BMW calls for vendor openness in quest to mine its own processes

BMW's process mining leader has called for greater openness among enterprise application and software vendors to avoid data lock-in. Process mining aims to extract data from application logs and other data sources to build models of how people execute processes, as opposed to how they were designed — there can be a big …

[Anonymous Coward]

Spreadsheets galore

"a lot of different software products in place and it's very important that we can really connect them… both to get the data out and also to analyze the data further"

And where does that analysis happen? In another piece of software, where that data remains.

Why are there so many spreadsheets in the world? They are simply a tool to view data that's been exported from a myriad of disjointed systems. But it's worse than that because clearly it is possible to get data out (into the spreadsheet).

The problem is that people want "one UI for everything" and spreadsheets became the de facto way to achieve that.

The reason SAP has 28,000 ways to do the same thing is because it has a metric shit ton of usability problems. I don't think analysing those is going to tell you anything other than that. Much less persuading SAP to change their ways.

[Anonymous Coward]

Hmmm, another story where "AI" should be the answer

if it was any use.

You know, this past year, I've dealt with a plethora of organisations who - despite boasting about their "AI" powered offerings - are totally unable to accept data in any format but their own.

Is anyone else starting to build a list of all the things they are learning "AI can't do that" ?

The latest kicker is "Our AI can only read MS word files,"

Oh Really ?

[wolfetone]

Lass dich ficken, BMW.

The gall of BMW to moan about being locked in to a vendor when they wanted you to pay £7 a month to use the heated seats in the car you paid for.

[DJV]

Re: Lass dich ficken, BMW.

I also suspect that working indicator lights are a paid-for extra...

[Gene Cash]

Re: Lass dich ficken, BMW.

"When somebody tells me a job they're doing is pointless I remind them that there's somebody employed in Germany to fit BMWs with turn signals."

[short a sandwich]

Re: Lass dich ficken, BMW.

The second hand buyer is assured of mint condition fully functioning indicators though. Which is nice.

[M.V. Lipvig]

Re: Lass dich ficken, BMW.

Whoops, I guess I should read all the comments first, before posting almost word for word what someone else posted. So, my post has been withdrawn.

[Doctor Syntax]

"Process mining aims to extract data from application logs and other data sources to build models of how people execute processes, as opposed to how they were designed "

Applying a sticking plaster to the wounds caused by lack of training and out of touch management.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Process mining aims to extract data from application logs and other data sources to build models of how people execute processes in vastly different ways, due to how badly they were designed "

[tiago.pelicari]

Top vendors build their systems looking for differentiation. They also seek for rooting in most of their target customers.

Ask them to be open sounds somewhat communism.

[Jimmy2Cows]

but this can't be by locking in users

Says a guy from a company that wants it's "users" to have to subscribe to things like heated seats, thereby "locking them in" to get get the most benefit out of their cars.

Do as we say, not as we do.

[simonlb]

Re: but this can't be by locking in users

Not just heated seats but allowing their 'engineers' to make piss-poor design decisions with their engines so that when they get to a certain mileage you will have to spend money tearing down the engine to replace parts to avoid them failing and destroying the engine. Parts which in previous generations of engine never caused any issues but which were redesigned to be cheaper. And the brittle plastic pipes which always snap when you try to disconnect them, along with the oil leaks due to crappy gasket material.

For me, that's the best way to have people avoid buying your product: I want a car which is reliable and doesn't have to undergo unnecessary work just to keep it running.