How Process Automation is Transforming the Mining Industry

The mining industry is undergoing a significant transformation as it incorporates Industry 4.0 technologies. This evolution is marked by the integration of digital innovations such as process automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and big data analytics.

Process automation is set to be a pivotal element in this transformation.

In this blog, we will explore the advantages, emerging trends, and challenges that mining companies encounter in implementing process automation. We'll also discuss the frontier technologies driving unprecedented change in the industry and future trends that are driving productivity, operational excellence, and improved compliance. 

How process automation is transforming the mining industry

The automation of forms and workflows is transforming the mining industry by increasing efficiency, accuracy, and the collection of data.

Let's have a look at how process automation will transform the mining industry in 2025. 

The mining sector in 2025 faces a dynamic landscape shaped by geopolitical uncertainty. Joint ventures are becoming increasingly prevalent, reflecting a trend toward collaboration to address challenges such as skills shortages and the rising cost of capital. These factors are driving up operating expenses and complicating leadership decision-making.

Skills shortages not only increase project delivery costs but also strain resources, making efficient execution more difficult. Leaders in the industry are responding by prioritizing investments in data and technology to meet demands for digital solutions that enhance productivity, safety, and ESG outcomes. However, many companies struggle to fully leverage their abundant data due to fragmented technology implementation, limiting its potential value.

Despite easing inflation, costs remain high, especially in energy and labor. To navigate these challenges, mining companies are increasingly focusing on process automation to drive cost savings, optimize laborforce productivity, and improve safety measures.  We will see this continue in 2025 as process automation continues to tackle the industry challenges head-on.

Learn more about the process automation techniques, technologies, and strategies to future-proof mining in an evolving landscape in this video here:  

 

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Benefits of process automation in the mining industry

The benefits of digitizing forms and workflows in the mining industry include:

Improved efficiency

Digitization of forms and workflows frees employees from the burden of manual data entry tasks and other repetitive tasks. With automation, mining companies can speed up processes, minimize errors, and improve process accuracy.

In cross-functional processes that span various departments, such as engineering and planning, teams often need to share information. However, the hand-off points can present challenges with employees scattered across large sites and based in the head office. Process automation can help to break down work siloes and improve the transfer of data.

Process automation will be crucial in mitigating skills shortages in mining and closing knowledge gaps. By documenting and automating processes, mining companies can capture institutional knowledge before experts retire and help bring new recruits up to speed. This in turn will reduce costs, as lost information will not have to be relearned.

In addition, process automation plays a key role in upskilling workers. Repetitive tasks like data entry can be monotonous, but automating these processes could allow workers to be upskilled and redeployed into more rewarding value-generating roles.

Enhanced data collection 

Mining companies can gather more data using digital forms and workflows compared to data captured and siloed on paper, in email trails, Excel worksheets, and Word documents. Digital solutions enable real-time data collection, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information.

Data from these digital forms can be aggregated and made available instantly to key mining personnel, allowing for the detection of deviations from expected operating standards and enabling timely actions to optimize operations and quickly address issues as they arise.

Enhanced accuracy 

Digitized forms and workflows significantly reduce data entry errors common in manual processes. This reduction of errors enables mining companies to make more informed decisions, leading to better outcomes.

Improved compliance

Mining is a highly regulated industry, influenced by changes in the global economy and environment, together with a rising awareness about the environmental impact of mining. Regulations differ from country to country, requiring different compliance processes to be in place.

Mining operations generate substantial amounts of data, so digitizing processes such as equipment pre-ops and post-ops, management of work orders, worksite inspections, and audits helps facilitate compliance with regulations.

Challenges of process automation in the mining industry

While the automation forms and workflows offer significant benefits, mining companies face challenges in adopting this technology.

End-user adoption 

Incorporating digital technologies into mining operations necessitates that workers understand and effectively use the technology. Skills gaps in local labor markets are a major barrier to adopting modern technology.

Managing resistance to change is also a significant challenge for mining companies. Younger operators are more tech-savvy than their older counterparts. Process automation software needs to be agile to ensure that changes to a process are quickly deployed to maintain strong end-user adoption.

Learn how to improve user adoption in this video where we discuss the power of citizen development: 

Infrastructure 

Digital forms and workflows require a robust and reliable infrastructure to ensure seamless operation. Mining companies need a network capable of managing the demand for real-time data collection and transmission to avoid disruptions.

Integration

The integration capabilities of a process automation platform should be assessed, to ensure that digitized forms and workflows integrate with existing machinery and IT infrastructure where needed.

Automating in the mining industry: applications 

The most popular applications we see are in the following processes: 

• Standardizing operational processes
• Health and safety compliance
• Streamlining HR processes      
• Enhancing procurement processes
• Sustainability
• Quality control processes
• Finance processes 

Trends impacting process automation in mining

Cloud-based platforms

Mining companies are increasingly storing digital forms and related data on cloud-based platforms instead of physical servers. Cloud storage can significantly reduce infrastructure costs and provide easy access to data from any location. All a mining company’s sites can be connected to the same integrated systems as their head office. This connectivity allows mines to input data and generate reports directly in an online system, using real-time data.

Mobile technology

Mobile technology is transforming mine operations, from daily activities to the prevention of fatalities and injuries. Mobile devices and tools are capable of operating offline, ensuring that tasks continue smoothly even in areas with poor internet connectivity.

It is critical that the chosen process automation software allows users to work with forms offline on a mobile device. Data input in a form can then be uploaded from the device once connectivity has been restored.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are now used for real-time data analysis and processing. This technology allows mining companies to monitor performance, identify patterns for predictive maintenance, and improve decision-making.

Forms and workflow software that can harness generative AI to build requested processes from scratch or from uploaded documentation, offers a distinct advantage to the business, with time to value reduced significantly. 

Learn more about the power of AI in this showcase video: 

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT devices collect and send large volumes of data in real-time. Data generated by IoT devices enables mining companies to predict equipment malfunctions and optimize production operations, which helps reduce downtime and increase profitability.

Connected devices such as wearable technology and proximity detectors can strengthen health and safety protocols in mining operations, by providing data on equipment status, potential safety hazards, and current environmental conditions.

Conclusion

Trends such as process automation, mobile computing, cloud storage, AI, ML, and IoT are shaping the future of the mining industry. As mining companies continue to adopt this technology, they should carefully plan the adoption process, make adequate infrastructure arrangements, and integrate the technology with existing machinery and IT infrastructure to achieve a seamless transition.

As a leader in AI-driven process automation, FlowForma is uniquely positioned to support companies in the mining industry on their journey to operational excellence and compliance.

FlowForma Process Automation combines forms, workflow, insights, AI, document generation, seamless integrations, and much more into one 100% no-code platform.

FlowForma sits on Microsoft SharePoint Online - a set of cloud and web-based technologies that help organizations store, share, and manage digital information and is an ideal foundation for business process automation.

We empower business and IT teams to rapidly automate simple to complex processes without relying on coding expertise. Digitized processes include Purchase Requisitions, Supplier Onboarding, Leave Requests, Expenses, and Safety Observations - much more! 

With the newly released FlowForma Copilot, organizations can automate faster than ever. You simply instruct Copilot on what process you want to automate using natural language or voice-to-text, and it will return suggested steps and questions. Alternatively, you can upload a flow diagram or pre-existing form into Copilot and generative AI will return its suggested framework for the process - steps and questions - which you can then implement in FlowForma.

Connect with our team today to explore how AI-powered process automation can elevate your organization.