SSR Mining

Mauricio Hidalgo, a well-known figure in the mining industry with over 19 years of experience in technology and operations, began his career in 2005. Based in Toronto, he has worked in seven countries, driving innovation at companies such as Newmont Goldcorp, Vale, Centerra and SSR Mining.

Currently, as the Director of IT at SSR Mining, Mauricio leads a global technology services portfolio. His role includes managing the IT PMO office, IT governance, strategy and enterprise applications. He collaborates with teams from both the head office and international mining locations to plan, deliver and sustain technology initiatives that support the business, ensuring that technological investments are effective and valuable.

Securing Budget for Digital Transformation and Change Management

Fluctuations in metal prices, M&A activities, changes in corporate strategy, can make it challenging to prioritize and allocate capital for digital transformation initiatives.

To enhance the likelihood of project completion it is crucial to create a compelling business case that highlights potential cost savings, productivity gains, risk reduction, improvements in ESG performance or enhanced safety. Securing executive sponsorship and defining a few meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project performance, solution adoption and value realization, are also essential for achieving the best possible outcomes.

Managing change can be a significant challenge. While delivering initiatives that enable business processes harmonization or digitalization, resistance across the organization is common. Having a comprehensive change management strategy is paramount to succeed in your transformation journey.

  ​While delivering initiatives that enable business processes harmonization or digitalization, resistance across the organization is common. Having a comprehensive change management strategy is paramount to succeed in your transformation journey.  

To ignite the change management and solution adoption process, it is important to understand the target operating model and stakeholder’s role while translating new systems, functionalities and capabilities into what is relevant to them. Engaging each business area through discussions, demos and proof of concepts can help stakeholders grasp the advantages of digital transformation and understand how these changes will enhance their daily work. This understanding will empower them to become agents of change throughout the organization

Recognizing people’s past achievements can also accelerate the partnership in designing and delivering digital initiatives to unlock efficiencies.

Impact of GenAI on the Mining Industry

GenAI is a transformative technology already proving valuable for many enterprises across the globe. In the mining sector, GenAI could empower stakeholders and shareholders by providing greater access to company data and insights, enabling faster and better decision-making based on real-time operational data. For instance, a Mine General Manager could use a GenAI language model to quickly obtain answers about a mine site's safety compliance, cost and production performance, while a Chief Financial Officer could gain insights into the company’s overall financial performance and capital markets trends, through a single platform. 

GenAI has the potential to reduce the need for conventional reporting and analytics, simplifying information delivery and enabling quicker decision-making. This technology not only will enhance mining operations but also paves the way for broader applications in various fields.

Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Progress often requires challenging the status quo, and reluctance to change can discourage the presentation of new ideas. What worked in the past may not be effective today or in the future. It is crucial to foster an environment where individuals feel empowered to explore new ways to improve themselves, business processes, and supporting technologies.

There may also be concerns about having enough resources or support to do something innovative.  However, this shouldn’t hinder the progress of improvements. Change doesn't have to be sweeping, small and incremental adjustments can effectively demonstrate the efficacy of change, whether by boosting productivity, reducing costs, or saving time.

Continuous success can be achieved by adapting to these small changes. As these practices prove valuable in practice, they will spread throughout an organization, driving broader transformation.