Instead of wondering whether to digitalise, mining companies should examine where digitalisation shows its value
Digitalisation is often presented as a fully integrated, mine-wide transformation. In reality, not many operations are fully digitalised yet, with implementation sometimes seen as technically difficult or economically unjustified. This can be due to the misconception that digitalisation is simply about automation. Automation normally focuses on doing the same things faster and more safely. Digitalisation fundamentally changes how operations are understood, managed and optimised by turning data into insight and connecting processes across the value chain.
The key question
For engineers and operators, the key question is not whether to digitalise, but where digitalisation delivers measurable value and how to implement it. Mine life, production profile, capital constraints, software and IT maturity in operations, among other things, shape the business case. A short-life operation, for example, may not justify large-scale investment in fully integrated systems. Instead, a targeted, modular approach may be more effective.
Digitalisation requires a combination of operations and OEM expertise on several levels, including data acquisition, process automation, and system integration. While full integration offers long-term potential, many sites can achieve meaningful gains by focusing on high-impact areas, particularly within materials handling.
The benefits
Conveying systems, stockyards and loading systems are critical interfaces where inefficiencies and unplanned downtime directly affect performance. Introducing digital tools such as real-time material tracking, automated load control and condition monitoring can improve throughput, reduce variability and enhance operational visibility without requiring a complete system overhaul.
The benefits can be significant. In one instance, a stockyard machine failed to start due to a hydraulic fault in the hoisting mechanism. Traditionally, resolving the fault would have required a site visit, incurring more than 70 hours of downtime. Because the operation was digitalised, remote diagnostics and intervention enabled the issue to be identified and resolved in three hours, with no production downtime and no need for anyone to travel to the site.
Digitalisation can enhance performance at multiple points in the value chain through targeted, high-impact interventions. However, identifying the right starting point and ensuring that individual solutions contribute to a coherent long-term strategy requires both process expertise and digital capability. FAM Minerals & Mining, a member of Beumer Group, combines deep knowledge of bulk materials handling with advanced digital and diagnostic services. Its diagnostic support portfolio, including data analytics, remote monitoring, cybersecurity and 24/7 hotline support, enables mine operators to translate data into actionable insight and focus investment where it matters most.
Ultimately, digitalisation in mining is not a single-step transformation. It is a continuous process, defined not by how much technology is deployed, but by how intelligently it is applied.
For more information visit: www.beumergroup.com
