From improved safety, to improved productivity and improved operations, technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have been promoted as game-changers in the sector for many years.

While mining is still seen as a largely `analogue’ business, the reality is that mines started their digital transformation journeys a long time ago. The mining industry has been deploying programmable logic controller (PLC) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for industrial processes and automation for years. However, these systems were not designed to communicate with each other or within a larger system, leaving gaps in mines’ ability to leverage the benefits of machine connectivity.