digital twin

Digital twins are a key enabling technology of the fourth industrial revolution, integrating physical systems with their digital counterparts to create intelligent, data-driven environments. This conceptual/practice-oriented paper examines how to establish a modern architectural framework for digital twins leverages modern tech-stack like IoT, Data Fabric, AI/ML, seamless integration and enterprise grade security. The paper is grounded in an abundance of literature by leading vendors and analysts in space. It offers a comparative study of different vendors implementing the solution stack in the proposed architecture.

The digital twin is well on the way to becoming an elementary part of the corporate world. Corporate leaders hope that these intelligent images of an increasingly dynamic corporate reality will significantly reduce complexity. Ideally, model-based analyses and (partially) automated decisions using methods of simulation technology and artificial intelligence based on optimized IoT data management can make their contribution to corporate agility. In addition to the definition of terms/concepts, the paper will discuss current challenges and present various examples of their application. Based on these ideas, a process model for the introduction of digital twins in terms of technology migration will be presented.

The use of key figures allows for a comprehensive consideration of the performance characteristics of a company and serves as basis for decisions. The mapping of systems in a Digital Twin increases the amount of data and also its timeliness. The paper describes a holistic, transferable KPI network that can be used to manage companies. Strategic goals can be operationalized through the KPI network. Using an industry example, advantages and possibilities of using such a network are demonstrated.

By definition, a digital twin is the “electronic image or mirror of a real or virtual object, e. g. a product or a logical organization”. This mirror image of an organization is useful for visibility and control, the feasible simulations, however, enable better planning und prediction. In fact, digital twin can be used for predictive maintenance, e. g. of trains or planes, and for security aspects. The digital twin of an organization (DTO) is already feasible by using an appropriate SaaS solution that builds a mirror image of an enterprise etc., establishes all processes and communication lines. It enables the management to simulate the benefits and risks of changes to the original, e. g. by creating a new business model.

A powerful cross-organizational collaboration within the global value chain will continue to be a major competitive advantage in the future. The way supply chains are managed today will no longer be sufficient tomorrow. Blockchain technology makes it possible to technologically map intermediary functions without manifesting the market power of just one central platform (intermediary). On the basis of Blockchain-technology, trusting (data-) networks are created across company boundaries. The technology will not solve all operational problems; however, it may help to secure processes and simplify communication.