Lessons learned: connecting staff servicing mining machinery.

Australia’s mining sector will continue to grow, having contributed a record $455 billion in export revenue in FY22-23, as a key global producer of lithium, gold, lead, iron ore, nickel, and zinc, to name just a few.

Nonetheless, climate change, the political landscape with China, consolidations, stock markets, and quickly emerging technologies constantly risk the survival of mining suppliers. Machinery suppliers, in particular, require adaptability and resilience to ensure their services’ continued efficiency and relevance in an ever-evolving sector.

Industrial equipment and heavy machinery providers are critical for the industry, and their field service crews are responsible for operating, installing, repairing and maintaining specialised equipment, contributing significantly to the mining sector’s overall efficiency.

Machinery service providers need tools that help them make more money from each technician’s work, provide better customer service, and improve the workplace for their service crews. To ensure sustained growth and increased profits, it is important to be one step ahead of the industry’s unpredictability.

What have we learned from deploying platforms like NetSuite? Well, machinery providers can train new staff easier and organise staff better. They also keep track of their work, customer info, and money matters in real-time. By linking their teams with live inventory and other important areas like the office and parts, they keep things running smoothly and save time, making their billable time more profitable.

The challenges of disconnected staff.

From our experience working with machinery suppliers, we understand the challenges they face delivering high-quality machinery and ensuring major mining corporations that their operations will be smooth. We found three common headaches that can be easily fixed with the right platform:

1. Coordinating staff across remote locations.
   With sites spread across Australia, coordinating staff or contractors in remote locations is a daunting task. Technicians may be required to travel long distances to reach mine sites, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation, van inventory and delays in response times.
2. Assigning work orders and tracking progress.
   Efficiently assigning work orders and tracking their progress is vital for meeting client expectations and maintaining a smooth workflow. Traditional manual methods, such as clipboards and spreadsheets, are prone to errors and delays.
3. Accessing relevant data on-site.
   Having important customer information on-site is crucial to finding the right information about the machine’s history or needed repairs. Having no visibility makes the job harder and slower. A simple and quick way to get the necessary details is key for staff to work efficiently.

Cracking the code to achieve connectivity.

Cloud business systems make it easy for technicians to check work orders, equipment details, and repair instructions on their devices, no matter where they are. This makes their lives easier.

A good system also improves communication, sorts out the best routes, and shares information between the field staff and the main office, ensuring everything runs smoothly across different places.

A connected office can easily schedule, dispatch, and work with service staff, giving them more visibility and reducing wasted time. Connectivity boosts profitability, reduces losses, and encourages collaboration, training, and better work practices for the whole team.

1. Coordinating staff across remote locations.
   NetSuite field service mobile app allows technicians to access and update information on the go, reducing the need for physical paperwork and manual coordination. Technicians can receive and accept work orders through the app, minimising delays and streamlining communication between the central office and field staff.
2. Assigning work orders and tracking progress.
   The ERP system’s integrated tools centralise work order management, enabling service providers to assign tasks efficiently, track progress, and monitor job statuses in real-time. This enhanced visibility into operations helps optimise resource allocation and ensures timely service delivery.
3. Accessing relevant data on-site.
   NetSuite provides technicians access to essential data, repair instructions, and equipment histories. This ensures that technicians have all the information, tools and a qualified team to carry out their tasks effectively. Helping them become service heroes and improve your customer service.

Partnering with another service company.

When machinery providers are putting in a system like NetSuite, having the right partner matters a lot, especially if they understand the value of service. Being in the business of selling tech to big mining corporations, equipment suppliers know that service is as important as the machines. So, when picking a tech provider themselves, they should opt for one that not only has the best solutions in the market but also gives them skilled service with industry experience. This ensures that their system runs smoothly, continues growing, and effectively supports their operations.

If you’re nodding along with these challenges and figuring out if NetSuite is the right fit for you, or if you’ve already chosen NetSuite and want a partner who understands you, your staff, and your industry, then connect with us. Our team has industry-savvy experts ready to tailor and deploy modules, workflows, and reports specifically tailored and used by mining service providers. A team with expertise makes your life easier by implementing a customisable business system that maximises efficiency, improves visibility and allows you to make informed decisions.

Mining technology providers achieve seamless coordination by leveraging real-time communication, route optimisation, and data synchronisation, ensuring efficient and timely service delivery across remote locations.

When teaming up with a specialised partner like Klugo, providers servicing the mining industry join forces with industry-savvy experts who can optimise their ERP system to fit their specific needs. A tailored approach makes the platform work, boosts growth, speeds up the return on investment, and helps equipment providers stay competitive and relevant in the tough Australian mining market.

About Klugo.

At Klugo, our goal is to make life easier for companies with fieldwork. We achieve this with NetSuite, an integrated platform that covers finances, scheduling and dispatch, maintenance, warehouse, production, sales, and more. We help businesses to keep things simple and better as they go—from initial deployment to continuous improvement— so their businesses run smoothly.