Mining companies can use an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution to integrate their information to gain a real-time view across divisions and operations using the data generated from their existing mining technical software and operational systems, says ERP giant SAP Mining & Metals director Georg Gradl.

The SAP for Mining solution is aimed at developing ‘digital mining’, which means that mining companies use ERP systems that will enable them to more effec- tively enforce corporate strategy and business performance improvement initiatives.

“Mining houses are moving towards integrating operational technologies, such as production control systems and mining specialist systems, with information technology systems, such as enterprise management systems. “This integration takes place through a digital mining enterprise system to manage production planning and execution transactions, and provide near real-time visibility and intelligence for various divisions.”

Mines want to use the systems that they have, as they have invested significant amounts of time and money in them. SAP for Mining has the flexibility to integrate these technologies, including historian databases, processing management systems and fleet manage- ment systems, besides others, to gain data to provide a single business information platform, notes Gradl.

“The concept of digital mining is based on the expected changes that will occur in mining, arising from autonomous equipment, robotics and remote control, as well as operational tech- nologies and information technology integration, that will ensure that intelligence is available across various functional areas, including mine planning, scheduling and operations, as well as the planning and execution of processing operations, equipment maintenance and operational reporting and intelligence,” says Gradl.

Further, SAP’s long history and experience of working with mining majors and junior miners has enabled it to produce ERP systems for this industry that can also be scaled up in size when and as more technology systems are implemented, says SAP Mining & Mill Products director Nikhil Chaturvedi.

“The goal is for data to be entered into the mine’s application landscape only once and be accessible across other applications and by different people according to data mapping rules, workflow rules, user roles and system authorisation to gain a real-time view of all functions across the company’s footprint,” he explains.

Advanced robotics, autonomous and near- autonomous vehicles, as well as intelligent equipment that make decisions based on the real-time working conditions, are some of the main technologies that will transform the mining industry in the near future and there are several examples of mines having implemented intelligent equipment and systems to improve production, notes Chaturvedi.

SAP also has a cloud-based platform, called Ariba, that enables mines to communicate with a network of third-party service providers, track all inter- actions and transactions and gain improved responsiveness from service providers. Companies have consistently asked for third-party service provision to be integrated into their control systems to improve the performance and responsiveness of service providers.

“SAP also draws from its history of collaborating with major and junior mining customers to provide inter- national mining best practices to reduce the time and cost of implementing digital mining systems,” he adds.

“SAP can help customers implement their systems, and junior mining houses must remember that 79% of SAP’s customers are small, medium-sized and microenterprises and SAP can implement systems that use native and legacy systems to provide real-time information and control for companies,” concludes Chaturvedi.

The concept of digital mining is enabled through SAP’s manufacturing inte- gration and intelligence system and underpinned by networking giant Cisco’s infrastructure and connec- tivity expertise.