Chilean mining industry leads digital transformation

The Chilean mining sector uses social networks for around 88% of its purchases and sales, according to the 2022 Digital Transformation Index (DTI). 

The 2022 Digital Transformation Index (DTI) found that mining suppliers have achieved the most extensive digital transformation in Chile, as they were 13 points above the national average for other industries, with a notable increase in mobile technologies used for sales and other utilities. 

This indicator was jointly developed by Corporación Alta Ley, PMG, Aprimin, Minnovex and SAWU, and it measures the intensity of change towards technology within companies using five fundamental parameters. These are their digital leadership; their digitalization vision and strategy; their working approach, people and digital culture; their digitalization of processes and decision-making; and their technology, data management and digital tools. 

Mining Digitalization in Chile 

The mining sector is mainly located in the Norte Grande area and uses social networks for around 88% of its purchases and sales, according to these parameters. Digital marketing rose from 46% to 80%. E-commerce increased from 21% to 32%. 

Cloud-based supporting technologies rose from 75% in 2021 to 94% in 2022, almost entirely using information hosted in data centers, so that they could operate around the clock and from any physical location. Mobile technologies accelerated from 46% to 80% in one year, while cybersecurity technology rose to 57%. 

Arturo Vicent is the CEO at SAWU, one of the developers of this index, and he indicated that "the mining supplier’s DTI increased by five points, which illustrates the significant progress in digital and cultural transformation achieved by this sector, where the main digital transformation driver was the working approach, people and digital culture parameter. The percentage of expert digital mining suppliers increased from 39% to 56%, which is very important because it strengthens financial performance." 

Chile is a mining country 

Historically, mining has been Chile's largest economic sector and the principal driver of its growth in recent decades. It accounted for 9% of the country's GDP in 2021. When its indirect suppliers are included, such as transportation, energy, desalination, water and consumables, this figure rises to 20%. This sector also accounts for more than half of exports, which were 62% in 2021 in FOB USD dollar terms. 

Chile is globally famous for its copper and lithium mining, and is always being watched by foreign investors. Proof of this is that the world's main mining companies have been here for many years. Their projects planned for 2022-2030 exceed US$ 69 billion in investments, according to data from the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco). 

Do you work in a Mining Company? To discover more about mining technology in Chile, check out the following article. 

Source: Radio Cooperativa