Solution overview
Industry
Solution
Location
Client
Requirement
Client Overview
The client is a leading South African mining and energy company with a growing focus on renewable solutions. With sustainability at the core of their strategy, they are committed to creating long-term value while embedding environmental responsibility across operations. In response to the evolving demands of the industry, the organisation has made digital transformation a key priority – leveraging technology to boost efficiency, enhance safety, and support data-driven decision-making across the business.
Executive Summary
In 2024, Decision Inc. partnered with the client to drive a transformative AI initiative aimed at improving operational efficiency, compliance, and strategic decision-making. In just six months, Decision Inc. successfully designed, tested, and implemented a suite of AI-powered digital assistants, demonstrating a scalable and repeatable framework for AI-driven operational excellence.
This initiative focused on leveraging Generative AI (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance key business functions in HR, safety, production, and investor relations. The rapid implementation was achieved through a structured approach combining agile delivery, optimised AI model selection, and proactive change management.
A robust measurement framework has been established to track key performance indicators (KPIs) over the next 12–18 months. Based on initial results, the AI solutions are expected to deliver a significant return on investment (ROI) with expected efficiency gains, cost reductions, and improved compliance exceeding 30%.
THE CHALLENGE:
OVERCOMING OPERATIONAL BOTTLENECKS
The client operates in a highly regulated and complex environment, where efficiency, compliance, and decision-making are critical. The company identified four key operational challenges that needed to be addressed:
1. HR Query Management & Employee Support
– HR systems were fragmented, requiring employees to search multiple platforms for policies and procedures.
– This resulted in inefficiencies, delays in query resolution, and lower employee satisfaction.
2. Safety Compliance & Regulatory Adherence
– With a multilingual workforce, accessing and understanding safety protocols was a challenge.
– Lack of clarity in safety documentation increased non-compliance risks, potentially leading to operational disruptions and penalties.
3. Production Decision-Making & Efficiency
– Manual production data analysis delayed operational adjustments, reducing efficiency in responding to real-time changes in mining operations.
– The need for a real-time analytics solution was essential to enhance productivity.
4. Investor Relations & Stakeholder Reporting
– Financial and market data required for investor communication was compiled manually, leading to inefficiencies and slower reporting cycles.
– A more automated and accurate reporting mechanism was needed to improve the speed and accuracy of stakeholder communications.
THE SOLUTION:
AI-DRIVEN DIGITAL ASSISTANTS FOR ENTERPRISE TRANSFORMATION
Decision Inc. deployed four tailored GenAI-powered digital assistants, each designed to automate, streamline, and enhance key business functions:
People & Performance Digital Assistant (HR Optimisation)
– Leveraged LLMs to interpret policies conversationally, reducing the need for manual HR interventions.
– Designed to handle complex policy-related questions, improving accessibility and compliance with company policies.
SHEQ Safety Assistant (Compliance & Risk Mitigation)
– Ensured that employees could easily access compliance documents, reducing misinterpretation of safety requirements.
– Helped mitigate safety risks and improve adherence to regulatory standards.
Production Analytics Assistant (Operational Efficiency & Decision-Making)
– Provided predictive analysis for optimising production schedules and resource allocation.
– Reduced reliance on manual data interpretation, enabling quicker response to production issues.
Investor & Liaison Newsletter (Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting)
– Ensured real-time access to key investor data, allowing for more informed engagement with stakeholders.
– Reduced the time spent on manual reporting processes, freeing up resources for strategic financial planning.
IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH:
A STRUCTURED, AGILE AI DEPLOYMENT MODEL
Agile Development & Rapid Deployment
AI Model Optimisation & Cost Efficiency
Change Management & User Adoption
BUSINESS IMPACT:
EXPECTED ROI AND MEASURABLE BENEFITS
1. HR Process Efficiency
-Expected reduction in HR query resolution times by 30–40%, improving employee experience.
-HR teams expected to reallocate 14% of time to strategic initiatives rather than handling routine queries.
2. Safety & Sustainability
– Expected to enhance adherence to safety protocols, reducing risk exposure and compliance incidents.
– Early feedback indicates improved accessibility to safety documents among field workers.
3.Production Optimisation
– Anticipated increase in operational efficiency by enabling faster, data-driven production adjustments.
– Expected reduction in manual data processing time by 20–25%, leading to improved responsiveness.
4. Investor Relations & Reporting
– Expected time savings of 30% in investor report preparation, ensuring more timely and accurate communication.
– Anticipated improvement in data accuracy and consolidation, reducing reporting errors.
5. Cost Savings & Scalability
– AI model optimisation led to an immediate cost reduction of over 90%, making AI-driven operations financially viable at scale.
– The overall AI implementation is expected to contribute to an annual cost saving of R2–5 million, considering efficiencies gained across HR, production, safety, and investor relations.
CONCLUSION:
A BLUEPRINT FOR AI- DRIVEN BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
The successful implementation of GenAI-powered solutions at this mining company underscores the potential for AI-driven transformation across industries. This initiative demonstrates that AI can deliver real business value – quickly, effectively, and at scale.
Key Takeaways:
- – AI can be implemented rapidly, with measurable impact within six months.
- – Strategic AI model selection is critical to balancing cost and performance.
- – Change management is essential – technology alone does not guarantee success.
– AI-driven automation can unlock millions in savings while improving efficiency and compliance.
This case study serves as a model for businesses seeking to integrate AI strategically, ensuring not only cost reductions but sustained operational excellence.
Decision Inc. remains committed to delivering high-value AI solutions that drive business transformation and measurable ROI.
About Decision Inc.
Decision Inc. is a global leader in information-driven transformation with a core focus on data, digital and performance intelligence.
Our expertise in technology and industry specialisations have enabled us to help companies around the world make better decisions faster.
Our emphasis on local excellence and global scale enables us to bring clients best of breed technology solutions that enable significant improvement whilst leveraging our Global Research and Innovation teams to accelerate the time to insight. Our local consulting teams are experts in the implementation, support, and execution of these solutions and work with our clients to deliver real results and improvement.
To find out more about our AI offerings, click HERE