMs or ticketing systems, and produces a dynamic process flowchart.

"The more data generated, the better a company should be able to harness it. Process mining can produce information that would otherwise not be available or that would be very difficult to produce. The biggest benefit of process mining is granted when it is integrated into the wider development of functions and processes – and the entire organization" – Jussi Vasama, CEO of QPR Software Plc, a software and consulting service provider, summarizes.

At the core of the internationally operating QPR Software’s activities, led by Vasama, is process mining software that sheds light on the operations of companies and organizations.

Process mining is a significantly more efficient, fast, and objective way to identify inefficient processes and their bottlenecks compared to traditional process information acquisition methods. In contrast to traditional business process management, process mining findings can be extended to the root causes of problem areas and business effects thereof. When inefficiencies and their underlying causes are detected, the problems can be tackled for example with automation.

"Process mining is beneficial especially to large companies and public entities, whose operating model is characterized by complexity caused by internationality, strong regulation, or rapid changes. At the same time, it is good to remember that there is no industry or part of the business where process mining cannot be used", Vasama emphasizes.

Decisions based on data instead of guesswork

Process mining combines an in-depth understanding of business processes, data analytics, modeling and visualization, and systemic thinking with know-how and technology, which can process, analyze, and harness huge masses of data for any company's use.

The most typical use cases of process mining are intelligent automation, digitalization, compliance, auditing, KPI reporting, process improvement, logistics and ERP development.

"Important decisions made by Finnish organizations still rely too heavily on experience-based information, on analyzes based on heavy consulting exercises, and at worst, on gut-feelings", Vasama explains.

If decisions related to transformations, such as large-scale ERP system transformations or business acquisitions, are made based on subjective information, the price tag caused by an estimation error can rise to millions of euros.

"For example, the success of an ERP project requires companies to understand how they operate today and what the change will look like when moving to new processes. Process mining offers many opportunities for this understanding."

Process mining also supports companies in making fact-based investment decisions. In the current market situation, colored by component shortages and logistical difficulties, many companies are facing new types of risks.

The modern, future-proof process mining solution does not only provide organizations with visibility and an understanding of the inefficiency of current processes, but with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, it extracts information from large data masses, gives recommendations, and helps organizations react to events even before they happen. With the help of process mining, it is possible to develop completely new procedures, services, and businesses supported by data.

A new generation of modern process mining technology

QPR Software is known as a pioneer in process mining, whose patented technology has been used all over the world for a decade. The latest proof of the company's pioneering spirit is the spring 2022 release of a new version of its market-leading process mining software, QPR ProcessAnalyzer. QPR utilized cloud technology of the American Data Cloud company Snowflake, introducing a new version of its process mining software that runs natively on Snowflake's data cloud.

The combination of QPR and Snowflake's technologies gives the market a completely new solution, where business-critical facts can be mined even from huge masses of data more easily, quickly, and cost-effectively than ever before. Unlike other process mining solutions, the customer’s information does not need to be transferred to the supplier's system. Through this, the customer is eased of migration, which often weakens the organization's information security and information management practices.

"Our task is to shape the future of process mining technology so that it is in line with organizations' data strategy and requirements, also in the future. In the current challenging business environment and world situation, decisions made based on comprehensive data-based analyses, recommendations, and suggestions are essential for companies. I strongly believe that in order to have a competitive advantage, business decision-makers should seize the opportunities of process mining now, if they haven’t already", Vasama sums up.

Do you want to discuss more about the opportunities of process mining with our experts? Book a demo.