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Designed by Drillers, for Drillers.
How South Western Drilling Is Redefining Operational Excellence with Magnetize Job Scheduling Software
In a demanding industry where precision, safety, and timeliness mean everything, the team at South Western Drilling who has been in business for 28 years stands out—not just for their technical expertise and elite-level service, but also for their forward-thinking approach to operational efficiency. From sonic drilling for research institutions to vibracoring offshore for petrochemical giants, South Western Drilling has built a reputation for excellence, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to best practice, nation-wide.
But what truly sets them apart in 2025 isn’t just their equipment or their experience—it’s their ability to embrace digital transformation in a traditionally manual industry.
Revolutionising Operations with Magnetize
SWD have three offices across the country, HQ in South Geelong, Hobart and Perth. When it came time to find a software solution that could handle the complexities of three locations, people working remotely in various states, equipment scheduling, and safety-first fieldwork in real-time, South Western Drilling chose Magnetize. A purpose-built job scheduling platform that was, quite literally, designed by drillers for drillers.
“Magnetize started in a drilling company,” says Paul Lyons
the Magnetize CEO, based in Pukekohe, New Zealand.
“We know how this industry works because we’ve lived it. That’s why we’ve built something that doesn’t just ‘work’—it works the way drilling businesses need it to. Most of our clients are not tech geniuses and we strive to keep everything as simple and functional as possible and were constantly getting feedback from clients on how to improve and were continually improving the product.”
The platform streamlines everything from quoting and scheduling to invoicing and reporting, bringing all job data into one place. Field teams can log time and costs in real time. Office staff can quote and invoice in seconds. Management can instantly view who is where and what equipment is being used, thanks to live geo reporting — and that’s just the beginning.
Built for Real-World Workflows
Dylan McGrath, Operations Coordinator at South Western Drilling, has seen firsthand how Magnetize has transformed their operations.
“Magnetize has completely changed the structure of the landscape in which we operate efficiently, day to day,”
“I am particularly excited for this LIVE Geo Enhancement,” - Says Dylan
“I can already see the immediate value it will provide when looking to confirm previous drill logs to help with a streamlined process to accurately quote for future work. This is an update I had envisaged for some time.”
Magnetize’s latest innovations — including LiveGeo and Enhanced Mapbox integrations — are helping drilling companies stay ahead of the curve. With real-time job visibility, automated scheduling of both people and gear, and integrations with accounting tools like Xero, it’s clear Magnetize is leading the charge in drilling industry software.
Why It Matters
Drilling is high-stakes, complex, and often takes place in remote or high-risk environments. South Western Drilling understands that success isn’t just about drilling deep — it’s about running lean, fast, and smart. Every hour saved in admin means another hour drilling. Every error avoided in scheduling means safer teams and happier clients.
That’s why they’ve aligned themselves with Magnetize — because the software doesn't just support their operations, it amplifies their ability to deliver results.
“We love the approach that the Magnetize team has to continually push ahead with the software,” - Dylan says.
“It’s made daily use effortless for both management and field staff and their willingness to 'virtually’ tutor our staff with informative video links has made this process as simple as possible”
A Call to Forward-Thinking Drillers
To the drilling companies of Australia: If you're still juggling paper job cards, Excel schedules, or cobbled-together systems — it's time to experience the difference a platform like Magnetize can make. We will give you complete visibility over your operations and save you time and money so you can get on with what you do best.
South Western Drilling didn’t just adopt Magnetize — they became stronger because of it.
It’s time you did, too.
What’s Next?
With a 12-year legacy, Magnetize is now used by clients in New Zealand, Australia, the US, Canada, Asia, and Europe. And they’re not slowing down.
Over the next 12 months, expect powerful new tools:
- Map Box Job Mapping
- Custom Dashboards and Live Data Reporting
- Full Fleet and Asset Management
- Project Management Modules (perfect for large-scale tenders)
