What makes a professional camp truly worthwhile? For us, it’s when everyone — whether a seasoned analyst, a data scientist, or a project lead — can find something that resonates with their own expertise, or challenges the way they work.

Last week, our Emil Vakhitov joined the Process Mining Camp 2025 in Eindhoven — the birthplace of process mining. Organized by Fluxicon, the event has earned a reputation for getting straight to what matters: practical, tested ways to rethink how we work with processes and people.

The talks brought both insight and friction — the kind that sharpens thinking. Iris Beerepoot from Utrecht University asked a powerful question: do event logs truly reflect reality? Her findings were eye-opening. Only 69% of daily work activities are actually recorded in information systems, and just 32% of customer interactions. The rest? Lost in hallway conversations, unlogged decisions, and spontaneous problem-solving. It’s a timely reminder that process mining, while powerful, must walk hand-in-hand with human insight. The system doesn’t always speak the full truth. People still do. 

This was echoed by Linda Jantz, who advocated for one-day workshops with the people behind the processes. Sometimes the best insights don’t come from dashboards, but from dialogue. Daniel Kaße (VKPB) brought in the human dimension again. His talk centered on trust. Because even when the data is ready, the organization might not be. Privacy officers, process owners, and works councils — all bring valid questions. And building trust is a process of its own, with milestones, setbacks, and learning curves. He shared a practical, respectful roadmap for doing just that. 

Beyond theory, the workshops were designed to feel like real life. Built on authentic data sets, they moved from foundational skills to nuanced complexity. Regardless of how long you’ve been working with process mining, there was always a new layer to uncover. A fresh angle. A smarter way. Participants weren’t handed answers — they were guided through trials. Working in small groups, they iterated, questioned, and tested their assumptions. They saw that the fundamentals — like case IDs or activity logs — often carry hidden pitfalls that only surface through hands-on experience.

One standout case: Martine Truijman and Stanley Wirjadi’s presentation on optimizing MRI scanner utilization. A clear, data-driven application of process mining with a very human goal — getting patients diagnosed and treated faster. This is what process intelligence looks like when it matters.

And this is what stood out about the camp: it was about showing up with questions, not showing off tools. It was about practice, complexity, and people.