In our long-standing partnership with Weir, we've had a front-row seat to the evolution of mining equipment maintenance. We've watched the industry shift from simple part procurement to complex machine health tracking and rapid diagnosis. It’s an exciting space to be in, but it brings its own set of hurdles.
Challenge
Maintaining the premium Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) experience when there are so many competitors in the field isn't easy.
Mining sites all operate a little differently. It's highly technical and heavily dependent on resources - but in a nutshell, mining staff need to know exactly how their equipment is performing to keep their production lines running optimally and sustainably. As an industry-leading OEM provider, Weir needed to transparently demonstrate this performance to both their customers and internal staff to uphold their credibility as a highly productive partner.
Solution
To tackle their challenges and align overarching objectives, we set out to build digital experiences that deliver real value to the people on (and under) the ground. And to do that, we needed to understand more about how they worked and what they needed.
Understanding the journey
We aided Weir in mapping out the optimal customer journey. By researching customer pain points, we built upon the value proposition for the NEXT by Weir application.
Strategic workshops
We facilitated workshops and developed a service blueprint map with cross-functional teams. This delivered an optimised customer experience covering OEM part ordering, equipment diagnosis, and crucially timed maintenance scheduling recommendations.
Accessible, robust design
We created design system components that stay true to their branding. Crucially, these meet WCAG 2.2 standards, are reusable within the product ecosystem, and ensure optimal device interaction for all users - including for on-site miners wearing protective gear in areas that lack reliable internet coverage.
Rebranding and marketing assets
With a solid app foundation in place, we’ve also supported Weir's marketing team with logo design, video materials for education and marketing, and essential assets brand assets for the Google Play and Apple App Store.
Results
Improving the functionality and ease of use in the NEXT by Weir app has given customers far more than a standard OEM experience. Through smart design and tight collaboration with Weir's in-house developers, marketers, and product owners, the impact has been clear:
Skyrocketing app engagement and uptake
Robust design system enables rapid continuous innovation
A significantly strengthened position against competitors
Measurable improvements to the spare part distribution chain
Moving forward together
By transforming complex technical requirements into accessible, user-focused digital experiences, we haven't just modernised an application - we've helped Weir secure their place as an innovative, trusted partner in the mining sector.