Wil van der Aalst: From Theory to Millions in Savings—The Story of Process Mining

🎧 In this episode of Insane Data, Giuliano sits down with a true legend in the field of process mining – Prof. Wil van der Aalst, the founder of the discipline.

Together, they unpack how data and event logs from IT systems can be used to understand and improve business processes. Wil explains the difference between classical and object-centric process mining and shares why workflow systems failed in the 90s – and how that failure sparked a whole new field.

You’ll hear why poor data quality and lack of executive support are the biggest barriers to adoption, and how organizations like Lufthansa use process mining to minimize turnaround delays at airports. Wil also reflects on how governments could benefit massively from process mining – if only they were willing to confront inefficiencies.

Finally, for those ready to start, Wil shares practical advice: open-source tools, simple data requirements, and free online courses. A must-listen for anyone who wants to truly understand what’s happening inside their organization.

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