What Is Process Mining?
Process mining is a data-driven technique that helps businesses understand, monitor, and improve their processes.
Process mining is a technique for understanding, monitoring, and improving business processes. Process mining enables process discovery and understanding by extracting and analyzing event log data from your organization's system databases.
At its core, process mining extracts event log data from systems like CRM, ERP, and other enterprise applications one system at a time. This data contains detailed records of the steps and activities that make up a business process within the context of that system. Process mining algorithms then use this data to build visual process models that show:
Process mining tools traditionally focus on analyzing system logs to map workflows and identify bottlenecks. However, the modern enterprise requires insights beyond static process maps.
Process discovery tools have evolved far beyond just extracting insights from event logs. Today's leading process mining tools have advanced into the realm of true process intelligence - a combination of automated process discovery, real-time monitoring, and intelligent optimization.
Key process intelligence capabilities include:
Download our buyer's guide to find the right process intelligence solution for you.
As businesses look to enhance operational efficiency, the concept of Agentic AI—autonomous systems capable of learning and decision-making—has emerged as a potential game-changer.
However, realizing the full value of these systems depends on bridging critical gaps, including training on real-world process data, monitoring outcomes, and optimizing performance. Tools like Skan AI's process intelligence platform and process mining are essential to achieving AI-powered process mining for RPA optimization. Skan AI is at the heart of the transition to actionable process insights for Agentic AI systems.
Here at Skan AI, we're offering a broader end-to-end view of operational processes. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top process mining tools and what makes them unique.
Each tool below offers a unique take on process mining and optimization. This guide will help you decide which solution is best for your organization.
Of course, we have to mention ourselves first—but trust us, it’s for good reason. Skan AI takes process intelligence a step further, moving beyond traditional system logs to capture the full scope of operational workflows, both human and automated. Virtual agents monitor processes in real time, giving enterprises the most complete view of human work without the constraints of event log integrations. It’s like having a clear, unfiltered view of how work truly happens across the organization.
Key Features:
Ideal For:
Organizations looking for real-time process insights to reduce their operational costs while aligning workflows with strategic goals. This is especially beneficial for fields like insurance, shared services, and financial services that rely heavily on standard operating procedures.
Celonis provides capabilities for process mining, leveraging an event-log-based approach that enables detailed process visualization and optimization. Celonis has made its name focusing on single application analysis for systems like ERP and CRM, giving it a view within one system at a time.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
Celonis is best suited for organizations that want to analyze for one application for systems like SAP and Salesforce. It’s particularly useful for organizations aiming to improve operational performance and streamline processes within single applications by leveraging historical data.
However, it is typically an incomplete analysis that leaves gaps in processes that prevent companies from making lasting changes. Without seeing every application in use, it's hard to know exactly what activities to eliminate. See why enterprises find Skan AI the best Celonis alternative.
UiPath’s approach to process mining centers on identifying automation opportunities and scaling them efficiently. By integrating process mining directly with its RPA platform, UiPath allows organizations to discover repetitive tasks ripe for automation and then deploy bots to handle them. This alignment makes UiPath appealing for businesses with automation-first strategies.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
UiPath process mining and workflow automation provides insights to optimize RPA and automation initiatives by identifying areas for automation as it's primary focus. Its effectiveness depends on high-quality data and may require technical setup and integration. It is well-suited for automation efforts for individual tasks and making informed decisions based on process performance.
ABBYY Timeline is designed for organizations that need targeted insights into historical process trends and future performance predictions. Its approach provides a high-level view of potential process inefficiencies, helping to identify areas of improvement based on historical data rather than real-time tracking.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
ABBYY Timeline is ideal for enterprises with significant historical data looking to anticipate potential inefficiencies rather than monitor active processes. It's well-suited for strategic planning in industries where predictive insights into future process outcomes can offer a competitive edge.
SAP Signavio, now part of the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), enhances SAP’s process management suite by integrating process mining ERP and optimization capabilities. Tailored for organizations already using SAP systems, Signavio focuses on process visibility and collaboration across teams, helping align business processes with digital transformation initiatives within the SAP ecosystem.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
Ideal for businesses heavily invested in the SAP ecosystem, SAP Signavio is well-suited for organizations seeking to optimize their SAP-based processes with tools integrated into the broader SAP BTP infrastructure. It’s a solid option for companies focusing on improving their use of SAP systems.
IBM offers a process mining solution backed by consulting expertise. It combines process mining with advanced modeling tools, giving enterprises an edge in continuous improvement initiatives.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
A good option for companies that want to align their business processes with standard practices, such as BPMN models.
iGrafx is a cloud-based platform designed to help organizations model, analyze, and optimize business processes. It offers a range of tools to improve process visibility, efficiency, and collaboration across teams.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
iGrafx is suited for organizations seeking a comprehensive solution for process modeling, analysis, and optimization. It is particularly useful for businesses that require detailed process insights and the ability to collaborate across teams. However, it may require a learning curve for those implementing it for the first time, especially for more complex use cases.
Skan AI and iGrafx Partnership:
Skan AI and iGrafx have partnered to deliver a pioneering digital twin solution that enhances process optimization through process intelligence and advanced analytics. For more information on how this collaboration drives value for organizations, read the full press release here.
Apromore is an open-source process mining tool that provides robust capabilities for analyzing, optimizing, and automating business processes. It is regarded for its flexibility and customization options, allowing organizations to adapt the tool to their specific needs and integrate it with various systems and data sources.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
Apromore is best suited for organizations with technical capabilities to manage an open-source solution and who need high customization. However, the tool’s limitations in support and ease of use may require additional resources for effective deployment and maintenance
ARIS (Architecture of Integrated Information Systems) is a long-standing process mining tool that helps organizations model, analyze, and optimize their business processes. Originally developed by IDS Scheer and now owned by Software AG, ARIS provides tools for process modeling, integration with enterprise systems, and performance analysis.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
ARIS is ideal for large enterprises needing a comprehensive tool for process management. However, it can be complex to set up and integrate, and its user interface may be more difficult for some users compared to other modern tools.
Pega is a low-code platform that focuses on straightforward workflow automation and process management. Unlike tools that specialize in mapping and analyzing processes from event logs, Pega integrates decision management and case tracking to provide a broader operational perspective.
Key Features:
Best Fit:
Pega is distinct in its focus on integrating automation with decision-making rather than offering in-depth process discovery capabilities. This makes it more suitable for organizations looking to manage workflows and automate decisions, but it may lack the comprehensive process mapping and insights provided by traditional process mining vendors.
Unlike traditional process mining tools, Skan AI captures both system and human processes, offering real-time visibility into how work happens. With AI-powered virtual agents tracking workflows directly from user interfaces, organizations can gain insights without interrupting operations.
Skan AI empowers executives to:
While tools like Celonis and SAP Signavio are great choices for ERP-heavy enterprises, tools like UiPath and FortressIQ are ideal for companies focusing on automation scaling. But if your business seeks a more holistic, non-invasive solution—one that provides real-time insights across all levels of operations—Skan AI offers unparalleled value.
Discover how Skan AI’s process intelligence platform can align your operations with strategic goals. Talk to an expert today and unlock the power of real-time insights.
Process mining is a data-driven technique that helps businesses understand, monitor, and improve their processes.
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