Picture this: three mates from New Zealand, a couple of beers, and a bright idea. Fast forward to today, and GRM Drilling is a thriving drilling startup in Perth, WA, complete with an impressive dual head sonic and rotary diamond rig. But as they entered the competitive world of drilling in Western Australia, they realised they needed more than just a great rig to win over clients. They needed a client-winning playbook that would help them stand out from the competition.

GRM’s client-winning playbook

Their playbook, consisting of three key elements, would guide their approach to providing top-tier client service and help them stand out in a crowded industry.

And it’s a playbook that they’ve agreed to reveal to you now. So grab a cold one and get ready to take some notes.

Step 1: The right rig for the job

Western Australia’s drilling industry is extremely competitive, so every drilling contractor needs to be on their A-game. As a startup, GRM only had the budget for one rig. So choosing the right rig from the start was a make-or-break decision. But thanks to their years of experience in the industry, the decision was an easy one.

GRM chose to invest in a dual head sonic and rotary diamond rig to break away from the competition and kick off from day one with a clear point of difference. While many exploration teams rely on diamond or RC rigs, GRM could see an untapped opportunity to service these teams with the groundbreaking versatility of a sonic rig.

Not only could it quickly and easily drill through mixed formations without interrupting the drilling process, but it could also help save their clients valuable time and money by having the capabilities of two different rigs in one. All without the need to bring in additional, costly equipment.

GRM was ready to provide their clients with a top-tier, efficient and effective drilling service that promised maximum sample recovery by choosing to go with the latest technology and a heavy focus on innovation. All they needed was to spread the word about their capabilities.

Step 2: Relationships

The second step of GRM’s client-winning playbook is all about relationships. Mining is built on relationships, and from years of working in the industry, the GRM team knew this well. Building great relationships with clients would be critical for the business's success.

One of the advantages of being owner-operators is that GRM can work closely with their clients and deeply understand their needs throughout the drill program. Their clients know they will receive a personalised service only an invested owner-operator can provide. But you can’t work closely with the client unless they trust you enough to sign the contract first.

As a startup drilling company, GRM doesn’t have a long history to fall back on to impress potential clients. But that doesn’t stop them from showing off a rock-solid operation that builds trust with clients from the start. And there’s a trick they have up their sleeves to separate them from their competitors. Instead of pulling out an old-school file filled with paper documents when tendering to clients, they whip out their smartphones to showcase their digital plod system on the CorePlan mobile app.

Using the digital plod app, their clients can have real-time access to their drilling data and trust that everything is watertight, thanks to built-in governance controls. It’s their digital drill sergeant overseeing everything to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Step 3: Real-time data

The third and final piece of GRM’s client-winning playbook is real-time data. As a drilling contractor, having access to real-time data is crucial for understanding how your operations are performing and where you can improve. This is particularly important for a startup drilling company, where every dollar and every minute counts. Spending as much time with the bit on the bottom and access to real-time data and insights can mean the difference between success and failure.

GRM chose to go digital from day one to capture and analyse data in real time. Using CorePlan Drilling Hub, they can monitor everything happening at the rig and make informed decisions that optimise their drilling and impress their clients.

“For us, the connectivity of the CorePlan system makes sense because we use the tablet on site, but the rest of the team - and even the client - can log in from elsewhere and see exactly what’s happening,” says Ross. But not only this, they can spend more time with their clients actioning their findings from the data because they aren’t bogged down by paperwork and admin.

"It was a simple decision for us. We don’t want to be burdened with excessive admin. With CorePlan you just check the boxes and it’s done, no going through spreadsheets and everything else."

Ross Warren, Director of Maintenance & Safety

What's next for GRM?

Whilst GRM might be a startup, they’re already proving that they have what it takes to play with the big dogs in the drilling industry. By focusing on their rig, relationships and real-time data, GRM’s client-winning playbook has helped them show their clients that they are more than your average startup drilling contractor.

Now, the team are ready to take things to the next level and start growing their business. They have access to the digital tools they need to quickly onboard new employees and clients faster than the speed of their sonic rig. Rather than spending time with paper plods and spreadsheets, they can just get on with the job and keep focusing on their winning approach to client service.

"When we first started the company, we had no systems, so it was great to start digitally with CorePlan. This way, we can stay digital - with all of the new tech in the industry, it’s not as if anyone’s going to go back to pen and paper."

Ross Warren, Director of Maintenance & Safety

Why GRM should be your next drill contractor

For mining and exploration teams in need of a reliable drilling contractor, GRM Drilling ticks all the boxes. With a multipurpose rig capable of both sonic drilling to 160m and diamond coring up to 600m, they offer unparalleled flexibility and efficiency for exploration programs.

But it's not just about the rig - GRM's owner-operator model ensures clear communication and direct management oversight for all drilling programs. And with a focus on safety, sustainability, environmental impact reduction and lightning-fast data sharing, clients can trust that their drill program is in good hands. Contact GRM Drilling today to experience their top-tier drilling services firsthand.