Growing appetite for digital inspection tools

Digital inspection tools are beginning to replace paper-based equipment checks as South African lifting operators look to improve compliance, reduce downtime and strengthen fleet reliability. According to Mark Turner, CEO of heavy equipment technology company Krank, there is growing appetite for practical, scalable solutions that improve inspection accuracy while reducing administrative burden and operational risk. Lifting Africa finds out more.

Mining team conducts briefing underground, wearing safety gear and helmets equipped with lights.

In February this year Krank showcased its AI-powered inspection platform, Inspeq, at the annual Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town. The company immediately saw strong engagement, said Turner, a clear indicator that South African operators are increasingly recognising the value of technology that directly addresses long-standing operational risks, particularly around equipment inspections.

“We’ve seen a huge appetite from the people we are speaking to in South Africa for new technology, around the world inspection remains a real problem area for many operators and there is strong interest in solutions that improve accuracy, accountability and efficiency.”

Addressing persistent inspection and compliance risks

Equipment inspections are a critical component of safe operations regardless the industry. Many organisations, however, still rely on paper-based inspection processes or disconnected digital tools. This creates several operational risks, including incomplete inspections, delayed maintenance interventions and limited visibility across fleets and sites. According to Turner, technology offered the most practical solution to this challenge. One of the key difficulties in developing digital inspection tools for heavy equipment, however, lies in the sheer diversity of machinery across industries. From crawler cranes and forklifts to underground loaders and trailers, each asset class requires its own inspection framework.

“We realised early on that a one-size-fits-all inspection tool simply would not work,” he said. “The lifting and heavy equipment sectors involve many different asset classes, each with their own safety standards, inspection points and operational risks.”

He explained that the ability to address this gap in inspection processes emerged while developing a solution for a client on the Krank marketplace platform. While the process was technically challenging, it ultimately led to the creation of a highly flexible configuration engine.

The configurator allows companies to design inspection templates tailored to specific machines or regulatory frameworks. This flexibility means that a single platform can support a wide range of assets while maintaining consistent reporting and documentation.

The company realised it had a breakthrough once it was able to deliver a single inspection tool that could be configured for multiple asset types. The introduction of artificial intelligence adds another layer of functionality. Instead of filling in forms manually, inspectors can use voice commands while walking around a machine, allowing the system to capture inspection data in real time.

“With Inspeq, the inspector can simply dictate the inspection as they move around the equipment,” Turner explained.

“They can record voice notes, take photos or video and the system automatically files that information into the correct section of the inspection report.” This approach significantly reduces the time required to complete inspections while ensuring that documentation is captured accurately and consistently. The system can also apply rules to ensure compliance. If an inspector marks a component as damaged or defective, the platform can automatically require photographic evidence before allowing the inspection report to be completed. “That rules-based structure is extremely important,” he said “It helps ensure that inspections are actually done next to the machine and that key issues are properly documented.”

Connecting inspection data to operational systems

While digital inspection tools are not entirely new, Turner said one of the biggest industry challenges is that many systems remain disconnected from the operational platforms companies rely on to manage their assets. “Front-line inspection data is often isolated from the systems where maintenance decisions are actually made,” he said.

“You may capture inspection information in one tool, but then someone still needs to manually transfer that information into maintenance systems or enterprise platforms.” To address this gap, Krank is constantly developing Inspeq and adding features. The platform can now sit alongside existing enterprise systems or maintenance management software.

“We didn’t want companies to have to rip out the systems they already rely on,” Turner explained. “Instead, we built a layer that allows inspection data captured in the field to flow directly into those existing environments.” The platform also introduces structured workflows for managing inspection activities. Supervisors can assign work orders for inspections at specific sites or on specific assets, track their progress and review results once the inspections are completed.

“Everything is fully traceable,” said Turner. “You can see when the inspection was issued, who accepted the task, when it was completed and what issues were identified.” Corrective tasks can also be issued directly from inspection reports, allowing maintenance teams to address issues before they develop into major equipment failures.

Improving efficiency while reducing downtime

Beyond compliance, Turner believes the biggest benefit of digital inspection tools lies in their ability to improve operational efficiency. Traditional inspection processes often involve significant administrative work after the inspection itself, with inspectors needing to compile reports, upload images and distribute documentation to relevant teams. “With Inspeq, the report is effectively generated as the inspection is completed,” said Turner. “Once the final inspection point is recorded, the report is ready to be published.” This eliminates the need for additional paperwork and reduces the time between identifying an issue and taking corrective action. The platform also supports offline inspections, an important capability for industries such as mining where connectivity may be limited.

According to Turner, the INSPEQ app does not require inspectors to download templates manually. The app automatically synchronises with the inspector’s device (phone or tablet) whenever it has a network connection, updating inspection templates and data in the background. This means inspectors can confidently carry out inspections even without internet coverage. The inspection report is saved locally on the device and, once the inspector returns to an area with network coverage, the report automatically synchronises and becomes available in the system for review and publishing.

Operators ensure secure and efficient lifting operations at a construction site, emphasizing teamwork and safety.

Remote inspections are another emerging capability. Using a secure video link, a qualified technician can guide on-site personnel through an inspection process, capturing images and documentation remotely. “This means a specialist inspector no longer needs to travel to every site. They can effectively use someone on the ground as their eyes and ears.” For operators managing large fleets across multiple locations, this can significantly reduce travel time and inspection costs. Ultimately, Turner believes the combination of AI-driven inspections, automated reporting and integrated workflows could reshape how heavy equipment operators manage their fleets. “If operators can identify issues earlier and ensure inspections are properly completed, they can reduce downtime and extend the life of their equipment,” he said. “It’s about improving visibility, improving compliance and ultimately optimising fleet performance.”

Krank,

enquiry@krank.com,

www.krank.com