Identify bottlenecks and optimise processes with Process mining
PAFnow GmbH
(Acquired by Celonis in 2022)
PAFnow is a process mining solution built on top of Microsoft Power BI, enabling organisations to analyse workflows, uncover inefficiencies, and make data-driven decisions. When large corporations such as Lufthansa, Bayer, and BMW encounter significant bottlenecks in their various operational processes, they often turn to advanced techniques like Process Mining to identify and analyze these inefficiencies.
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Process Mining serves as a powerful tool that allows organizations to visualize their processes from a comprehensive perspective, often referred to as a "Bird's Eye View". This approach is particularly effective when utilizing platforms like PAFnow, which specializes in integrating process mining capabilities into Microsoft PowerBI.
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The essence of Process Mining lies in its ability to extract valuable insights from the vast amounts of data generated by business processes. By analyzing event logs, these companies can pinpoint where delays, redundancies, and other inefficiencies occur within their workflows. This analytical method not only highlights the bottlenecks but also helps in understanding their root causes, which is crucial for implementing effective solutions.
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When Vineet joined the project, the product was in it's early stage, powerful and technically robust, however, the experience told a different story.
Long story, short
PAFnow presented users with a dense ecosystem with dashboards full of process views, event views, case views and analytical layers.
While rich in functionality, the experience created friction:
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Overwhelming, data-heavy interfaces
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Lack of clear visual hierarchy
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Insights buried beneath layers of interpretation
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Navigation that relied on exploration rather than guidance
Users weren’t blocked. They were slowed down.
And in a decision-making tool, hesitation is costly.
The Insight
Through deep product understanding and user observation, Vineet uncovered a key truth:
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Users were not looking for more data.
They were looking for direction.
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The issue wasn’t complexity itself.
It was how that complexity was presented.
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Raw data does not equal understanding. Clarity does.
This shifted the focus from simplifying features to orchestrating information.
The Goal
The objective was not to reduce the product’s power, but to make it accessible.
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Vineet set out to:
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Make insights immediately understandable
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Reduce cognitive effort across workflows
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Guide users toward meaningful actions
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Create consistency across the experience
Success meant enabling a seamless flow from
data → insight → decision
The Approach
Vineet introduced a clarity-first design philosophy.
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Instead of exposing everything at once, the experience was restructured to:
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Prioritise critical information
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Guide users through intentional flows
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Replace exploration fatigue with confidence
The product began shifting from a static dashboard system to a guided analytical experience.
The Process
The redesign followed a structured and iterative approach:
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Auditing existing dashboards and identifying friction points
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Mapping key user journeys across workflows
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Establishing a clear visual hierarchy in process exxplorer
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Simplifying navigation and restructuring information architecture
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Aligning patterns across the product for consistency
Each decision was grounded in a simple principle: make the next step obvious.
Branding
Beyond usability, the product lacked a cohesive identity.
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Vineet refined the visual language to create a more unified experience:
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Introduced consistent use of colour to support meaning
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Balanced analytical depth with modern product aesthetics
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Established a tone that felt confident yet approachable
The result was subtle but impactful.
PAFnow began to feel like a designed product, not just a technical layer.
Design System
To ensure scalability and consistency, Vineet established a foundational design system.
This included:
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Standardised layout structures for dashboards
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Defined typography, spacing, and hierarchy
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Reusable components for charts, filters, and navigation
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Consistent interaction patterns across the platform
This transformed fragmented interfaces into a cohesive and predictable system.
The Solution
The redesigned experience focused on surfacing insights, not just displaying data.
Key improvements included:
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Streamlined dashboards prioritising critical information
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Clear visual hierarchy separating signal from noise
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Guided navigation flows across analytical stages
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Reduced cognitive load through cleaner layouts
The interface evolved into a system that supports decisions, not just analysis.
Business Perspective
Process mining delivers value only when insights lead to action.
By improving usability and clarity, Vineet’s work contributed to:
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Faster time-to-insight
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Increased product adoption potential
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More confident and efficient decision-making
Design became a strategic driver, directly supporting the product’s business impact.
The Impact
The transformation led to meaningful behavioural change:
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Users identified inefficiencies faster
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Cognitive load was significantly reduced
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Navigation became intuitive and predictable
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Decision-making confidence improved
Users no longer had to work through the interface to extract value.
The value became immediately accessible.
Learn more...
Process mining delivers value only when insights lead to action.
By improving usability and clarity, Vineet’s work contributed to:
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Faster time-to-insight
-
Increased product adoption potential
-
More confident and efficient decision-making
Design became a strategic driver, directly supporting the product’s business impact.
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