In mineral exploration, drilling programs generate a constant stream of operational data. Meters drilled, shift reports, contractor performance, equipment utilization and cost tracking all contribute to daily decision-making. Despite that, at many operations, critical information is still managed through spreadsheets, emails, and manually compiled reports.
While these methods may be familiar, they often create challenges as drilling programs expand in complexity. Data becomes fragmented across teams, reporting standards vary between contractors, and identifying discrepancies in billing or performance can be time-consuming.
For Kinross Gold Corporation, a global gold mining company with operations and projects across the Americas and West Africa, these challenges became increasingly apparent as it sought greater visibility and control over its drilling activities. The company ultimately transitioned from spreadsheet-based processes to Krux Analytics, a drilling management platform that connects mining companies and drilling contractors through a shared digital environment. The platform captures daily drilling data, contractor reports, utilization metrics, productivity indicators, and billing information in a centralized system, providing near real-time visibility into drilling performance and costs.
The experience offers insights into a broader trend taking place across the mining industry: the shift from manual data management toward integrated digital workflows that provide real-time operational visibility.
Collaboration drives results
Success was driven by more than technology alone. The exploration team at Kinross brought deep operational expertise and a willingness to challenge existing workflows, while Krux provided the tools and support needed to digitize and standardize drilling management processes.
This collaborative approach ensured the platform evolved around real operational requirements rather than forcing users to adapt to a rigid system. The result was a solution that delivered measurable value while fitting naturally into existing exploration workflows.
The limits of spreadsheet-based management
For many teams, spreadsheets have long served as the default tool for managing drilling data. They are flexible, widely available, and familiar to technical teams. However, as drilling programs grow, spreadsheets can become increasingly difficult to maintain.
According to Kinross, drilling contracts, operational reporting, and cost tracking were historically managed through Excel-based systems. While effective enough, the process created inefficiencies that affected day-to-day operations. Manual handling of information slowed workflows, validating and filtering data required significant effort, visibility across drilling programs was limited, and identifying billing discrepancies was often difficult.
A skeptical start
Like many digital transformation projects, the company’s move to a new platform did not begin with universal enthusiasm. Ricardo Romero, Exploration Supervisor at Kinross, openly acknowledged that he was initially unconvinced about the value a new system could offer.
The successful implementation of a digital solution rarely depends solely on software capabilities. Adoption often relies on whether operational teams can see practical benefits within everyday workflows.
‘In many cases, resistance is not driven by opposition to technology itself. Rather, users may question whether a new system will genuinely improve existing processes or simply add another layer of complexity,’ says Jody Conrad, General Manager – Digital Drill Site, IMDEX (formerly Founder and CEO of Krux Analytics before its acquisition by IMDEX in April 2026). ‘For Kinross, the turning point came not through new functionality alone, but through a focused effort to integrate the platform into routine operational decisions.’
The importance of adoption
Industry discussions about digitalization often focus only on the technology on offer—dashboards, analytics, and automation. Yet many industry leaders ultimately succeed or fail based on how effectively the implementation of that technology is managed and maintained.
In the case of Kinross, adoption was supported through direct collaboration with the customer success team at Krux Analytics. A dedicated Customer Success Specialist, Javier Barreto, worked closely with Romero and his team, helping them understand how to navigate the platform, use dashboards, and apply insights to operational workflows. The goal was not simply software training but practical and ongoing utilization. Romero credits this hands-on support as a major factor in the platform’s eventual success.
‘With Javier, there’s trust. When I have a question, I get help right away. That made a big difference.’
Javier Barreto emphasized that customer onboarding requires tailoring the experience to each operation’s specific needs.
‘When onboarding a customer, we focus on how they will truly use the platform and get the value out of it,’ he said. ‘Each situation is different. We focus on being available when the customer needs us. That’s how truly successful adoption really happens.’
The experience reinforces a lesson increasingly recognized within mining technology deployments: initial implementation is only the beginning. Long-term value often depends on an ongoing partnership between the technology provider, the resource company, and drillers.
Standardizing drilling data
Once adoption accelerated, Kinross began managing drilling activities through the Krux platform. Designed specifically for the drilling industry, the system consolidates contractor reports, shift data, equipment information, and billing records into a single source of truth. Rather than waiting until month-end to compile and reconcile information, exploration teams can access operational and financial data as drilling progresses.
