Velrada was on the ground at Future of Mining Australia in Perth, joining industry leaders across two days of content, conversations and connection. With a strong focus on technology, workforce transformation, sustainability and safety, the event reinforced how quickly the mining sector is evolving and where the demand for more practical, scalable solutions is accelerating. Across the agenda and conversations with mining organisations from across Western Australia, a few themes came through clearly.
👊 AI is starting to show up where it matters
The shift from experimentation to real use is well underway.
There was far less discussion around what AI could do, and much more focus on where it’s already delivering value, particularly across maintenance, safety and real-time decision-making.
The conversation is moving beyond introducing AI, and into embedding it into day-to-day operations where it can have real, tangible impact.
⚙️ Connected operations are becoming the expectation
There is a clear move away from standalone tools toward more connected environments, where assets, workforce and planning are aligned and working from the same view.
Rather than adding more systems, organisations are increasingly focused on how existing capabilities can be brought together to create a more cohesive, end-to-end operating model.
This shift is fundamental to improving visibility, coordination and decision-making across operations.
👷 Workforce challenges aren’t going anywhere
Workforce pressures remain a constant.
Skills shortages, fatigue and compliance continue to come through strongly, but there is also growing recognition that traditional approaches are no longer enough.
There’s increasing interest in more adaptive, data-driven ways to plan, allocate and support the workforce, particularly in environments where conditions can change quickly.
🎯 The spotlight is on the frontline
One of the strongest themes across both the agenda and conversations was the focus on how work actually gets done in the field.
Beyond core systems, there is a growing emphasis on improving the day-to-day experience for frontline teams, from inspections and shift execution through to mobile workflows.
The goal is simple: make these processes easier, faster and safer, and in doing so, unlock meaningful gains in both productivity and safety.
🔭 Looking ahead
There is a strong focus across the industry on moving beyond ideas and into solutions that can be applied, scaled and sustained in real-world environments.
For Velrada, this reflects strong alignment with what we’re seeing across the market, particularly across workforce, connected operations and frontline execution.
It’s an exciting space to be part of, and one where momentum is clearly building.
