Process mining consulting: higher margins through transparent processes and the foundation for successful AI
Many large Mittelstand companies face the same challenge: processes are opaque, IT systems are fragmented or have grown historically without coordination, and a clear vision is missing. At the same time, AI initiatives are supposed to move forward even though data quality, processes and acceptance are lacking. Our process mining consulting makes your workflows transparent, identifies concrete optimization potential and creates the basis for successful automation and AI applications.
Our Clients
01 Why most processes cost too much money today
Many companies feel it every day: processes run sluggishly, figures arrive too late and nobody knows exactly where the margin is being lost. Individual areas are then often optimized without looking at the process as a whole. As a result, media discontinuities, waiting times and unnecessary loops between departments remain undetected.
At the same time, the pressure to introduce AI is growing. But clean data and clear structures are missing. The result is missed opportunities and excessive costs. Only those who know the bottlenecks and inefficiencies of their processes can eliminate them. The good news: the four most common causes can be tackled head-on with our process mining consulting.
1. Opaque processes
Companies do not know where time and money are being lost in their workflows.
1. Opaque processes
Excel reports and Power BI dashboards only show symptoms, never the real causes of delays and extra costs. A production step planned to take seven minutes often actually stands still for over an hour without anyone noticing. Process mining uncovers exactly these deviations, quantifies the damage in euros and shows where you need to act.
2. Systems nobody understands anymore
Too many IT systems run in parallel without anyone still grasping how they interact.
2. Systems nobody understands anymore
Over the years, most companies have accumulated systems that nobody can switch off anymore. At the same time, nobody fully understands how they interact, which creates inefficiencies and duplicated work. Process mining connects these systems, makes the data usable and finally brings clarity to your digital landscape.
3. AI without business impact
More than half of all AI projects fizzle out because the foundations are missing.
3. AI without business impact
Many companies launch ambitious AI projects, but most get stuck in the pilot phase. Without clean processes, clear use cases and measurable goals, AI remains a pure technology experiment. Only when AI is firmly anchored in your workflows does it create real value.
4. Missing vision
Many companies no longer know what they want to look like in five years.
4. Missing vision
Instead of actively shaping the future, many Mittelstand companies only react to market changes and short-term pressure. As a result, there is no direction for digitalization, automation and the use of AI. We develop a clear digitalization roadmap with you, in which each phase is financed by the savings of the previous one.
“AI often fails due to a lack of process clarity. Process mining makes it visible and usable.”
Michael Babilon-Teubenbacher, Partner at CPC
02 How process mining consulting works
Our approach is clearly structured and quickly delivers visible results across all areas of the company: from order processing and production through procurement to finance and controlling. In three phases we make your processes transparent, improve them in a targeted way and secure the success permanently. This gives you a fact-based foundation for more performance and better decisions.
Our approach in three phases:
1. Discover
We connect your IT systems such as SAP and extract the digital traces of your processes. From this we build a precise data model that reflects your actual workflows. For the first time, you can see fact-based where time, money and quality are being lost. Together with you, we prioritize the biggest levers and give concrete recommendations for action. In addition, we identify suitable starting points for automation and AI applications based on your actual business processes.
1. Discover
For the first time, you can see fact-based where time, money and quality are being lost. Together with you, we prioritize the biggest levers and give concrete recommendations for action.
2. Enhance
Based on the analysis, we implement targeted improvements in your processes. We automate routine tasks so that your employees gain time for value-adding work. We also assess which AI-supported solutions can usefully support your processes – from intelligent automation to data-based recommendations in everyday work.
2. Enhance
We also support your teams with AI-based recommendations directly in their daily work. Thanks to rapid implementation, you can see the very next day whether a measure is working.
3. Monitor
Classic reporting only shows results in the form of KPIs. Process mining additionally shows through continuous monitoring whether your business processes are actually lived in everyday work as planned. You recognize early on when changes are not taking hold or employees are falling back into old patterns. Uniform KPIs across all areas also enable simple benchmarking and a culture of continuous improvement.
3. Monitor
You recognize early on when changes are not taking hold or employees are falling back into old patterns. Uniform KPIs across all areas also enable simple benchmarking and a culture of continuous improvement.
Areas of application at a glance
Order processing
From quote to invoice, we show where orders get stuck. This shortens throughput times and increases your margin.
Production
We uncover bottlenecks, downtimes and cycle losses and create the foundation for AI-supported production optimization.
Procurement
We make supplier performance, price changes and ordering processes transparent. This lowers costs and strengthens your negotiating position.
Finance
We identify automation potential and create the basis for intelligent document processing and AI-supported assistance systems.
Sales
We analyze your sales funnel and show where data-based forecasts and AI support deliver the greatest benefit.
Logistics
We uncover delays in goods receipt, warehousing and shipping. This measurably speeds up throughput times and lowers warehousing costs.
“Hardly any investment pays off as quickly: 3% more margin per 100 million in revenue, after just four months.”
Marc Czerlinsky, Partner at CPC
03 Why process mining projects fail without change management
Process mining is a powerful tool. But the tool alone does not change a company. That is why we place a special focus on professional change management in our projects. Transparency exposes weaknesses, tears down departmental boundaries and makes decisions contestable. Without experienced guidance, this quickly becomes a stress test for your organization. We make sure that transparency turns into real progress. So your employees walk the path with you instead of blocking the change.
Transparency cuts both ways
Process mining reveals what remained hidden for years. This also affects employees. When processes become visible, everyone sees where mistakes arise and who makes which decisions.
