Hit the Ground Running With a Single Cloud-Based Business Management Solution

Hit the Ground Running With a Single Cloud-Based Business Management Solution

The Internet of Things.  Big Data.  Analytics.  Autonomous vehicles.  These are just a few of the innovations mining companies across the globe are today introducing.  They are necessities to expand, thrive, compete, and literally survive.  Coupled with inherent risks, while improving profitability without compromising safety or efficiencies, the gamut of considerations for a small mine seem relentless.

So, how does a mining operation stay in control of costs, from exploration and asset management to implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system?  Can a digital transformation from pit to port support a small mine?  Or is an affordable solution as precious as gems themselves?

Choose to operate smarter, faster, and leaner.

By partnering with SAP during the past two decades, Illumiti has become a leader in delivering mining technology that reduces financial and operational risks to create greater gains by helping to better manage supply chain, mining operations, and risk management, while placing the right people, systems, and processes in place.

“With so many elements to consider when running a mine, smaller mines can’t afford to spend frivolously,” says Andrew Howell, Director of Illumiti’s SAP Business ByDesign practice and integral to the company’s mining practice.  “Like any size operation, smaller mines need to create a connected mining enterprise that’s integrated with operational technologies and business processes.  With a cloud-based technology and a templated solution, we’re providing junior mines with what they need, and helping them gain deep insights in an affordable way.”

Illumiti’s mining template and IP solutions allow for improved collaboration with vendors and contractors through procurement and workforce management solutions.  These ultimately lead to reduced operational financial risks.

“Junior mining companies also need to address the challenges of commodity price volatility, operational efficiencies, environmental constraints, and regulations concerning compliance and safety,” says Howell.  “With all of this in mind, huge IT commitments can’t happen. Instead, a robust and cost-effective foundation of integrated IT and operational technologies with the essential modules, content, and functionality are needed, so operations can be handled holistically.”

SAP Business ByDesign – An affordable ERP solution 

SAP Business ByDesign is a single, cloud-based ERP solution for fast-growing, mid-market companies much like smaller mines.  Engineered with the benefits of large-scale business management applications, without the need of a large IT infrastructure, Business ByDesign can scale and evolve according to a mine’s specific needs, quickly and effortlessly.  And it unifies every functional department and process, from accounting and finance to manufacturing, supply chain management, human resources, and more.

“For small mining operations, the need for a simple-to-use solution that meets business needs today and in the future makes total sense,” says Howell.  “A mine may consist of 20 to 500 employees; it might be a start-up or an established junior mine; it may need to reduce ongoing IT infrastructure costs; or it’s scaling and planning to incorporate new best practice business processes.”

Key benefits of SAP Business ByDesign

With SAP’s state-of-the-art, in-memory computing technology known as HANA and Illumiti’s IP, a mining operation can bring all the parts of its business into a centralized database and gain invaluable visibility into its operations with:

• Real-time access to important financial KPIs that help drive key business decisions
• The ability to streamline processes to gain operational efficiencies and improve cash management and liquidity
• Sophisticated yet simple project management capabilities, providing real-time visibility into costs associated with mine development
• Tools to empower employees with self-service procurement capabilities 
• Streamline every aspect of Human Resources
• Efficient procurement processes 
• Improved supply chain effectiveness and supplier collaboration

Digging for better business solutions has been made easier

A mining operation can gain better business insights, and insights they can trust.  Since the power of data is basically the equivalent of discovering gold, the data needs to work for mines, so they can improve profitability without compromising safety or efficiency. 

“We are delivering value with SAP and our own proven IP,” says Howell.  “We’re helping to make business processes more efficient by giving customers what they need and when they need it, assisting in ensuring technology is scalable to their operations, and deploying preconfigured solutions quickly.” 

Mining is in the early stages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, and further digitization is on the horizon.

About Illumiti

Illumiti is a company of experts and a modern SAP systems integration and management consultancy committed to delivering strategy, technology, and business transformation to ambitious clients.   An SAP implementation leader with a strong history of working with mining industry companies, Illumiti consists of more than 350 SAP consultants with an average of 10-plus years of experience, leading processes and world-class mining software, with more than 30 mining customers operating more than 60 mines globally. 

For more information, visit illumiti.com/miningaffordableERP/ or contact Andrew Howell at ahowell@illumiti.com