Understanding Digital Twins as a Key Part of Digital Transformation

Keep it simple. You absolutely need to define and identify your use-case very clearly. Know which physical object your trying to define, know where there are processes wrapped around it all, and understand how a digital twin will impact this. Remember, you are introducing a new piece of technology and more data into your environment. So, you need to know how to use it. The last thing you want is a digital twin which introduces unnecessary complexity or is just overkill for your project.

Make sure you’re actually ready for a digital twin. Processing this much data will actually require you to look at your data center and compute capabilities. Make sure there is an element of readiness within your organization to take this type of project on. This means ensuring wireless systems are up to par, that your data center can process this data, and that you have systems which can process the output and help you actually make better business decisions. Enabling a digital twin is a multi-step process involving a number of business, user, and technology components. Just make sure you’re ready.

Align your business and process with your digital twin. This is a truly delicate process. Digital twins are powerful sensors into the business and the process which supports your entire organization. You have the ability to change the way you do supply chain management, asset control, and even enabling better consumer initiatives. However, you won’t get far if there are still gaps in the process today or if your business isn’t aligned. You’ll need to develop metrics around success factors so that a digital twin isn’t just a cost center. Rather, it’s a tool that’ll help evolve your business and improve your competitive market stance.

Keep in mind – more data means more risk. When you create a digital twin – you also create more data that’ll need to be mined, correlated, and understood. Let’s be perfectly clear here; this data is NOT benign. It’s valuable to both you and the bad guys. When you create digital twins make sure you have good security best practices in mind. You’ll need to plan around security, data integrity, privacy, and even compliance in some situations. Protect your data and allow it to work for you to gain the biggest benefits from a digital twin.

A recent research report from GE pointed out that by combining data and advanced data science, organizations and industry leaders build a digital twin—a digital model representing deep profile characteristics—of every targeted piece of physical technology, initiative, and even users. You can use these technologies to change and improve the life of the consumer or physical asset that you have within your own organization. However, don’t over-complicate it! Work with your partner to ensure that digital twins are right for your business and will actually simplify processes and various initiatives.