In the rugged world of gold mining, where operations have remained largely unchanged for decades, Honest Dig faced a critical challenge: how to transform centuries-old manual processes into a modern digital ecosystem without disrupting the delicate balance of production. This case study reveals how strategic design thinking bridged the gap between pickaxes and blockchain, creating a digital transformation that not only optimized operations but laid the groundwork for an entirely new business model.
When Honest Dig approached us, they stood at the intersection of tradition and innovation—experienced mining professionals who recognized the limitations of paper-based systems but lacked the technical expertise to envision and implement a digital alternative. Through a comprehensive design approach that balanced on-the-ground operational realities with cutting-edge technology integration, we helped create a system that did more than just digitize existing workflows—it reimagined what mining operations could become in the digital age.
What follows is the story of how thoughtful design decisions transformed not just spreadsheets into software, but an entire operational paradigm—demonstrating that in industries long resistant to technological change, well-executed digital transformation can unlock both immediate operational efficiencies and entirely new business opportunities through blockchain integration.
In just four months, Honest Dig transitioned from a manual, highly fragmented workflow to a fully functional mining operations system available on iOS and Android. This not only enhanced internal efficiency but also evolved into a scalable SaaS product, AIM, designed for the broader mining industry.
Eliminated inefficiencies by digitizing manual workflows and reducing redundancies
Honest Dig is a mining company that embraced digital transformation to streamline gold extraction. By integrating technology into its operations, it enhances efficiency, transparency, and resource management. Its digital-first approach enables precise forecasting, optimized workflows, and data-driven decision-making, ensuring a more systematic and effective mining process.
Retainer – We worked as an embedded design team, ensuring continuity and rapid iteration throughout the process.
Product Design
User Research & Workshops
Service Blueprinting & Workflow Optimization
Backend Tooling & Developer Handovers
Honest Dig approached us at the idea stage, seeking to digitize their manual processes and build a scalable, digital-first system
The founders were highly experienced in mining but had little exposure to tech and design processes. They needed a strategic partner to digitize their operations.
They understood the importance of bringing in experts to translate their physical workflow into a technology-first approach.
CTO: Blockchain expert (Berkeley & Brown alum) with experience in managing tech-driven products
The founders—veterans of the mining industry—had little exposure to tech but needed a system that could seamlessly digitize their workflows, balancing usability for miners with the data-driven needs of supervisors and executives. This required defining an end-to-end solution with structured processes, clear user roles, and an intuitive interface.
We mapped Honest Dig’s operations into a structured digital framework, eliminating redundancies and enabling real-time tracking.
We designed incentive structures to boost productivity and ensure seamless tracking:
IoT-enabled machinery and blockchain technology allowed Honest Dig to forecast gold yield per pit while linking production output to a crypto-backed token.
Mining is a high-stakes, high-effort industry where inefficiencies can result in millions in lost revenue. Honest Dig partnered with us to digitize operations, enabling real-time tracking, better workforce management, and blockchain-driven forecasting.
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