Why Mines Are Ditching Spreadsheets for AI Planning

Why Mines Are Moving Away from Spreadsheet-Based Planning

Mining operations have long relied on spreadsheets for planning, scheduling, and forecasting. While Excel has been a staple tool due to its flexibility and familiarity, its limitations are becoming increasingly apparent in today’s data-rich, fast-paced mining environment. Mines are now recognizing the operational risks and inefficiencies of spreadsheet-based systems - and many are moving toward integrated, AI-powered planning platforms that offer higher accuracy, collaboration, and speed.

The Problem with Spreadsheet-Centric Planning

Spreadsheets pose several critical challenges for modern mining operations:

• Version control issues: Teams often work off disconnected files, leading to conflicting data and miscommunication.
• Lack of real-time insight: Excel isn’t built for real-time operational feedback, making it difficult to respond to disruptions quickly.
• Scalability constraints: As datasets grow, spreadsheets become sluggish and error-prone.
• Disconnection from live systems: Spreadsheets typically operate in isolation, creating a gap between planning and execution.

A recent review by Miniotec illustrates that spreadsheet-based tools frequently delay critical planning workflows, noting that files may “take excessive time to open, save, and sync - if they don’t crash altogether.”

Real-World Impacts of Digital Planning Tools

Modern mines adopting integrated planning platforms are seeing significant benefits:

• Improved forecast accuracy: With live data integrations and AI models, forecasts reflect operational realities - not stale assumptions.
• Reduced planning cycle time: A Keyrus case study showed how one miner slashed its planning cycles by 30% by replacing spreadsheets with centralized forecasting tools.
• Better alignment between departments: Integrated platforms facilitate cross-functional visibility, helping align geology, operations, and finance on shared goals.

EY’s report on mining capital projects reinforces this shift, stating that outdated planning tools are a leading contributor to project overruns and missed targets.

From Disconnected Tools to Intelligent Planning

Today’s planning software does more than just replace Excel - it transforms how decisions are made. Modern mine planning tools offer:

• Real-time collaboration: Everyone sees the same data, updated in real time across departments.
• Scenario modeling: Advanced platforms simulate “what-if” situations to help mine planners make more resilient decisions.
• AI-powered recommendations: Algorithms optimize for multiple constraints like grade, throughput, and energy use - far beyond what manual methods can handle.

Mining Technology outlines the evolution of mine planning systems, showing a clear pivot toward automation and integration as operational complexity grows.

Conclusion

The mining industry’s shift away from spreadsheet-based planning is more than a software upgrade - it’s a strategic pivot toward agility, resilience, and performance. Spreadsheets may still have a place in ad hoc analysis, but they no longer suffice as a foundation for critical planning decisions. The next generation of mine planning is digital, intelligent, and integrated-and at NTWIST, we’re building the tools that make this future possible.

Miniotec. (2024). Digital Transformation in the Mining Industry. Retrieved from Miniotec

EY. (2024). Unlocking Value in Mining Capital Projects. Retrieved from EY

Mining Technology. (2023). Charting the Evolution of Mining Software. Retrieved from Mining Technology

International Mining. (2025). Breaking Down Data Silos. Retrieved from International Mining

Keyrus. (2024). Streamlining Financial Planning in Mining. Retrieved from Keyrus