The challenges of digital transformation in the mining and minerals processing industry include the high costs of investment, the complex process of integrating new technology into existing systems and the need for sufficient planning and alignment to business requirements. Moreover, there is a risk of a high failure rate if digital transformation initiatives are not managed effectively.

According to research from McKinsey, 70% of transformation initiatives fall short. Many initiatives fail due to a lack of employee engagement, inadequate management support, poor or non-existent cross-functional collaboration and a lack of accountability. Ensuring that your staff is engaged and equipped to maximise the value of digital innovations is key to avoiding these pitfalls.

Success in digital transformation often involves a combination of systems thinking, incremental improvement, operational imperatives, human factors and operational excellence. It's crucial to understand where your operation is in its digital maturity journey and to develop an actionable roadmap that transitions your operation through the digital maturity journey.

Human factors play a central role in the success of digital transformation initiatives. Engaging and consulting with the workforce to ensure technology is enabling and empowering rather than hindering or replacing human capability is key. Furthermore, training and upskilling opportunities, such as eLearning, can help equip your workforce for the changes brought about by digital transformation.

Yes, embracing digital change as an evolution rather than a complete transformation can solve a range of operations-wide challenges efficiently and effectively. This approach allows for iterative changes, incorporating digital technologies into existing processes and systems over time, rather than a complete overhaul.

A digital transformation roadmap is a plan that outlines the steps a company needs to take to transform its operations digitally. It is crucial for aligning digital transformation initiatives with business goals, managing change effectively and ensuring that digital transformation efforts deliver value to the business.

eLearning can play a vital role in upskilling the workforce for digital transformation. It can improve employee performance, increase retention rates and provide a flexible and cost-effective way for employees to learn new skills and adapt to new technologies. Paired with a simulator, eLearning can even accelerate commissioning, start-up and ramp-up times.