Rio Tinto boosts local economic investment in Western Australia

Determined to maximise local economic benefits and investment within the community, Rio Tinto (Australia) sought a solution that would strengthen industry capabilities and provide a pathway for local suppliers to compete for contracts.

Explore how Local Suppliers Portal’s innovative solution helped pave the way for Rio Tinto’s triumph.

A laptop displays a website titled "Buy Local Australia" with an image of a train in a rural setting. In front, a tablet screen shows a supplier registration form.
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A webpage for Rio Tinto featuring "Buy Local Australia." The header image shows a train traveling through a forest. Below, there's a picture of a bridge over water and sections titled "Download basket" and "Expressions of Interest (EOI).

THE CLIENT

About Rio Tinto

As one of the world’s leading mining corporations, Rio Tinto operates in diverse geographical landscapes, including the resource-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia.

With a commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices, Rio Tinto sought to maximise the socio-economic benefits of its operations by enhancing local supplier participation and investment in the communities where it operates.

“We have spent almost $57 billion with Western Australian businesses over the past seven years, but we want to do more. Our new procurement programme will make it easier for WA businesses to compete for contracts. 

Our iron ore business has more than 1,200 WA suppliers and we make a large contribution to the state economy through local procurement, taxes and royalties. Providing more opportunities for WA businesses to secure contracts will further boost the Pilbara and state economy.” 

Chris Salisbury, Chief Executive, Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto

PAIN POINTS

The challenge

Rio Tinto faced several pain points in their existing local supplier management processes, including:

  • a lack of awareness of tendering opportunities
  • disparities in locally awarded contracts
  • inadequate tendering processes, and
  • challenges in guaranteeing supply chain security.

These challenges not only hindered the growth of local industries but also limited the economic benefits flowing into the Pilbara region.

A supplier registration form for Rio Tinto. Sections include fields for Australian Business Number, ACN, business name, primary contact details, and business contact details, such as address and location agreement area.

HOW WE HELPED

The solution

In response to Rio Tinto’s challenges, LSP swiftly implemented the Buy Local Portal, delivering not only a digital platform for supplier management but also a public-facing microsite. This microsite enabled seamless registration for suppliers, simplified the publishing of opportunities, and showcased the social value created through increased local supplier participation.

Together, these innovations revolutionised Rio Tinto’s supplier engagement processes, fostering transparency, efficiency, and socioeconomic growth within the Pilbara region.

With a focus on maximising local economic benefits and investment into the community, LSP delivered the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) solution in just 45 days. The Buy Local Portal revolutionised Rio Tinto’s supplier management processes, empowering local businesses and strengthening the capabilities of the Pilbara’s industrial ecosystem.

Through enhanced transparency and streamlined tendering processes, Rio Tinto and its stakeholders experienced unprecedented success, with over $1.5 billion worth of projects awarded through the portal.

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