How a leading South African mine achieved 14 times the views on vital safety messages sent to frontline workers using the Three by Three app.
-
Communication challenges South African mining knows all too wellCommunication challenges South African mining knows all too well
-
This is what changes when mining workforce communication worksThis is what changes when mining workforce communication works
-
What communication really looks like in South AfricaWhat communication really looks like in South Africa
-
How the Three by Three app works for South African mining operationsHow the Three by Three app works for South African mining operations
TL;DR: Getting critical messages to a deskless workforce is a significant challenge mining operations in South Africa face daily. Relying on notice boards, face-to-face briefings and internal channels means there is no measurable data and no reliable way to know if communication actually reached everyone on site.
We look at how one South African mine with 15,000 employees solved that problem and achieved 14 times the previous reach of their frontline employee communications using the Three by Three mobile employee communication app.
Communication challenges South African mining knows all too well
Notice boards, face-to-face briefings and internal channels were never designed for a large, deskless mining workforce dispersed across many sites.
And in the South African context, frontline worker communication challenges are amplified: data costs are high, locations are truly remote and workers don’t have access to the latest devices.
The stakes are too high in the mining environment for communication failure. Safety updates, operational changes and compliance information need to reach every worker on site, every time.
This is what changes when mining workforce communication works
The most immediate shift is visibility and reliability. When employee communication moves to a platform that tracks delivery and engagement, operations teams can see exactly what was received, by how many people and when. That changes how decisions get made. Instead of assuming a safety update was seen, there is data confirming it was.
The second shift is reach. A mobile-first workforce communication app meets deskless workers where they already are, on their phones, rather than expecting them to seek out information on a notice board or via verbal communication, which is subject to human error.
The difference in reach is not marginal. When one South African mine sent the same safety messages through the Three by Three app and their existing intranet platform, the app reached 11,301 views. The intranet reached only 780. That is 14 times more reach on a single communication.
Two internal communications were recently distributed via both the Three by Three app and the company’s intranet/partner platform over a 60-day period. The results demonstrate a clear preference for the app.
What communication really looks like in South Africa
Most global communication platforms are built for workforces with reliable internet access and modern smartphones. That is not the reality in South Africa. Effective deskless workforce communication here demands a different approach.
The data barrier: Mobile data is expensive in South Africa, and passing that cost on to frontline workers is not a viable option. Reverse billing that shifts the cost to the employer and zero rating are the only practical solutions.
Older devices: Smartphone penetration in the South African mining workforce skews heavily towards older models. If a mobile app does not run well on older devices, it will not reach the people it needs to.
A simple user experience: Across a large, diverse mining workforce with varying levels of digital literacy, straightforward has to be the baseline.
Measurable communication: In an environment where compliance and safety depend on confirmed communication, knowing a message was sent is not enough. Operations teams need view counts, engagement data and clear records of what reached the workforce and what did not.
Paying incentives in the field: Promising incentives is easy. Confirming they were paid, to the right person, in the field, where banking access and payment infrastructure cannot be taken for granted, is not.
Looking for a mobile communication app for your South African mining workforce? Talk to Three by Three.
How the Three by Three app works for South African mining operations
Mine site workers are not logging into intranets. They need a mobile-first communications app that reaches them wherever they are.
The Three by Three mobile workforce management app assists you with:
Communication: Know exactly who received your message, when they read it and whether it was understood.
Training: Get new and existing deskless workers up to speed on site, with proof of completion that holds up to compliance scrutiny.
Content digitising: Replace printed safety materials and paper-based procedures with digital content that is faster to update and easier to distribute.
Content in multiple languages: Make content available in multiple languages, breaching the language barrier often experienced in South Africa.
Monitoring workforce activities: See what is happening across your workforce in real time, no matter how large or remote the South African mine site
Administration: Cut the paperwork out of onboarding and keep employee records current without the back and forth.
Incentivisation: Track, manage and pay out field incentives digitally, so Payroll always has a clear record of what was earned and what was paid.
FAQs
How do you communicate with deskless workers on a mine site? A mobile-first app that is reverse billed and works on older devices is the most effective solution in the South African mining context.
What is the best communication app for a mining workforce in South Africa? The Three by Three mobile app was purpose-built for the South African context, designed to work on older devices, reverse billed so data costs do not fall on workers, and proven in the field. One South African mine recorded a 1,350% increase in reach after switching to the Three by Three app.
How do you know if safety messages are reaching mine site workers? A mobile communication app with built-in reporting, like Three by Three, provides view counts, engagement data and records of exactly who received what and when. Unlike notice boards or face-to-face briefings, there is a measurable record of every communication.
Three by Three is a South African people-tech company providing mobile workforce management solutions for blue-collar, deskless and remote employees in mining, retail, logistics and more. Solutions cover communication, training, incentivisation, workforce monitoring, content digitisation and administration.
Looking for a mobile communication app for your South African mining workforce? Talk to Three by Three.