Putting the pieces
together
THREE PRACTICAL STEPS MINING BUSINESSES CAN TAKE TO ACCELERATE DIGITALIZATION. BY JOSEPH GALDES
Digitalization is like completing a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece by itself won’t complete the scene. Only when you start putting the pieces together will the big picture become clear to you. You might already have a vision or a guide for how the completed puzzle should look – an end goal to achieve. But that doesn’t guarantee success. You still need to put in the work to bring it all together. And that’s where the challenge lies for the mining industry. Operators have access to the digital tools that can drive productivity, safety and sustainability. Still, many are unsure how to bring them together to achieve their vision for the future of mining.
The digital canary is already deep in the mine For mining businesses, digital transformation is no longer a case of ‘if’ or ‘when’. ‘How’ is the question on everyone’s minds.
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ENERGY,OIL&GAS
energy-oil-gas.com
Digital technology is already transforming mining. For instance, tools already in use include sensor networks that enable predictive maintenance to prevent vehicle and equipment failure, real-time GPS systems that track machine utilization to improve efficiency. And you can’t have missed the various stories about operators using drones to map out their sites. It’s not like the options aren’t there. Shell solutions like MachineMax and OREN are already helping operators overcome their major challenges through digital innovation1,2. The desire to adopt these new tools exists as well. Businesses are keen to make progress on their digital transformation journeys. In fact, our latest research highlights how seven out of ten mining leaders see it as an urgent priority3. So, what are the barriers standing in the way of their digital vision?
