Local enterprise software developer NxGN has implemented its Open Cast Bookings solution at an opencast platinum mine in the North West, which has saved the operation over R500 000 in the first month after deployment.

The software program, which NxGN describes as a “straight- forward” production data bookings solution, went live at the mine on October 1.

NxGN CEO Gary Lane says that the savings were achieved on the drilling activity through the proper reconciliation of actual meters drilled versus the meters planned, by eliminating double bookings, over- and under- drilling and redrills by the drilling contractors.

“This single month of achieved savings covered the costs for the NxGN Open Cast Bookings solution for a full year,” he states.

Lane avers that the clear value proposition inherent in the NxGN Open Cast Bookings solution is that it leverages the latest Web, cloud computing and mobile technologies for operations within the mining industry to control key performance metrics.

“A reliable and accurate source of key performance metrics for each activity in the mining value chain (drilling, blasting, loading and hauling) is critical to the effective management of the overall system throughput,” he explains.

Lane says that NxGN has identified a need in the labour- and resource-intensive mining sector for technology that helps to capture and store key production metrics critical for performance management within the mining value chain.

He emphasises that improvements in system throughput by eliminating consequential downtime delays between coupled activities or the reduction in costs at each activity through efficiency improvements all contribute significant value to the bottom line.

Lane notes that the latest in technological thinking allows for the solution to be rapidly deployed; it is simple and intuitive to use and requires minimal change management and training. It also operates on plug- and-play integration architecture with minimal upfront capital and on a pay-per-use subscription basis.

He points out that the executive leadership of the platinum miner where the solution is in use confirmed that it has benefited “immensely” from the configurable, easy-to-use, cloud-based booking solution.

“We have the expertise and technology development roadmap to empower our clients to accurately analyse data and use the information to make better business decisions through the use of technology,” Lane concludes.