Earlier in 2025 I’ve met a wonderful fellow and co-BPM professional,
Seyed Ahmad Daliri
at a conference in the Netherlands.
We’ve connected, clicked and stayed in contact ever since. Ahmad was sharing some of his extensive knowledge and experience with me and mentioned that he wrote an article about how #AI can transform #processmanagement.
Now, most of you that know me also know that we very frequently have guests on the podcast that I co-hosting with
Dr. Russell Gomersall
, called
BPM360Podcast
and why not lend my Process Extraordinaire Weekly newsletter as a platform for others to share their knowledge and ideas as well. In other words, sharing is caring.
So, without further ado, here’s Ahmad’s article on #AI and #BPM:
How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Can Transform Process Management
For some time now, I’ve been reflecting on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could truly serve Business Process Management (BPM) — not just as a buzzword, but as a practical enabler that helps organizations achieve more valuable outcomes. While thinking about this, a series of new questions came to mind…
Questions to Spark Curiosity
What if long organizational meetings could automatically turn into process models?
What if performance dashboards didn’t just show KPIs, but also suggested the next best actions?
What if delays, bottlenecks, or customer complaints could be predicted before they ever happened?
What if all process knowledge, documentation, and best practices were instantly accessible in one place — without hours of searching?
For many organizations, these scenarios sound like dreams. But with Artificial Intelligence (AI), they are quickly becoming part of reality. The question is no longer if AI will change process management, but how far and how fast.
The real power of AI lies in its ability to bridge gaps that traditional BPM approaches have struggled with for years — from speeding up discovery and modeling, to making analysis smarter, predictions sharper, and user experiences more intuitive. Rather than replacing BPM, AI has the potential to amplify it, turning process management into a more dynamic, proactive, and value-driven discipline.
AI in Process Management: Unlocking New Possibilities
Artificial Intelligence is not just about automation — it is about expanding the horizons of BPM. From accelerating process discovery and modeling, to enabling deeper analysis, smarter predictions, smoother user experiences, and intelligent performance management, AI has the potential to reshape how organizations design, execute, and improve their processes. Instead of isolated tools and fragmented efforts, AI makes BPM more connected, proactive, and value-driven.
The following sections highlight some of the most promising ways regarding to AI and transforming process management:
1. Faster Process Discovery and Modeling
Traditional process discovery requires extensive workshops, interviews, and manual modeling. AI changes this. By analyzing enterprise data (ERP, CRM, system logs), it can uncover how processes are actually executed or by a new innovative solution!!
Even more transformative is the ability to turn text or voice into BPMN diagrams. Imagine leaving a workshop, and instead of drafting diagrams for hours, AI has already modeled the process for you. The benefits are obvious:
Time savings,
Higher accuracy,
Greater involvement of non-experts in process modeling.
This shift alone can fundamentally change how quickly organizations move from idea to execution.
2. Continuous Analysis and Improvement
Process management is not just about mapping workflows — it’s about analyzing them. And analysis requires both quantitative data (cycle times, costs, error rates) and qualitative insights (customer satisfaction, employee experience).
AI can handle both dimensions simultaneously. It doesn’t stop there: by connecting to global best practices, AI can benchmark processes against industry leaders. Then, instead of overwhelming managers with data, it delivers next best actions — practical steps to improve efficiency, reduce risk, or enhance experience.
In other words, AI transforms raw numbers into actionable intelligence.
3. Prediction and Smarter Decision-Making
Traditional dashboards tell you what has happened. AI takes you further — it tells you what is likely to happen.
Using predictive analytics, AI can forecast:
Delays before they occur,
Resource shortages before they disrupt operations,
Customer churn before it escalates.
This predictive power turns managers from reactive problem-solvers into proactive leaders. AI also serves as a recommender system, suggesting the smartest decisions based on context, data, and outcomes.
4. Hyper automation: Beyond Simple RPA
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has already shown its value in automating repetitive tasks. But when combined with AI, we move toward Hyper automation.
Here, bots don’t just follow scripts — they:
Interpret documents,
Handle exceptions,
Make complex decisions,
Learn and adapt over time.
Hyper automation means processes that are not just faster, but genuinely smarter.
5. A Better User and Employee Experience
One of the biggest barriers to BPM adoption has always been complexity. Employees often resist new systems because they are unintuitive, clunky, or detached from real workflows.
AI directly addresses this pain point. Through intelligent interfaces, natural language commands, and personalized suggestions, it makes process tools easier — even enjoyable — to use. This matters, because even the most advanced BPM initiative fails without user adoption.
6. Performance Management and Smart Dashboards
Every manager relies on dashboards. But dashboards powered by AI are a different breed.
They don’t just display KPIs. They:
Analyze trends in real time,
Detect anomalies instantly,
Provide alerts before problems escalate,
And most importantly — recommend corrective actions.
The dashboard becomes less of a mirror and more of a guide.
A Critical Gap in the BPM World
Despite all these breakthroughs, something important is still missing: a comprehensive BPM Assistant.
The absence of a BPM knowledge hub means organizations spend enormous amounts of time searching for answers, best practices, or even their own internal documentation.
The absence of a smart guide means the BPM lifecycle remains fragmented: discovery here, analysis there, monitoring somewhere else.
This fragmentation leads to wasted time, duplicated efforts, and missed opportunities. What’s needed is a single intelligent companion — one that integrates knowledge, provides guidance, and supports managers and teams across the entire process journey.
Shaping the Next Chapter of BPM
This is precisely the gap we have set our sights on.
In recent months, we have started building something new: a solution designed not to replace BPM tools, but to guide and connect the entire lifecycle. From discovery and modeling to improvement and monitoring, it acts as a companion, not just a system.
For now, we’ll keep the details under wraps 😉 But let’s just say: the foundation is already being laid, and what comes next could reshape how organizations think about process management.
Let’s Shape the Future Together
AI in BPM is not about technology alone — it’s about changing how we work, decide, and improve. And the best ideas often come from sharing perspectives.
So let me ask you:
Where do you see the greatest opportunity for AI in process management?
If you had such an assistant, which pain point in your organization would you solve first?
The discussion is just beginning. The future of BPM might be closer than we think — and these are just some of my reflections on how AI is redefining the field, and how we are building towards something new in this space.
Curious to continue the conversation? Feel free to connect with me — Ahmad Daliri
Thank you,
Seyed Ahmad Daliri
for this wonderful contribution and for my readers, see you next time!
