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As digital transformation gains ground in the mining industry, new ways of working are being developed to quickly create and implement successful solutions.

BNamericas interviewed Matas Corrales, CEO of Kolossus, a Chilean company that develops solutions to improve production processes using agile methodologies and collaborative work, to learn how this is applied and how it benefits the industry.

BNamericas: Is it possible to achieve greater effectiveness in project execution within the mining industry by going beyond digital transformation?

Corrales:Yes, through agile methodologies such as Scrum, 100% project effectiveness can be achieved.

The mining industry and its suppliers are used to developing long-term projects delivering a solution after 12 months of work, but with agile methodologies we build the solution jointly with the client and results are delivered every month.

BNamericas:Do you think that the Chilean mining industry 4.0 roadmap has helped clients trust in agile methodologies?

Corrales: Yes, although this is just starting, the 4.0 roadmap gave it a boost.

The industry currently generates a lot of data, but sometimes they dont know what to do with it. Its necessary to generate more data management, do data mining as well as develop strategies to access the data efficiently and instantly.

BNamericas:But large-scale mining is already working on that ...

Corrales:Yes, but not medium-sized mining. There they continue to make decisions 30 days apart. They dont get instant information like large companies do.

BNamericas: How do you guarantee data security?

Corrales:A year ago cybersecurity became more important. We dont believe in datacenters, because having a rack full of processing equipment is very expensive and doesnt have the same processing capacity as a global datacenter such as Amazon, Huawei, Google or Microsoft, for example.

Back then we used to build that security, we built telecommunications equipment, we had firewalls, virtual private networks and we believed it was secure. Now we work with a virtual security that has several layers before reaching your data.

Now were talking about how you treat that data securely.

BNamericas: Within the mining process, where can agile methodologies be applied?

Corrales: The first thing is to collect the data and then manage it efficiently to reduce costs, prioritize workers safety as well as improve training through e-learning, for example, which also helps to deconcentrate and fast-track the delivery of certifications.

BNamericas:Within the mining industry, are digital transformation projects driven solely by the productive areas?

Corrales:I would say that the human resources areas are the ones promoting more projects in order to facilitate controls and compliance with regulations.

The production and maintenance areas are super important, but its very difficult to convince managers to implement changes because they already have their processes structured.

BNamericas:Are there any obstacles for the development of these methodologies within the industry?

Corrales:In Chile, its difficult to convince companies to switch to virtual infrastructures.

In mining it happens that clients ask to see a Gantt chart with dates for each execution, but in agile methodologies theres no Gantt chart, we work with user logs, its a continuous process and with deliverables.

Its difficult to convince them that datacenters are not as effective as the cloud.

BNamericas: Is migrating to agile methodologies cheaper?

Corrales:Its cheaper, but you must break paradigms. Ill give you an example. You invested millions of dollars in a datacenter, and although the monthly maintenance cost isnt high, as technology advances you have to renew some equipment.

By migrating to agile methodologies, I do a monthly investment in having the cloud available to handle large amounts of data.

Back then, I used to spend a lot of money in the long term and only 30% of projects involving new technologies worked. Now the expense is monthly, but in the long term its less [expensive] and more successful than traditional processes.

BNamericas:Are you currently developing any solution for large or medium-scale mining companies in Chile?

Corrales:I cant mention companies or processes, but were developing some focused on the control of human capital. Not only the training of human capital, but how they enter, move within and leave the mine.

Photo credit: Kolossus

Link:

How agile methodologies can boost the digital transformation of the mining industry - BNamericas English