Xeras Enterprise 3, according to the company, has moved to a server-oriented database; this change provides advantages to users by consolidating disparate data across the platform into one location. From there, users can gain access to their entire information database, giving them greater ability to make educated, informed decisions.

Giving the end user an updated user experience, improved database technology, performance and enhanced enterprise capabilities were the goal of Xeras Enterprise 3, RPMG said. It also wraps up a multi-year work programme that added numerous important back-end and front-end features to the software, including a modern user interface and mobile application.

"The launch of Xeras Enterprise 3 was in line with the company's strategy of releasing simplified, standardised and integrated solutions that seamlessly interoperate with other vendors' systems using our enterprise planning framework (EPF)," RPM chief technology officer Paul Beesley said.

"[It] expands the breadth and depth of RPM's financial modelling software. Our intention has always been to have a completely integrated enterprise suite of products, and this latest update forms a critical part of that vision."

XE was designed to transform an engineering-oriented mine plan into a complete financial plan, RPMG noted, giving a precise schedule of labour, equipment, consumables and parts. It does not use a spreadsheet as a base; instead, it standardises processes and removes manual data entry from the equation.

Xeras Enterprise is capable of integrating directly with mines' enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.