What is a To-Be process and what is an As-Is process?

The as-is process (AS-IS) describes how a process actually runs, while the to-be process (TO-BE) defines the desired, ideal target state. Process Mining makes the as-is process visible; the to-be model serves as a reference for improvement and comparison.

Why does this matter?

Improvement only emerges from comparing both perspectives: only by knowing the as-is and to-be can you identify gaps, derive measures, and measure their impact. This comparison is at the heart of Conformance Checking and continuous process improvement.