Progress in areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven organizations often emerges where academic insights and practical experience intersect. Creating spaces in which these perspectives can meet is therefore essential for meaningful exchange and collaboration.

The RIS Afterwork Exchange has been established to provide exactly such a platform. The event format combines impulses from current research with practical perspectives from industry. This creates a setting that encourages open discussions and knowledge exchange in a relaxed atmosphere – accompanied by an afterwork drink in the center of Essen.

The first RIS Afterwork Exchange focused on the topic of Process Mining. Together with representatives from various organizations, participants discussed how companies can increase process transparency, enable data-driven decision making, and successfully apply Process Mining in practice. The exchange highlighted both the opportunities and the practical challenges organizations encounter when transforming operational data into actionable insights.

The discussions throughout the evening demonstrated the value of bringing together researchers and practitioners to reflect on emerging technologies and organizational change. Such interactions not only enrich academic perspectives but also help translate research insights into practical applications.

We would like to thank all participants for the engaging discussions and valuable perspectives that contributed to the success of the first RIS Afterwork Exchange.

Following this promising start, the next events are already being planned. The aim is to establish the RIS Afterwork Exchange as a recurring format throughout the year, providing a regular platform for dialogue between research and practice.

The date of the next event will be announced soon.