In the fast-paced world wherein everything moves at a fast pace, companies have gone digital even faster. From how they manufacture products to how they handle customers, everything has started to get smart. The Digital Twin is one major player in this digital game.

But what is a digital twin? How are process mapping and process mining helping it work?

Let’s take a simpler approach.

What Is a Digital Twin, Anyway?

Imagine having a machine in your factory. A digital twin can be a computer-generated version of that machine that exhibits how it works in real life. It allows for the interventions in real time, testing of concepts, and the analysis to detect issues before they occur.

Now extend such thinking to your entire business. You can have a digital twin for processes how the customer orders are managed, or how the team builds a product. In simple terms, it is a live mirror of your business on the computer.

Pretty cool, huh? But to build this mirror, you must first know how your business operates. Process mapping and mining come into play here.

What Is Process Mapping?

Process mapping is like drawing a flowchart of how work gets done in your company.

Let’s say you want to see how customer orders are handled. You start by writing down each step. Like this:

  • Customer places an order
  • The order goes to the sales team
  • The warehouse checks stock
  • The product is packed and shipped
  • The customer gets an update

This map helps everyone see what’s going on. It shows who is doing what. It makes the whole process clear.

Think of process mapping as a GPS for your business. It shows you the route and all the turns along the way.

What Is Process Mining?

Process mining goes a step further. Instead of guessing how things work, it uses real data.

Let’s go back to our order example. Every time an order moves from one step to another, the system records it. Process mining looks at that data and builds the real process flow from it.

Sometimes, what we think is happening and what is actually happening are two very different things. Process mining finds these gaps.

It tells you:

  • Which steps are taking too long
  • Where things get stuck
  • If people are skipping steps
  • How different teams are handling the same task

So, if process mapping is drawing a map, process mining is using a drone to see what’s really happening on the ground.

Why Are These Important for Digital Twins?

To build a good digital twin, you need to know exactly how things work. If your real-world process is messy or unclear, your digital twin won’t be very useful.

  • Process mapping gives you a clean version of your workflow.
  • Process mining shows you the real version, with all the bumps and delays.

When you use both, you get the full picture. You know what should happen and what’s happening.

This makes your digital twin smarter, more accurate, and more helpful.

Benefits of Using Process Mapping and Mining in Digital Twin Strategies

Let’s look at some big benefits for companies using this combo.

1. Better Decision-Making

When leaders can see how things are working, they make better choices. A digital twin powered by process mapping and mining gives them real-time updates. It’s like having a live dashboard for your business.

2. Faster Problem Solving

Imagine you see that deliveries are getting delayed. Your digital twin shows the exact step where things are slowing down. You don’t need to guess. You know where to fix it.

3. Cost Savings

Wasted time and errors cost money. When you clean up your processes using mapping and mining, you reduce waste. That means more savings.

4. Better Customer Experience

Customers want quick and smooth service. By understanding and improving processes, you give them what they want. Happy customers mean repeat business.

5. Smoother Automation

Digital twins often work with automation. But you can’t automate chaos. Process mapping and mining help you tidy up the process first. That way, your automation works well from the start.

Real-Life Example: A Bank’s Journey

Let’s take an example of a big bank.

They wanted to create a digital twin of their loan approval process. But they weren’t sure how the process was working. Different branches were doing things differently. Some steps were being skipped. Others were repeated.

So, they used process mapping to list the ideal steps.
Then, they used process mining to study real-time data from all branches.

What did they find?

  • Some branches were taking twice as long
  • Some steps had errors due to manual entries
  • The communication between departments was broken

By fixing these issues, the bank made the process faster and smoother. The digital twin helped them monitor everything live and keep improving.

How to Get Started?

If your company wants to build digital twins, here’s how you can start using process mapping and process mining.

Step 1: Choose the Process

Pick one process to begin with. Maybe it’s customer service. Or how you handle returns. Start small.

Step 2: Map the Process

Sit with your team. Draw out the steps. Use simple terms. Everyone should understand it.

Step 3: Use Process Mining Tools

Get the real data. Use tools like Celonis, UiPath Process Mining, or IBM Process Mining. These tools scan your system logs and create real process flows.

Step 4: Compare and Improve

Now compare your map and mining results. Are there gaps? Is the real process slower? Where are the mistakes?

Make changes. Improve the flow.

Step 5: Build the Digital Twin

Once your process is clean, build a digital twin. You can now monitor it live, test improvements, and make data-driven decisions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even though it sounds simple, there are a few mistakes companies make:

  • Skipping the data check: Don’t just rely on what people say. Check the real data.
  • Trying to do too much too fast: Start with one process. Fix it. Then move on.
  • Not involving the right people: Get people from all teams involved. Everyone sees things differently.
  • Ignoring the customer: Always ask, “Will this improve the customer experience?”

Final Thoughts

Process mapping and process mining are not just tools. They are like glasses that help you see your business. When used together, they bring your digital twin strategy to life. You can create smart, live models of your processes. You can make better decisions. And you can give your customers a better experience.

In short, they help you turn chaos into clarity.

If your company is looking to grow, go digital, or just get more efficient – this is the way to go.

So, take the first step. Map it. Mine it. Mirror it.