Twenty Five years ago, software looked very different.
For many businesses, it sat in the back office, focused on administration or finance and was important for only a select few.
Today, software is everywhere. It is on tablets, phones and desktops. It is in the field with teams, on site with supervisors, in the hands of contractors and supporting decisions across operations. In mining, this shift has been significant. The industry depends on timely information, complex workflows, compliance, safety, scheduling, people management and operational visibility.
For One IT, which is celebrating 25 years in business, that evolution reflects a much bigger change in the role of technology.
“When I started One IT, I was 23,” says Managing Director, David Barton. “I had been working with one of the big five accounting firms, where we were building custom software for major corporations that could afford to spend millions of dollars on technology. “I believed that if we had really good processes, we could develop great software for any business, not just the biggest companies.”
That belief became the foundation of One IT: to deliver high quality, affordable custom software that created real business value.
Over the past 25 years, the technology has changed dramatically, but the principle has remained the same. For Dave and the One IT team, software is not about technology for technology’s sake. It is about solving problems, improving processes and helping people do their jobs better.
“We get a real kick out of solving complex problems,” says Dave. “The best projects are the ones where a client has a process that is difficult, manual or frustrating and we can help them turn that into something simpler, smarter and more valuable. That is what still excites us.”
This is particularly relevant in mining, where one size fits all systems often struggle to reflect operational reality. Every mining business has its own processes, approvals, reporting structures, site requirements, workforce challenges and legacy systems. When software does not fit, teams often find ways around it in spreadsheets, leading to disconnected information.
Over time, those workarounds can slow decision making and make it harder for people to access the information they need, when they need it.
That is where custom software has a clear role to play.
“In mining, there are so many unique processes. The challenge is not just collecting information. It is making sure the right information gets to the right person at the right time, in a way that helps them act.”
Now, AI is opening the next chapter.
AI in mining is not about replacing people. It is about giving people better tools, better information and better ways to work. “For businesses managing large volumes of data, documents and operational information, AI can help cut through the noise and surface meaningful insights”, says Dave.
“We are building systems systems that streamline operations and free people up to focus on the tasks they really need to be doing.” From better hiring processes, risk management, scheduling, safety, compliance and operational analysis. It can help identify gaps and trends to give decision-makers better visibility.
The value lies not in replacing human expertise, but in enhancing it.
Mining relies on experience, judgement and practical knowledge. AI can reduce repetitive work, improve access to information and help teams make more informed decisions. When combined with, AI becomes even more powerful because it can be built around the way a business actually works.
For One IT, this is a natural extension of the mission it began with 25 years ago.
“What excites me about AI is that it aligns perfectly with why we started the company,” says Dave. “There have always been businesses that needed better systems but had to settle for off the shelf software that did not quite fit. AI gives us the opportunity to make smarter, tailored solutions more accessible.”
That accessibility is important. Mining digital transformation is not only for the largest operators. Contractors, suppliers and service providers also face complex processes and increasing pressure to improve operational efficiency. They need systems that are practical, scalable and built around their day to day reality.
After 25 years, One IT has seen software move from the back office to the field, from static systems to intelligent connected platforms. Through all of that change, the company’s focus has remained on trust, value and long term outcomes.
“Our view has always been that we only win long term if the customer wins long term.” “That means doing the right thing, building systems that deliver value and outcomes that work for everyone.”
As mining continues to evolve, the next frontier will not simply be adopting AI. It will be using AI intelligently within fit for purpose systems that solve real problems.
For One IT, that is what working smarter is all about.
