A local software company and a Perth-based international mining consulting company have launched a new social media platform today they hope will revolutionise labour flexibility in the mining industry.
Fortix and Mining Plus have created the new platform, Mineler, where members can connect on a geographic basis, using a map of mining operations across Australia.
Users can update their experience and involvement across mine sites, and the platform will be expanded to include potential contract work that members will be able to bid for.
The intention is to give individuals the ability to win business as well as larger companies.
In the lead up to the launch, around 60,000 people pre-registered.
Mineler marketing manager Cam Sinclair said the team was trying to change the status quo in the industry.
“The guys in the industry are seeing a structural change – there are issues around productivity, labour costs … it’s almost at the point something needs to give, he said.
“We’re trying to break down barriers to create a more flexible, crowdsourced labour force.’’
He said that, similar to Twitter, Mineler would focus first on building a social marketplace people would want to be a part of, and monetisation would come second.
Mr Sinclair said Mineler wanted to give people in the sector the ability to share ideas.
“As far as we’re aware, it’s the first ever social marketplace for the mining industry,” he said.
