To improve performance and foster innovation, leading companies want to enhance communications, connectivity and cooperation. Companies use technology to improve collaboration within teams, across departments and among partners. Many companies have introduced collaborative technologies such as portals or dashboards, mobile e-mail, desktop sharing or document workflow. Employees at many more companies use the new Web 2.0 technologies, such as social media, for business and personal collaboration.

The leading global mining and metals companies understand that, though it may seem counterintuitive in light of the current economic downturn, it’s important not to under-invest even now. Certainly, capital outlays are required to maintain production levels at existing mining sites as well as metals processing facilities. The larger investments seen prior to the current down turn have been postponed, but will have to be made to keep up with global demand for minerals and metals.