The 4 steps to build a Digital Twin — with Process Mining
A holistic, digital representation of your company and process structures — a digital twin. This is what a Digital Twin Framework is designed to represent. The data-based abstraction of specific business processes should not only ensure comprehensive insights into actual processes, it also serves as a basis for planning and forecasts. New strategies mapped as data-driven simulations.
But to create a complete Digital Twin, it will take some preparatory work. Data must be extracted, read and interpreted. A perfect use case for Process Mining. With powerful capabilities for visualization, analysis and preparation of complex process data, tools such as LANA Process Mining offer all the necessary means to enable a structured Digital Twin Framework.
With these 4 steps Process Mining helps you to easily create your own Digital Twin.
1… Read data — a Digital Interface
To enable a functional mapping of your own business system, the extraction of process data from the existing IT system is a fundamental prerequisite. However, manual processing of the data is extremely time-consuming and resource-intensive. Advanced process mining tools such as LANA, on the other hand, offer the possibility of linking the system directly to the process mining software using an Open API — an open interface. The resulting data flow provides the basis for creating a seamless Digital Twin Framework.
2… Understand data — Visualization through Process Discovery
The actual visual modeling of process structures is the core of a Digital Twin Framework. Here, too, Process Mining offers all relevant functionalities. Process visualization is the linchpin of all analysis activities in LANA Process Mining. With the previously created link to the business management system, there are no limits to your process modeling. With each additional visualized process, not only is the Digital Twin expanded, there are also more and more possibilities for analyzing the performance and conformance of the entire structure.
3… Interpret data — Process and Root Cause Analyses
Once the data has been extracted through an interface and visualized in a tool such as LANA Process Mining, the real added value of the process-based Digital Twin strategy becomes apparent: A powerful process mining software uses automated analysis methods — such as the target-actual comparison to identify critical process deviations and the root cause analysis as drill-down to relevant deviation factors. This allows a Digital Twin structure to be sustainably tested for optimization potential. The resulting improvement strategies can then be applied to the real business structures.
4… Use data — Reporting and Forecasts with Dashboards
The analysis of the visualized process structures provides extensive transparency into the actual state of the system. Process mining can also support the formulation of future optimization strategies. LANA Process Mining offers extensive reporting and dashboard functionalities that provide a data-based foundation for a continuous improvement process. For the Digital Twin Framework, this means that the active framework can also be used as a strategic tool at the management level in addition to controlling.
A sophisticated process mining strategy is therefore key to building an integrated Digital Twin structure. LANA’s visualization and analysis functions, together with open interfaces and versatile dashboards, meet all requirements to successfully move towards a Digital Twin Framework in your company.
Interested to hear more? Take a peek behind the curtain and see how LANA Process Mining works its magic.
Originally published at lana-labs.com on July 26, 2018.
