Celonis, Microsoft & Uniper: Energy Process Mining
Process mining has become a crucial tool for organisations aiming to uncover inefficiencies within their complex operational frameworks.
By leveraging data-driven methodologies, process mining facilitates the discovery, monitoring and enhancement of business processes.
The technology works by extracting event logs from enterprise systems, creating visual workflows that highlight bottlenecks and compliance issues traditionally overlooked.
Combining process mining with artificial intelligence takes this capability further, enabling predictive analytics and automated process optimisations.
This enhanced functionality is particularly valuable to utility companies managing outdated IT systems, navigating regulatory challenges and integrating renewable energy resources.
It allows for better adaptation to volatile market dynamics and improve their overall operational efficiency.
Aims of the collaboration
The collaboration brings together Microsoft's AI technologies, Uniper's energy market expertise and Celonis' process intelligence platform to implement large-scale, AI-powered automation across Uniper's operational framework.
This synergy is intended to provide Uniper with deeper insights into its business processes, allowing for AI-driven improvements across its organisational structure.
“The powerful combination of Microsoft's AI technologies with Celonis' process intelligence lets us identify value-driving AI use cases, intelligently automate workflows and track performance gains,” says Damian Bunyan, CIO at Uniper.
“Thanks to this strategic collaboration, we can optimise our operations, empower our employees and deliver greater value to our customers."
Foundations for AI in energy
Celonis’ contribution involves providing a process intelligence platform that is agnostic to underlying systems.
This creates a data-centric foundation required for developing AI agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio, integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Fabric’s various data services.
Simultaneously, Microsoft combines its AI technologies with productivity tools such as Microsoft Teams, Power BI and Power Automate, scaling AI across Uniper’s business operations.
“AI is only as effective as the data and context it feeds on,” says Bastian Nominacher, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Celonis.
“Celonis provides the process data and business context that gives AI the understanding it needs to drive meaningful business transformation and real value. Together with Microsoft, we're enabling Uniper to drive tangible results.”
“The next generation of AI requires deep reasoning grounded in enterprise data and business processes,” says Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President for Business and Industry Copilot at Microsoft.
“By combining Celonis Process Intelligence with Microsoft Copilot Studio and Microsoft AI, we are enabling companies to build intelligent solutions that deeply understand and optimise business operations.”
The impacts of AI adoption
Uniper has implemented Celonis across 27 processes, connecting eight source systems and supporting more than 350 active users within the organisation.
The integration has yielded substantial improvements in key business areas, including plant maintenance, where process optimisation has enhanced operational safety and compliance, reduced risks and minimised supplier waiting times.
The company has achieved measurable improvements across multiple core business areas.
In plant maintenance, it has optimised processes to ensure work is conducted safely and compliantly, which has reduced risk factors and supplier waiting times.
In Human resources operations, there have been improvements in the recruitment process, with reduced time-to-hire metrics and an enhanced candidate experience through automated notifications.
Meanwhile, in hydro power operations, Uniper has optimised business reporting timeframes, which has reduced operational costs and improved external supplier management.
“The powerful combination of Microsoft's AI technologies with Celonis' process intelligence lets us identify value-driving AI use cases, intelligently automate workflows and track performance gains,” Damian says.
“Thanks to this strategic collaboration, we can optimise our operations, empower our employees and deliver greater value to our customers.”
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