Industrial software company CrystalForge Technologies (CFT) is following an alternative approach that is strengthening, rather than replacing, human input to technology adoption in mining. It is being offered as a more practical and responsible path for mining operations aiming to improve performance through automation and AI, says operations director Ahmed Kader.

CFT builds custom software tools for mining and industrial companies. These tools use AI, machine learning and smart data systems to help teams work better and make faster, more informed decisions.

Unlike regular digital transformation, which often focuses on full automation or the replacement of manual tasks with machines, the CFT “digital augmentation” approach aims to support people in their daily work.

Industrial operations, especially in mining, are often too sensitive and complex to hand over entirely to machines or algorithms, adds Kader.

“There’s a trust factor. Many of the decisions that need to be made in a mine are too important to be made without human involvement. What we try to do is support those decisions with the right tools and the right data, so people can make better choices, faster.”

Kader says many software systems in the industry are rigid, generic and not designed to match the specific needs of every site.

“We used to find ourselves adjusting our processes just to fit the software, when it should have been the other way around. Our whole business was built around solving that problem.”

Instead of offering a standard product, the company works closely with clients to understand their site, processes and challenges. The team then designs software that supports plant operations, including the supply of tools for predicting equipment failures, improving plant performance, tracking production or helping different teams share information more easily along the value chain.

All the software is built on strong, modern systems that can handle large amounts of data and grow with the business, says Kader, adding that everything is designed to be practical, easy to use and focused on solving real problems at site level.

“We’re not coming in with a one-size-fits-all product. We co-create the solution with the client. We spend time in the plant, we study the technical drawings, we walk around with the engineers. That deep understanding is what makes the technology useful.”

Skills Shortage

Kader says “most operations are stretched thin, and there are always gaps in the workflow”; therefore, the shortage of skilled labour in the industry is a primary driver of CFT’s approach.

“Nobody has enough skilled people. That’s why automation, in a healthy and careful way, is so important. It’s not about removing jobs, it’s about giving the team the extra capacity they don’t currently have.”

Further, as automation becomes more common, it is also creating new roles.

“When you bring in AI, someone has to manage that knowledge base. That becomes a new role, a new responsibility, and it often goes to someone who already understands the operation really well,” notes Kader. This value-first approach is “essential” in mining, where margins are tight and price points are driven by global markets: “You can’t afford to make changes that don’t result in real gains. You have to see the mine as a business, not just a technical process,” Kader explains.