If you’ve ever tried to map out how work actually flows inside a business, you’ll know it rarely matches the neat diagrams on the wall. Emails, shortcuts, bottlenecks, and unexpected steps all creep in. This is where process mining steps in.
Process mining turns raw data into a clear view of how your processes really operate. It helps teams spot inefficiencies, fix compliance issues, and optimise performance using facts, not assumptions. In this guide, we break down the 4 types of process mining, explain how each method works, and show when to use them.
Process mining is a data-driven technique that analyses event logs from your systems like CRMs, ERPs, and workflow tools to visualise how processes truly run.
Unlike traditional process mapping, which is often based on interviews and best guesses, process mining relies on real behaviour captured in data. This makes it invaluable for organisations looking to:
At its core, process mining answers a simple but powerful question: “Is our process working the way we think it is?”
Process mining isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. There are four distinct process mining methods, each designed for a specific purpose:
Each type offers a different lens through which to understand and improve your operations.
Discovery process mining automatically generates a process model based on event data. There’s no predefined structure. The system simply analyses what happened and maps it out.
What it helps you uncover:
This method is ideal when you’re starting from scratch or suspect your current documentation is outdated or inaccurate. It’s often used in areas like customer onboarding, claims processing, or order fulfilment.
Key value: It shows the truth of how work flows, not how people think it flows.
Conformance process mining focuses on comparing your real process against an existing model or business rule set. It highlights where deviations occur and how severe they are.
It answers questions like:
This method is especially useful in highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and insurance, where process compliance is critical.
Benefits include:
Key value: It protects your organisation by ensuring processes align with rules and standards.
Enhancement process mining starts with a current process model and uses real data to refine and improve it. Instead of discovering the process, it upgrades it.
This method focuses on:
Common use cases include streamlining customer support operations, optimising supply chains, and improving service delivery speed.
What it delivers:
Key value: It transforms an okay process into a high-performing one.
Variant process mining examines different versions of the same process. It’s especially valuable in large organisations where processes vary across departments, locations, or teams.
It helps you:
For example, you may discover that one branch processes invoices 30% faster due to fewer approval steps.
Key value: It reveals which process versions perform best and why.
Here’s a clear breakdown to simplify the differences:
Each method serves a distinct purpose, and in many cases, organisations benefit from combining more than one approach.
Your choice depends on what you’re trying to solve. Ask yourself:
If you need visibility, start with discovery. If risk is your concern, focus on conformance. If performance improvement is your priority, enhancement is the way to go. For operational consistency, variant mining delivers the clarity you need.
Process mining is used across industries to solve real business challenges:
Finance
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Logistics
These examples show how process mining directly impacts performance, cost, and customer experience.
The 4 types of process mining uncover how work really flows, where it breaks down, and how it can perform better. Whether you are discovering hidden inefficiencies, ensuring compliance, or optimising performance, process mining methods provide the clarity modern organisations need.
Understanding these methods is the first step. Acting on the insights is where real transformation happens.
If your organisation is ready to gain visibility, reduce inefficiencies, and make smarter decisions, now is the time to explore process mining as a strategic tool, not just a technical one.
If you have any questions or want to explore how process mining could support your organisation, please drop us a line at hello@verdantdata.ch.
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