As a starter, it is likely that you are still intending to trial or in the midst of trialing a small number of IoT-enabled projects across your mine sites. You may have also experienced some failures when conducting proof-of-concept trials, which has stunted your progress when it comes to successfully rolling out IoT-enabled projects across your mine sites. Creating strategies and partnerships is likely to result in a stronger success rate and will see your business begin to benefit from IoT.

As an intermediate, the majority of your IoT-projects are likely to still be in the proof-of-concept phase, with only a small number of IoT projects fully deployed across your mine sites. You may also have experienced failure in some of your proof-of-concept trials, which has stunted your progress when it comes to widening your adoption of IoT. It will be critical that you consider the areas that follow to understand how you can successfully move past the trial phase.

As a progressive, it is highly likely that you have fully deployed at least one IoT-based solution across your mine sites. The majority of your proof-of-concept trials were a success, but you may have experienced some failures. To understand how you can overcome any failures in the future and ensure you are getting the most out of your deployed IoT projects, it will be critical that you consider the areas that follow.

Having fully deployed multiple IoT-based solutions, you are positioned as a leader in the mining sector. You have successfully tested and implemented IoT solutions with a view to understanding your business-critical data points, which with the right level of analysis and action, will set you apart from your competitors.

With connectivity clearly a sticking point for your organisation, it may be holding up your IoT deployments and could be the reason why you have struggled to move past the proof-of-concept phase when conducting trails across your mine sites. Businesses with a robust connectivity strategy are likely to be using a broad mix of connectivity technologies, depending on the needs of their applications, to arrive at the optimal solution. Work with a trusted partner to develop your connectivity strategy and harness the benefits IoT can bring to your organisation.

Your organisation is struggling with connectivity, identifying that most of your IoT connectivity needs are not being fully met. An IoT deployment is only as good as its network, and your organisation is likely lacking a broad mix of other connectivity technologies to ensure constant and reliable data transmission. While this may not be completely derailing your IoT deployments, it is likely a persistent issue that will limit their effectiveness. Work with your trusted connectivity partner to assess where your connectivity strategy can be improved.

Your organisation is more progressive than many we interviewed, with most of your IoT connectivity needs met. There may be moments however, where your connectivity lets you down, which may be down to using the wrong connectivity type or the wrong supplier. This may have stunted your progress when trying move past the proof-of-concept phase of deploying IoT across your mine sites. Going forward, it will be imperative for your organisation to recognise that a good connectivity strategy not simply about having connectivity, but it is about how you are connecting and what the right connectivity method is for the specific use case.

As a leader, you are likely to have a connectivity strategy that uses and looks to harness different connectivity types, such as satellite and edge connectivity technologies. You realise that it is not simply about having connectivity, but it is about how you are connecting and what the right connectivity method is for the specific use case. As connectivity is often a sticking point for many organisations, your robust connectivity strategy is likely to have ensured that you have been able to move past the proof-of-concept phase and fully deploy multiple IoT-enabled projects across your mine sites.

Your data strategy lags considerably behind your peers. You are yet to realise the benefits that gathering data, analysing it and applying insights can bring to your business. To develop a more comprehensive data strategy, your organisation must take steps to educate its staff on the importance of data and how applying insights can help support and improve operations. You should review your aggregation capabilities and look to understand the benefits of edge computing technologies. You should review how your analytical process is conducted and consider the need for skilled analysts. Of equal importance is helping to create a culture where the insights from IoT are valued as a tool for improving the business. As a starting point, why don’t you use the report from this IoT Maturity Tool as an example of the importance of sharing, managing and analysing data correctly? Alternatively, look to expert partners to build and develop a data strategy that can help improve your mining operations.

Your organisation is in the early stages of establishing a data strategy that recognises the importance of gathering data, analysing it and applying its insights to produce significant business benefits. However, it is likely that one area in this chain is undermining your ability to get the most out of your IoT data. If it’s your aggregation capabilities, look to understand edge computing technologies. If it is your analysis, look at whether you have enough skills. If it is your implementation of insights, look to develop a culture that recognises the importance of IoT-enabled insights for improving the business. As a starting point, why don’t you use the report from this IoT Maturity Tool as an example of the importance of sharing, managing and analysing data correctly? Alternatively, look to expert partners to build and develop a data strategy that can help improve your mining operations.

Your organisation has taken significant steps to ensure it has a robust data strategy. Data is being collected, shared, managed and analysed significantly more than the majority of mining companies, which will ensure you are getting the most out of your IoT deployments. However, as you deploy more IoT projects, the optimisation, filtering and routing of data will become increasingly important as your organisation builds IoT into its operational strategy. Where possible, you should still look to expert partners to plug any holes in your data strategy to ensure you can continue to improve your mining operations as your IoT deployments increase.