Transparency cuts both ways
This can unsettle leaders and put departments under pressure to justify themselves. We accompany this process sensitively, build trust and make sure transparency is experienced as an opportunity.
Change without fear
Digitalization raises worries that can slow down any project. Many employees fear being replaced by automation or having their own mistakes suddenly made public.
Change without fear
These worries are understandable and must not be ignored. We take away your teams' fear, build trust and make visible how process mining upgrades their work.
Breaking up silos
Process ownership will work differently from what your teams are used to. Until now, everyone was responsible for their own area — now the shared result across departmental boundaries is what counts.
Breaking up silos
This fundamentally changes hierarchies, communication paths and leadership style. We help your employees grow into this new role and experience collaboration as a strength.
Success through focus
Many projects fizzle out because too many initiatives run at the same time. Especially in the Mittelstand, companies often start numerous ventures in parallel — and none of them reaches the finish line.
Success through focus
That is why we work in clear four-month stages. During this time we concentrate on one project and drive it consistently to a measurable result. After four months, the return on investment is achieved. From then on you win, and together we can start the next project.
04 Your entry point: proof of value in 30 days
You do not have to start a large-scale project to experience the impact of process mining. With our proof of value, you can see in just 30 days what potential lies in your processes and how your organization can tackle the change successfully. In parallel to the data model, we lay the foundation for the change: with a stable leadership coalition, a convincing change story and a detailed change roadmap. This lets you decide on a solid basis — technically and organizationally
The process track
We create transparency about your actual workflows and make improvement potential measurable. Together we identify the process area with the greatest economic leverage and analyze where time, cost and quality are being lost.
Site visit
We come to you on site and get to know your processes physically. Together with your production and IT leads, we select the most promising area for the proof of value.
Data model
We connect your IT systems and build a precise data model of your process. In daily 30-minute check-ins we clarify open questions with your business departments.
Potential analysis
Our proof of value makes the concrete potential visible in euros and percent. So you know which lever is worthwhile for you and how your project finances itself within four months.
The change track
Starting lineup
In interviews with management and experts, we clarify the current state, the success factors and the impact of the change on your organization. At the same time, we identify sponsors, drivers, participants and those affected. We also form a stable leadership coalition at the highest level that carries the change together.
Change story
We answer the three decisive questions: “Why are we changing?” “What does the target state look like?” “And how do we get there?” The result is a compelling change story that takes your employees along.
Activating leaders
Transparency changes the rules of the game. That is why we deliberately bring the leaders of the affected areas on board and take away their concern about an open view of their processes. In commitment workshops we shift the mindset away from pure departmental results towards the contribution to the overall result. At the same time, we plan all change measures accompanying the process mining rollout in a roadmap.
“Change management is not an add-on but the foundation for the success of our process mining consulting.”
Michael Kempf, Partner at CPC
We're grateful for these awards
- CPC is a five-time No. 1 Hidden Champion for change management
- Year after year, brandeins/thema names us Germany's best management consultancy for change management
- We have been a Focus Top Consultant for many years
- Winner of the HR Excellence Award and the European Training Prize together with Deutsche Telekom and Lufthansa Technik
- We are No. 1 Great Place to Work in the 51–100 employees category and a Kununu Top Company.
Let's discuss
your project with us!
The first step is easy — and don't worry: we won't send you dull newsletters or annoying promotional emails. Instead, we focus on what matters: your change goals and how we can move your business forward.
Step 1
Call back or email.
Within 24 hours we get in touch with you, capture your requirements and arrange an appointment with one of our experts.
Step 2
Free initial consultation.
In a video call you explain your project and discuss possible solution scenarios together with our expert.
Step 3
You decide how to proceed.
Proposal, pitch or project kickoff? You set the next steps.
Frequently asked questions about process mining consulting
Process mining consulting makes your business processes visible and transparent based on the digital traces in your IT systems. We connect your systems, such as SAP, extract the process data and build a precise data model that reflects your actual workflows. This uncovers hidden potential, measurably increases your margin and makes your company fit for the use of AI.
The benefit is measurable and plannable: in our projects, clients achieve around 3% more margin per 100 million euros in revenue – after just about four months. Instead of waiting months for reports, we validate every measure with data the very next day, so you see immediately whether your decisions are working.
Our approach comprises three phases. In the Discover phase, we connect your IT systems and build a data model of your actual workflows. In the Enhance phase, we implement targeted improvements and automate routine tasks so your employees gain time for value-adding work. In the Monitor phase, we use continuous reporting to ensure that processes are actually lived in everyday work as planned.
Process mining works along your entire value chain. Typical areas of application are order processing (shorter throughput times), production (fewer bottlenecks and downtimes), procurement (transparent supplier performance and ordering processes), finance (uncovering duplicated work and compliance risks), sales (analysis of the sales funnel from lead to close) and logistics (fewer delays in goods receipt, warehousing and shipping).
Process mining is a powerful tool, but the tool alone does not change a company – only the people who use the processes do. Transparency exposes weaknesses, tears down departmental boundaries and makes decisions contestable. That is why we place a special focus on professional change management in every project, so that transparency turns into real progress and your employees walk the path with you instead of blocking the change.
You do not have to start a large-scale project right away. With our proof of value, you can see in just 30 days what potential lies in your processes and how your organization can tackle the change successfully. In parallel to the data model, we lay the foundation for the change – with a stable leadership coalition, a convincing change story and a detailed change roadmap. This lets you decide on a solid basis, technically and organizationally.