Why are mining companies embracing a digital-first approach?

Mining has always been a tough business. From unpredictable assets to operational risks, it's a high-stakes environment where efficiency and safety make all the difference. Yet, many mines still use disconnected systems and outdated manual processes that are holding operations and maintenance teams back.

That's why more companies are moving toward digital transformation - not just for innovation’s sake, but to empower the real heartbeat of mining: maintenance and operations teams. 

The Shift: Predictive Maintenance and Real-Time Visibility

Modern mines are prioritizing tools that predict issues before they escalate. With real-time analytics and AI-powered insights, maintenance teams can spot potential failures early, optimize asset use and drastically reduce downtime. Therefore, operations management platforms, alarm management and knowledge management systems help keep operations safer and more reliable. Without this, organizations could face greater levels of rework because of cross-shift work execution, an escalation of issues leading to greater impacts down the line, as well as ongoing repeat maintenance efforts where maintenance standards and processes aren’t adhered to.

Further toolsets for digital shift handovers and mobile logbooks also eliminate communication gaps between shifts. They reduce manual data entry, boost compliance and help everyone, from supervisors to operators, stay aligned on what matters most: keeping equipment running and people safe. By automating the visualization of production targets, teams gain real-time clarity on daily objectives and next steps, removing ambiguity and enabling focused execution. At the end of each shift, operators can instantly assess whether they’ve met or exceeded their targets, supporting faster decision-making and accountability. This not only saves time but also minimises errors, ensuring continuity and operational reliability across shifts.

Building a Smarter Mining Ecosystem

So, what’s the next big leap for mining technology? Integration. 

Digital ecosystems and “digital twins” - virtual models of physical assets, systems and/or processes - give maintenance leaders a complete, live picture of asset health, workflow efficiency and performance trends. This isn’t just helpful, it’s transformative. It enables better planning, fewer surprises and smarter decision-making across the board.  

But there are also other technologies out there that can support. Hexagon's Smart Digital Reality™ is an approach to help customers operate more safely, sustainably and productively. Digital twins may form a part of this, but also tools such as Hexagon’s J5 Operations Management Solution  support a digital backbone by capturing human and system insights through a single unified interface. Work processes can be enhanced for increased visibility and governance across the entire asset lifecycle. 

Real Impact: AGL Energy’s Maintenance Transformation

AGL Energy’s Loy Yang Mine is a great example of leveraging innovation to solve old problems in a new way. With outdated shift handovers causing confusion and delays, AGL turned to Hexagon’s j5 Operations Management Solution - an operations management solution with spreadsheet-like configurability and enterprise scalability.

The result? Streamlined communication with j5 Shift Handover and 3rd party systems, better data use with j5 Framework and j5 Operations Logbook.

It’s not just about new tech, it’s about empowering people with the right information, at the right time, to make better decisions.

Conclusion: Maintenance Is Mining’s Core Strategy

Let’s face it, mining companies aren’t just in the business of extraction. They're in the business of keeping complex, capital-intensive assets running safely and efficiently. That’s why focusing on maintenance isn’t optional, it’s strategic.

At Hexagon, we design solutions around this very principle. Our tools help connect the dots between field operations, asset data and team workflows, so your maintenance teams can prevent downtime, reduce compliance headaches and keep production moving.

Whether it’s shift handovers, equipment health monitoring or long-term digital twin planning, we help you turn your data into action and your operations into a competitive advantage.

Ready to Dig Deeper?

Want to explore how your team can achieve operational excellence with practical, proven strategies?

Download our free eBook — “Unearthing Operational Excellence: Maximizing Mining with Digital Transformation” and discover how forward-thinking maintenance teams are reshaping mining success.