Connecting the digital mine

At Sandvik, this shift is being driven by the Digital Mining Technologies division, which has evolved significantly in recent years as digitalization has moved from ambition to implementation. “We used to be very much focused on automation,” said Riku Pulli, President of Sandvik’s Digital Mining Technologies division. “Today, we have expanded into mine planning, safety solutions and software. At the same time, we’ve moved beyond automating Sandvik equipment to become an OEM-agnostic solutions provider.”

This evolution reflects a broader change across the industry. Mining operations have traditionally been managed in silos, with planning, production and downstream processes operating largely independently. Digital technologies are now enabling those layers to be connected, bringing greater visibility and control across the entire value chain.

For mining companies, the impact is already tangible. By linking systems and making data available in real time, operations can respond more quickly to changing conditions, improving both productivity and safety.

A more connected way of working

For customers, integration is less about individual technologies and more about how everything fits and works together. “When we talk about integrated offerings, it really comes down to having one partner that can support you end-to-end,” said Elen Toodu, Director of Business Development for Digital Mining Technologies. “But it’s also about making sure the solutions themselves are truly connected, modular and scalable.”

A key step in building that capability came in 2022, when Sandvik acquired Deswik, a Brisbane-based mine planning software company with a strong global presence. Known for its integrated suite of planning, scheduling and optimization tools, Deswik brought a new dimension to Sandvik’s portfolio, extending its digital capabilities upstream into the earliest stages of the mining process.

That connection is becoming increasingly important as mines generate more data than ever before. The challenge is no longer collecting information but using it to drive value. “There’s a lot of data available, but not always enough actionable insights,” Toodu said. “Our role is to take that data—from the rock and equipment—and use it in the right places across the mining value chain.”

In practice, this means creating a single, reliable source of information that can be used across planning and performance. The result is a shift from reactive to proactive decision-making, supported by real-time visibility into what is happening across the mine.

Extending automation across the operation

The value of this approach becomes clearer at the operational level, where integration is enabling new ways of working. Alongside its investment in planning software, Sandvik has also expanded its capabilities in automation and robotics. The acquisition of Universal Field Robots (UFR), an Australian technology company focused on OEM-agnostic robotics and autonomy, in 2024 has played a key role in this development.

With UFR, Sandvik has strengthened its ability to deliver automation beyond its own equipment, allowing mining companies to apply autonomous solutions across mixed fleets and a wider range of applications. “In the past, we could only deliver automation on Sandvik equipment,” said David Hallett, Vice President for Automation. “Now we can provide solutions across different types of equipment, which is what many customers are looking for. We’re a true single-solution provider.”

This broader capability is opening up new applications for automation, particularly in areas that have traditionally relied on manual work. For example, the UFR Autonomy platform is opening up additional opportunity for Sandvik to automate non-iSeries machines in untapped applications like low profile mining.

At the same time, the focus is expanding beyond core activities such as loading and hauling. “Mining isn’t just about those primary processes,” said Dush Wimal, Director at Universal Field Robots. “There are many other machines and tasks, like blasthole cleaning and surveying, that form part of the mining cycle. To achieve full autonomy, all of those need to be connected and automated as well.”

This more holistic approach is an important step toward concepts such as zero-entry mining, where automation and robotics reduce the need for people to work in high-risk environments. Achieving that vision depends on interoperability to ensure that different systems and machines can operate together within a unified ecosystem.

Bridging the gap between technology and reality

Despite the rapid pace of innovation, the biggest challenge is often not the technology itself, but how it’s implemented. Andrew Pyne, CEO of Deswik, explained: “Customers are operating in high-pressure environments, so any change can be difficult. Success comes from aligning the technology with existing processes and supporting people through that change over time.”

Deswik’s roots as both a software provider and a consulting business continue to shape its role within Sandvik’s digital offering. Its global team of mining engineers works alongside customers to embed planning tools into day-to-day operations, ensuring that digital solutions translate into practical outcomes.

Simplification is also becoming a key focus, particularly as the industry faces ongoing skills shortages. “We’re seeing fewer mining engineers coming into the industry,” Pyne said. “So, we need to make our tools easier to use and more intuitive, while still delivering the outcomes our customers need.” Emerging technologies such as AI are beginning to play a role here. For instance, Deswik is working to embed agents into some of its software. These will help to guide users through workflows and reduce the time required to complete complex tasks.

Responding to a changing industry

These developments come at a time when mining companies are under increasing pressure on multiple fronts. Orebodies are becoming more complex, and as operations deepen, conditions are becoming more challenging. At the same time, operational costs are rising and expectations around safety and sustainability are growing. “Our customers are operating in a time of great uncertainty,” Toodu said. “There’s pressure to be more efficient, more productive but also more sustainable.”

In this context, digitalization is becoming a key enabler of end-to-end optimization, helping companies to make better use of their resources while balancing competing priorities. Planning plays a central role in this process, linking long-term strategy with day-to-day execution.

From data to decisions

As mining companies’ digital capabilities mature, the focus is shifting from connectivity to intelligence. Operations already capture vast amounts of data, but the real value lies in how that data is used. “Every plan fails at some point,” said Glenn Wylde, Chief Technology Officer at Deswik. “The question is what you do when that happens.”

The answer increasingly lies in using data to inform decisions in real time. Advances in AI and analytics are making it possible to automate parts of the planning process, generate scenarios more quickly and support decision-making based on ‘what if?’ scenarios.

These developments are laying the groundwork for more adaptive ways of operating, where plans can be continuously updated based on changing conditions. “We’re moving towards closed-loop planning,” Wylde said. “Where mines can use real-time data to adjust and optimize operations as they go.”

Planning for long-term outcomes

As the industry evolves, the importance of planning is becoming even more pronounced, not only for productivity but also for sustainability. “A lot of the decisions that affect emissions and environmental performance are made in the planning phase,” explained Amanda Forbes, Principal Mining Consultant at Deswik. “If the plan isn’t realistic or executable, people on the ground are forced to make quick decisions that don’t always align with long-term goals.”

Digital tools are helping to address this by enabling mining companies to test multiple scenarios, understand variability and build more robust plans. By improving how material is moved and reducing rehandling, these tools can also contribute to lower emissions and more efficient use of equipment, supporting both operational and environmental objectives.

A connected future

The shift toward digital mining is well underway, but the journey is still evolving. Success will depend not just on adopting new technologies, but on how effectively they are brought together, with planning, equipment and operations in a single, integrated system.

Through its Digital Mining Technologies division, Sandvik is helping to build that foundation. By combining software, automation and expertise, the company is enabling mining operations to move beyond isolated improvements toward a more connected, intelligent way of working.

"I think we're exceptionally well positioned, and we're working with our sister divisions within Sandvik to make new solutions available,” said Pulli. “We're expanding our automation capabilities; we’re moving into new applications for both surface and underground operations with OEM-agnostic robotics and we’re working towards end-to-end optimization of the mine value chain. That’s super exciting.”