From Drawing to Decisions: How UMCG Is Transforming Healthcare With Ardoq ShiftX’s AI-powered Process Modeling

Shifting to Value Streams and Drive for Greater Organizational Agility

Located in the Netherlands, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is one of Europe’s largest university hospitals, employing over 17,000 professionals. UMCG needed a solution that could break silos, encourage broad participation, and connect process work directly to their enterprise architecture. They chose Ardoq ShiftX because it offered a unique combination of simplicity and power. It was the only tool that could be used by non-technical staff (like nurses) to model complex processes, while also providing the back-end integration required to link those models into Ardoq’s broader enterprise architecture graph. This unique capability was the key to turning static artifacts into living, strategic assets.

At the same time, the organization was transitioning to an agile way of working, based on value streams. To support that transformation, UMCG needed an accessible process tool that could overcome departmental and functional divides. Ardoq ShiftX provided the opportunity to do just that.

Fragmented, Static Documentation Disconnected From Architecture

UMCG's process landscape was fragmented and ineffective. Diagrams built in BPMN tools lacked real-time integration with systems, roles, or strategy. Most processes existed solely to satisfy audits, filed away until an ISO check brought them back into view. This static, compliance-first mindset limited the ability to optimize workflows or extract real value.

This created a landscape where process documentation provided little value beyond meeting compliance requirements. Their existing tools were a bottleneck, not an enabler for their new way of working.

UMCG’s existing tools posed three critical challenges:

• Limited participation: Only a few specialists modeled processes, leaving out valuable frontline knowledge.
• Static documentation: Processes became outdated quickly and were rarely used beyond audits.
• No strategic integration: Diagrams were disconnected from their enterprise architecture, making them unusable for transformation initiatives.

This siloed approach meant that UMCG’s process documentation was not a strategic asset. It created an environment where valuable insights were lost, and a true understanding of how the organization operated was limited to a few technical experts.

Tapping the Valuable Knowledge of Experienced Frontliners With Ardoq

Rather than migrate outdated diagrams into a new tool, UMCG adopted Ardoq ShiftX as a strategic reset. Staff were encouraged to rebuild processes using Ardoq ShiftX’s AI-powered process modeler, prompting reflection on why processes were designed a certain way and how they could be improved.

The approach was twofold:

• Empowering non-experts: Nurses and clinicians began independently mapping patient journeys, something they had never done before. Ardoq ShiftX’s intuitive design removed the barriers of technical modeling.
• Integrating with enterprise architecture: Information analysts and process owners linked these models to systems, data, and organizational goals within Ardoq’s broader EA graph.

This dual approach ensured both bottom-up engagement and top-down alignment, transforming process modeling into a living, strategic discipline.

Key Outcomes With Ardoq: A New Level of Strategic Visibility Aiding Process Prioritization and Improvements

Ardoq ShiftX quickly delivered outcomes that went beyond compliance.

• Strategic visibility: Processes could now be viewed in the context of organizational goals, IT systems, and roles, providing leadership with actionable insights.
• Living processes: Ownership remained active even during staff turnover, as processes were linked to roles and systems, not just individuals.
• Quantified insights: Decision-branch weighting allowed UMCG to measure process variations (e.g., 80/20 paths), making it easier to prioritize improvements.
• Cultural shift: By democratizing process modeling, UMCG turned a niche activity into a collaborative practice, engaging staff who previously had no voice in process design.

The result was a transition from static compliance artifacts to dynamic assets that drive real operational and strategic value.

“Process modeling provides the foundation for sustainable healthcare transformation. By lowering the barrier for clinical and operational staff to visualise and improve their workflows, user-friendly platforms like Ardoq ShiftX turn complexity into actionable insight.”

- Tom van der Laan, Chief Medical Information Officer at University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Looking Forward

With Ardoq ShiftX, UMCG is building a foundation for continuous improvement and innovation at scale. By linking strategy, people, and technology into a single connected view, the organization is better positioned to optimize patient journeys, reduce costs, and support agile, value-stream-oriented transformation. What once was a compliance exercise is now a lever for organizational change and competitive advantage.

About UMCG

Located in the Netherlands, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is one of Europe’s largest university hospitals, employing over 17,000 professionals. The hospital combines world-class healthcare delivery with advanced medical research and education, and is recognized for its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient-centered care. A long-time Ardoq customer, their fresh, practical perspective on EA and the bigger organizational picture has been instrumental in successfully collaborating with the wider organization outside of the EA team.