Exploring the inhibitors of digital transformation in the South African Mining Industry

Abstract

While there is strong evidence for the drivers of technological disruption in the South African mining industry, understanding the industry's ability to transform digitally, including the adoption levels of digital technologies, becomes key in progressing its digital maturity. This qualitative research inquiry explores the concepts of digital transformation and digital maturity, its application to the South African mining industry, and identifies and explores the inhibitors of digital transformation based on relevant digital maturity and digital adoption models.

The research study population is focused on the South African mining industry, which includes various stakeholders. The sampling frame of this research study centres on three key stakeholder groups: mine owners/operators, the mining workforce, and mining contractors, all of whom have a direct influence and impact on the digital maturity and transformation of the South African mining industry at large. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews are used for data collection due to their flexibility in allowing in-depth analysis. This research is based on the perspectives of 15 individuals that are interviewed based on their skills, experience, knowledge, and exposure to digital transformation within the South African mining industry.

The unified model of digital maturity has been proven relevant and appropriate for organisations within the South African mining industry in pursuit of an increased level of digital maturity. The study acknowledges the current digital maturity, identifies an aspirational or to-be digital maturity, examines the resultant gaps between the two states of digital maturity, and proposes critical areas of improvement.

The significance of this research is to identify and investigate the challenges and complexities involved in developing, implementing, and maintaining digital transformation programs in the South African mining industry, and incidentally, provide critical insights to accelerate the transformation process and increase the industry’s overall digital maturity thereby enabling safe, sustainable, and competitive mining that could reposition South Africa as a world leader in mining once again.