Why going back to data basics will decide who wins the mining tech race and who’s left behind in the digital dust

This article was originally written by Jamie Wade and published at The Rock Wrangler. Read the original published article here.

In a sector awash with smart tech, real-time data and emerging AI capabilities, it’s easy to overlook the nuts and bolts of data management. But according to Meesha Stacker, Marketing Manager, at acQuire Technology Solutions, the mining and exploration industry’s ability to embrace the future hinges on something far more foundational: software integration and interoperability.

For Meesha, this isn’t just a matter of convenience. It’s a prerequisite for digital transformation.

“Connectivity has been at the heart of our approach and a core focus of our technology products for more than two decades,” she explains to The Rock Wrangler. “We’ve always believed in enabling transparent, timely access to data. Our job is to help customers create connected operations where information flows where it’s needed, when it’s needed.”

At the centre of acQuire’s offering is its flagship enterprise solution, the Geoscientific Information Management (GIM) Suite. Used globally by mining and exploration companies, GIM Suite enables structured, governed and interoperable geoscience data across the exploration and production lifecycle.

But the story doesn’t stop at software. What Meesha and the acQuire team are really focused on is building a data ecosystem where information is no longer locked in silos or trapped in proprietary formats but can move seamlessly between people, teams and platforms.

Integration is essential operational infrastructure

“The reality for most companies is that they’re managing a huge volume and variety of data from multiple sources,” Meesha says. “Without standardisation, that data becomes hard to integrate, slow to use and risky to rely on. You end up with errors, duplication and missed insights.”

One of the most common problems Meesha sees is poor-quality data being transferred between platforms. Without robust data governance and business rules, this can lead to inconsistencies that impact everything from drill plans to resource models.

“There’s still a lot of manual workaround going on. People export data, manipulate it in spreadsheets and reimport it into other systems. That’s not just inefficient. It’s a major source of risk and lost productivity,” she says.

GIM Suite tackles this challenge head-on by providing both system-to-system integration and configurable data exchange workflows. At the core of this is the REST API, which enables secure, standards-based access for querying, creating and updating geoscientific data.

“This eliminates the need for custom SQL scripts and manual imports,” Meesha explains. “It means teams can work within governed systems that enforce business rules and validation checks. That’s how you preserve data integrity while keeping the pipeline fast and efficient.”

Connecting field data and models faster

One of the most tangible benefits of GIM Suite, says Meesha, is how it connects field data capture with geological modelling and analysis platforms in near real time.

“When you’re running a drilling program, timing is everything. Our technology enables teams to synchronise and visualise field data quickly, so they can update drill plans on the fly. That improves the quality of the program and the confidence in its outputs.”

This is where acQuire’s long-standing technology partnerships come into play. With over 20 years of integration with third-party platforms like Seequent Leapfrog, Maptek Vulcan, Datamine Discover and others, the company has built an ecosystem where data doesn’t just move – it moves with context, structure and validation.

“Integration isn’t just about pushing and pulling data. It’s about ensuring that what flows between systems is trustworthy and useful,” says Meesha. “That’s why we embed data governance at every level, from capture to analysis.”

The company’s more recent solution, GIM Essentials, targets smaller or leaner exploration teams. It offers a simplified but robust framework for capturing and managing geoscience data, while retaining the core benefits of structured data architecture and governed validation.

“Whether you’re developing a resource or a global producer, you need connected systems that work across your workflow without compromising on data quality,” says Meesha.

Field-ready connectivity: acQuire’s GIM Suite enables seamless data capture, validation and synchronisation from mobile to desktop—supporting real-time decisions in exploration.

APIs and automation in exploration

One of the quieter revolutions happening across the industry is the growing adoption of automation and API-led connectivity in exploration workflows. According to Meesha, this shift has been critical in reducing the burden on field teams and technical professionals.

“APIs provide a secure, standardised way to move data across systems without relying on error-prone manual processes. You’re no longer dependent on someone exporting a CSV and emailing it to the next person,” she says.

Just as importantly, APIs allow for tightly controlled access, meaning data can flow safely between systems while complying with governance protocols.

“Data security is just as important as availability. APIs let you define who can access what and under what conditions. That’s a powerful way to maintain integrity while enabling collaboration,” Meesha adds.

Standardisation makes everything easier

If there’s one word that comes up again and again in conversation with Meesha, it’s standardisation. For all the attention placed on AI, cloud platforms and digital twins, she believes that none of it works without consistency at the data layer.

“You can’t build anything scalable without standardisation,” she says. “If every dataset is structured differently or validated using different rules, you’re always going to be stuck cleaning up before you can analyse or integrate.”

That’s why acQuire embeds strong data structures and business rules into its software and encourages customers to do the same within their broader digital ecosystems.

“Once you have clean, structured, validated data, everything else becomes easier. Whether it’s feeding into a modelling platform, running a machine learning algorithm or just getting the right information to a geologist in the field.”

Skills exploration teams should focus on

With so much focus on digital tools, Meesha is quick to point out that it’s not just the technology that matters. It’s also the skills of the people using it.

“Exploration teams need to understand what data they need, where it’s coming from and where it’s going. That means building capability in data literacy, data validation and the ability to extract insights,” she says.

It also means asking better questions – not just ‘Can we get this data?’ but ‘Is this the right data, in the right format, at the right time?’

“The teams who can answer those questions confidently are the ones who will get the most out of their integration tools and make the most informed decisions.”

From the field to the model: Structured geoscientific data flows into integrated platforms like acQuire Arena, enhancing visibility and interpretation across teams.

Structured data unlocks future value

Looking ahead, Meesha sees a clear trajectory: more data, more tools and more opportunities to extract competitive advantage from information. But only for those who’ve done the groundwork.

“It might sound simple, even boring, but structuring and integrating your data properly is the key to unlocking next-gen technologies,” she says. “Without that, AI and machine learning are just buzzwords.”

In other words, the companies laying solid foundations now will be the ones best placed to seize the opportunities of tomorrow.

“Those who invest in robust data governance and integration today,” Meesha concludes, “will be the ones who extract the most value – not just from their datasets, but from their entire exploration strategy.”