#538 Process Intelligence & AI: Liam O’Neil on Building Smarter, Scalable Organizations

In this episode, we sit down with Liam O’Neil, Managing Director at BPMD, to explore how modern organizations can use process intelligence, AI, and change design to build scalable, resilient systems.

We go deep into process mining, task mining, the future of process teams, breaking organizational silos, and how AI is reshaping enterprise transformation.

Whether you’re a CTO, operator, or founder, this episode demystifies what “process” really means in the AI era — and why it’s more strategic than ever.

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👤 About Liam O’Neil

Liam O’Neil is the Managing Director of BPMD, helping companies transform how they operate through process intelligence, workflow design, automation, and AI-driven change.

He has led transformation programs across industries, guiding teams through ERP shifts, hyperautomation, and data-driven operational design.

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why process ≠ bureaucracy — and how to reframe it

• Moving from siloed teams to connected “change maker functions”

• Process mining vs task mining (and when to use each)

• AI’s role in accelerating process intelligence & automation

• Why CTOs must partner with process functions to drive value

• How to spot early signs of underperforming transformation programs

• Where process teams sit in modern org structures

• Innovation vs stability — and when not to automate

• Using upstream fixes to unlock downstream efficiency

• The real reason RPA stalled — and what AI does differently

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🎧 What You’ll Learn

• The evolution of process work in the AI age

• Real-world examples of process intelligence saving time & cost

• How to structure process teams for speed, not bureaucracy

• Tools and frameworks shaping enterprise workflow (Signavio, Celonis, SAP, etc.)

• How generative & agentic AI is changing execution and adoption

• Why culture, communication, and accountability still matter most

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🕒 Episode Highlights

Timestamp

Topic

00:00

Welcome & guest intro

01:20

Liam’s journey into process & automation

03:10

Why smart teams get stuck in silos

04:50

Fixing upstream issues to remove downstream pain

06:10

Why process has a “bureaucracy problem”

09:00

How modern process teams look today

11:50

Process mining vs task mining — explained simply

15:20

Real enterprise examples & outcomes

17:10

Where AI accelerates process work

20:00

Why change dies without ownership & communication

24:15

Balancing innovation vs experience

27:00

Capability modeling for tech investment decisions

29:00

Signals CTOs should watch for in transformation

32:40

Where to start tomorrow if you lead technology

34:30

The next evolution of process with AI

38:00

RPA vs AI — why adoption looks different

41:20

Closing thoughts & where to find Liam

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Liam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-oneill/

• Liam’s company: http://bpm-d.com/

• Celonis

• WalkMe / digital adoption platforms

• LeanIX / enterprise architecture

• RPA vs next-gen AI workflows