For Kinross, contractor reports were standardized through a common reporting framework, allowing all drilling partners to report information in a consistent format. This created a reliable foundation for KPI reporting, performance comparisons, and cost tracking across multiple projects and contractors, while increasing confidence in the underlying data.
From retrospective analysis to real-time visibility
One of the most significant changes reported by Kinross was the ability to move from retrospective reporting toward near real-time operational oversight.
In traditional spreadsheet workflows, operational and financial data often needs to be manually consolidated before issues become visible. By contrast, Krux provides continuous access to drilling performance, contractor activity, and project costs through live dashboards and automated reporting.
This allows exploration managers to identify anomalies sooner, whether they involve unexpected costs, contractor performance trends, or data quality issues. Earlier visibility means corrective action can be taken before those issues materially affect the program.
Finding hidden costs
One of the most tangible benefits reported by Kinross was the ability to improve billing oversight.
Managing drilling contractor invoices can be challenging, particularly when information is spread across multiple systems or manually entered records. Small discrepancies can be difficult to identify; even minor errors can accumulate over the course of a drilling campaign.
Through its centralized approach, Kinross improved its billing reconciliation process and reduced errors. Faster validation of contractor reporting and greater transparency into operational data helped provide more confidence in cost tracking. The financial impact was significant.
By combining operational data and contractor billing information within a single platform, Kinross was able to validate reported activities against invoices more efficiently than under its previous spreadsheet-based process. This transparency helped uncover discrepancies that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
According to Romero, identifying billing errors produced sufficient cost savings to fund an additional drill hole within two months. ‘If I hadn’t caught those errors, we wouldn’t have had the budget to drill that extra hole,’ he said.
For exploration programs operating within tight budgets, this example illustrates how relatively small process improvements can translate into meaningful operational outcomes. The value was not simply the reduction of errors themselves, but the ability to redirect recovered funds toward additional exploration activity.
Productivity gains beyond the drill rig
Digital transformation initiatives are often evaluated through cost savings or production improvements. However, administrative efficiency can also deliver substantial value.
Kinross reported saving more than an hour per day through automated reporting, faster data validation, and reduced time spent reconciling contractor information.
While an hour may seem modest in isolation, cumulative savings across weeks and months can be considerable, particularly for supervisors and managers responsible for reviewing large volumes of operational information.
Reducing time spent filtering spreadsheets, validating data, and preparing reports allows technical personnel to focus more attention on analysis, planning, and decision-making. For exploration teams facing increasing demands on both budgets and staff resources, these efficiency gains may become increasingly important.
A broader industry transition
The experience of Kinross also highlights the role that forward-looking mining companies play in advancing digital transformation across the industry, alongside technology leaders. Successfully implementing new technologies requires organizations that are willing to test new approaches, champion change internally, and build confidence among operational teams.
Platforms such as Krux provide the digital infrastructure required to support that transition. By creating a centralized and standardized dataset, companies can establish the foundation needed for advanced analytics, performance benchmarking, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence-driven decision support.
However, the value of these technologies depends on the quality and accessibility of the underlying data. Kinross demonstrates that before organizations can take advantage of AI and predictive analytics, they must first address the fundamentals of data capture, standardization, and visibility.
By embracing digital drilling management and establishing a more connected approach to operational data, Kinross demonstrated what is possible when technology and operational expertise are combined.
Lessons for exploration teams
Several key lessons emerge from the Kinross experience:
- Technology adoption matters as much as technology capability. The platform’s value only became fully apparent after users integrated it into daily workflows and developed confidence in its outputs.
- Standardized reporting can produce benefits that extend well beyond data management. Consistent contractor reporting creates a stronger basis for KPI measurement, performance comparisons, and cost control.
- Visibility drives accountability. By making information easier to access and verify, digital systems can help identify issues that may otherwise remain hidden within fragmented spreadsheets or manual processes.
- Incremental efficiencies can unlock additional drilling. For exploration teams working within fixed budgets, small improvements in reporting accuracy and billing validation can quickly translate into more meters drilled and more targets tested.
Conclusion
As drilling programs continue to generate larger volumes of operational data, the ability to transform information into actionable insight will become increasingly important. The experience of Kinross demonstrates that digital drilling platforms are no longer simply administrative tools. When effectively implemented, they can improve decision-making, strengthen cost control, and ultimately help exploration teams maximize the value of every drilling dollar.
For an industry increasingly focused on productivity, transparency, and data-driven decision-making, that may be one of the most compelling outcomes of all.
For more information: Visit kruxanalytics.com or imdex.com