As a leader, you have a clear data strategy that provides guidance on data being aggregated at the edge, how it is analysed and developing the right culture to implement insights. You have implemented a strategy that understands that providing the right data in the right timeframe will empower better decision making both on site and for the business as a whole which, if continued, will ensure you are getting the most out of IoT deployments.

Cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link. As you come to connect more parts of your business with IoT you open up new vulnerabilities and security risks. Your organisation is yet to realise this and has taken very little steps to developing a cybersecurity strategy to secure your IoT initiatives. You will need to think carefully about your security posture, take action to train staff to protect against these threats and while also securing your network and assets. Work with trusted partners to audit your security protocols and develop a robust cybersecurity strategy.

Cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link. By focusing on two to three areas to combat security concerns, your organisation is still only scratching the surface when it comes to developing a robust cybersecurity strategy. Just one vulnerability can lead a malicious actor to gain access to your network, and you will need to make extensive changes to your organisation’s cyber defences to ensure your IoT security. Work with trusted partners to audit your security protocols and build a more comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

Cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link. By focusing on four to five areas to combat security concerns, your organisation is taking the IoT security threat seriously by developing a wide-ranging cybersecurity strategy. However, just one vulnerability can lead a malicious actor to gain access to your network, and you will need to pinpoint areas where you are not considering acting to assess whether they can truly be ignored. Work with trusted partners to audit your security protocols and improve your cybersecurity strategy.

Cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link. Your organisation recognises this and has taken huge steps to develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that focuses on a broad range of security areas. You realise that your IoT projects and entire business could be at risk if your networks are not kept secure. Where possible, work with partners with the right credentials to ensure that your IoT deployments are shielded from malicious actors as new threats arise and your IoT deployments increase.

Your organisation is a starter when it comes to the skills needed to successfully exploit IoT, and while you’re not alone in this, it is clear that considerable work is needed across all levels of IoT management. While your IoT initiatives are still in their infancy, you should take the time to invest in upskilling your workforce but also getting the right partnerships in place to plug your skills gaps.

Your organisation is lacking skills in at least one area, which could jeopardise the success of your IoT deployments. You should look to expert partners to plug these holes, while also ensuring you are recruiting and upskilling staff to strengthen the IoT deployment capabilities of your own organisation.

Your organisation recognises that you need to have the right skills across the board to get the most out of IoT deployments. However, it is likely that you are lacking certain skills in some areas, which could jeopardise the success of your IoT deployments. Your organisation should work to review areas where it is lacking the right skills and plug any holes through working with partners and accelerating its recruitment drive.

Your organisation is among the few who have all of the skills that they need to make the most from IoT-based solutions at a strategic, management and delivery level. Between your organisation and your partners you are able to support your IoT deployments for the moment. However, as technologies change, it is imperative that you regularly assess your available skillsets to stay ahead of the curve and keep your workforce engaged.

The amount you intend to invest in IoT initiatives from your organisation’s IT budget over the next three years puts you in the starter category when compared to other organisations in the sector. It is likely that you are working for an organisation that is not yet culturally aware of the benefits that IoT can bring to mining operations, such as an increase in efficiency and sustainability. Working with trusted partners and through OpEx managed services models will ensure that you can maximise your IoT investments and enable your organisation to respond to market changes with agility.

Your level of intended investment over the next three years may provide a solid foundation on which to build your IoT deployment, but further investment will be necessary to develop your organisation’s ability to gather data, make efficiencies and automate your processes. Where possible, work with trusted partners and through OpEx managed services models to allow your organisation to respond to market changes with agility.

The investment you intend to pump into IoT deployments over the next three years is likely to result in your organisation possessing a heightened ability to gather data, make efficiencies and automate your processes, leading to market differentiation. It is likely that you are working for an organisation that is culturally aware of the value that IoT can bring to your mining operations. To continue to get ahead of your competitors, work with trusted partners and through OpEx managed services models to allow your organisation to respond to market changes with agility.

Your organisation’s intended investment in IoT over the next three years puts its amongst one of the few leaders in the mining sector. It is likely that you are working for an organisation that is culturally aware of the value that IoT can bring at a C-Level, which puts it in a strong position to ensure its operations are as efficient and sustainable as possible. You predicted investment in IoT is likely to reflect your wider investment in other technologies, which should result in your organisation possessing a heightened ability to gather data, make efficiencies and automate your processes, leading to market differentiation.