Over a decade of connecting with the mining industry: What the screen can't solve

By Omar Arévalo Mendoza – Antara | Systems Engineer

I’ve been working directly with clients for over a decade, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned during that time, it’s that the way we communicate may change, but the essence of collaboration remains the same.

My role has evolved since those early days of application technical support, but there is one thing I continue to prioritize: direct contact. Even though my responsibilities are different today, staying close to the user is the only way to gain firsthand insight into the real “pain points” and challenges that mining clients in our Antofagasta region face on a daily basis.

Looking back, it’s amazing to see the transformation we’ve experienced in the north:

• The beginning: It was all about visiting the worksite, making calls, and that sense of closeness that only comes from sharing a cup of coffee at the camp.
• The digital transition: The arrival of WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams gave us the agility we needed, and in the wake of the pandemic, these tools became essential for keeping us operational throughout the region.
• The current hybrid model: Today, much of our communication remains virtual, but the return to in-person visits has reminded me of a fundamental value that we hold dear in Chile: the trust that comes from face-to-face interaction.

Visiting the workplace isn’t the only way to solve a problem, but it is the foundation that allows everything else to flow smoothly. It’s not that digital communication doesn’t work; it’s that, once you meet the person behind the call or the camera, the relationship changes. Direct contact is the “lubricant” that makes subsequent virtual communication much smoother, more personal, and more efficient.

At the end of the day, we’re not just systems or processes; we’re people helping people. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing how our work makes life easier for those with whom we share a friendly chat or a lunch break in the midst of a grueling day in the mines.

In closing, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you to everyone I’ve had the chance to interact with over the past ten years or so, whether through a chat, a virtual meeting, or a handshake while hard at work. From every interaction in this region, every problem solved, and every conversation, I’ve always learned something.

Today, the challenge lies in striking the perfect balance: harnessing the speed of technology without losing the human touch that defines our industry in Chile.