Accenture launches Applied Intelligence Studio for mining in Johannesburg
With the objective of supporting the struggling mining sector in South Africa, global management consultancy Accenture plans to establish an Applied Intelligence Studio in Johannesburg for the development of integrated digital and data analytics solutions for mining companies.
A global dip in commodity prices in 2014 sent the mining sector in South Africa into a nosedive of sorts, causing severe dents in the sector’s revenues as well as in its market capitalisation. Despite relative stability in global prices since then, the sector has struggled to bring revenues back to their original levels.
In the wake of the revenue dip, experts have put forth one primary suggestion to help the sector rebuild itself – digitalisations. Last year, Big Four accounting and advisory firm Deloitte has predicted the advent of the digital mine, which leverages industry 4.0 technologies to optimise mining operations and identify faulty areas in real time.
The firm launched an integrated digital solution for the mining sector, which is based on enterprise resources planning technology and allows for functions such as Short Interval Control and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, among others. Accenture is now looking to support this movement towards digital mining.
The management consulting firm will establish and Applied Intelligence Studio for the mining sector in Johannesburg by the end of February. The studio will be lent digital expertise from Accenture’s Applied Intelligence department, while the technical knowledge will be supplied by the firm’s global mining solutions practice.
Commenting on the establishment, Senior Managing Director and Lead for Accenture’s global mining business said, “Volatile commodity prices, rising input costs and changing global demand for commodities require mining companies to rethink their strategies and business models to remain competitive. They are increasingly looking to apply advanced analytics to reimagine processes, unlock trapped value, and drive operational excellence in their businesses today and position themselves for growth tomorrow.”
Caroline Belrose, Africa Lead for Accenture Applied Science and data science added, “We are currently recruiting data scientists with engineering and mining experience to rapidly scale the studio’s capabilities. “They will join Accenture Applied Intelligence’s global team of more than 3,000 data scientists and work collaboratively with our global digital and local Accenture teams to deliver digital solutions to address the mining sector's unique challenges as well as priorities. This work will help ensure operational efficiencies, worker safety and reduce environmental harm.”
The new Applied Intelligence Studio now supplements Accenture’s Liquid Innovation Studio and Liquid Design Studio in Johannesburg, which will combine to offer the latest digital solutions to several of South Africa’s most important sectors.
