The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Barrick plans to partner with Cisco Systems to incorporate digital technology in all aspects of its mining business, aiming to improve productivity and reduce costs. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says Barrick plans to spend around $100-million (U.S.) between now and the end of 2017 working with Cisco to embed technology in various parts of its operations. Critics have long lamented the lack of technological innovation in the industry. The technology project is the latest move by Barrick chairman John Thornton to transform the miner into a profitable, low-cost producer after cost blowouts, overpriced acquisitions and a weak gold price. Barrick believes the technology initiative will help Barrick meet its target of reducing its all-in sustaining costs to below $700 (U.S.) per ounce of gold by 2019. Barrick's Cortez gold mine in Nevada will be the first operation where it will roll out new technology. Early projects there include using technology to predict maintenance in its fleet of haul trucks to reduce downtime. The company also plans to set up a central data repository for ease of where any Barrick employee can access any piece of data across any site.