You might have heard the term “process mining” before. It is often thrown around in meetings and LinkedIn posts these days. But what does it actually mean? Why is everyone talking about it? If you’ve ever wanted to lift the hood on your business operations and really see what’s happening, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into the world of process mining.
Process mining is a data-driven technique that reconstructs and analyses real-world business workflows. It achieves this by extracting event‑log “breadcrumbs” from systems like ERPs or CRMs. A process mining system uses specialised algorithms to build a visual “digital twin”. It is nothing but a representation of how processes actually run instead of how they are supposed to operate. This visual digital twin includes timestamps, case IDs, activities, bottlenecks, deviations, and cycle times.
For example, imagine you are using process mining on your order-to-cash workflow. After mining CRM and invoicing logs, the system uncovers that 30 % of orders experience a two‑day delay. This is because an approval step is skipped around weekends. With this insight, you can adjust staffing or automate approvals, reducing that delay.
The three core types of process mining are:
We have already seen how process mining helps uncover how your business processes actually operate by analysing digital footprints left in system event logs. In contrast, traditional BPM is model-driven and relies on interviews and documentation to define how processes are supposed to work. This difference makes process mining more accurate and adaptable to real-world deviations and inefficiencies. Here are the main differences between the two concepts:
In 2025, businesses are under immense pressure as customer expectations are at an all-time high. Traditional methods of managing processes no longer work. For instance, a traditional BPM rely on assumptions or outdated documentation. This leaves massive gaps in processes that could lead to compliance risks and inefficiencies. This is where process mining comes in.
Process mining reveals exactly how workflows get executed in your organisation by analysing real-time data from your existing systems. It then provides a clear and objective view of what’s really happening behind the scenes. This enables you to quickly identify inefficiencies based on actual data instead of relying on what’s on paper.
In a cutthroat world where every second counts, businesses across the globe are slowly turning to process mining in an attempt to gain complete control over their business operations
Here are the different steps covering how process mining actually works:
Enterprise systems like ERP, CRM, or workflow tools generate event logs every time an action occurs. It could be anything from order placements to stakeholder approvals. These logs contain critical data such as Case ID, Activity Name, Timestamp, etc.
The previous raw log data is extracted and cleaned to ensure consistency. Irrelevant or incomplete records are filtered out to focus only on meaningful process events.
Using specialised algorithms, the system reconstructs the actual process flow from the sequence of logged events. It maps out every variation, including loops, skipped steps, and parallel paths.
The reconstructed process is then displayed in interactive visual models. For instance, flowcharts or graphs. They clearly depict how tasks are executed across different cases and where delays or deviations occur.
The discovered process is compared against the intended or ideal process model. The goal of this step is to identify mismatches or areas that require corrective action.
The system then analyses metrics like cycle times, bottlenecks, rework rates, and throughput. This is done to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for optimisation.
A process mining system can run continuously and offer real-time insights consistently. It helps you make data-backed decisions 24/7 and refine workflows for ongoing efficiency.
Process mining delivers powerful results across a variety of business functions. Here are some of them:
Every action within Salesforce (like lead assignment or opportunity creation) leaves behind digital footprints in the form of event logs. Process mining tools extract these logs to reconstruct the end-to-end sales process in real time. It then reveals how leads flow through the funnel and which steps deviate from the ideal path.
For example, it can highlight where opportunities stall after a proposal is sent. Or it can uncover frequent reassignments that slow down conversions. By visualising these patterns, your sales managers can standardise best practices across teams and reduce cycle times from lead to revenue.
Combined with Salesforce’s data-rich environment, process mining helps you improve forecast accuracy and deliver a smoother, faster buying experience for customers.
Here are some handy tips to follow when implementing process mining in your organisation:
Choose a core workflow to get started with process mining. For instance, it could be anything from order-to-cash to customer support. The idea is to pick something that has clear pain points and also strong data availability.
To truly optimise business performance, you need more than just data. You need visibility. On the one hand, process mining helps you understand how your operations actually run. On the other hand, Salesforce gives you the tools to act on that insight. Together, they offer a powerful combination for improving customer journeys and driving measurable impact. That’s where Brysa comes in. As a leading Salesforce consultant in the UK, Brysa specialises in implementation and strategic consulting to help you integrate process mining into your Salesforce ecosystem. With Brysa’s expertise, you get an end-to-end solution that brings clarity and continuous improvement to every process. Contact us now to start your process mining + Salesforce journey.