The Adoption of Digital Twins: Enablers, Challenges and Benefits

Abstract

A Digital Twin (DT) is a digital replica of a physical asset, process, or system, allowing real-time monitoring, simulations, and analysis for better decision-making. Despite its benefits, few have implemented DTs and begun utilizing its value. We investigate how organizations can get started with a DT by looking at the different elements of the implementation process. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify drivers and enablers, barriers, challenges during implementation, and benefits provided by a DT. We applied qualitative research through 19 semi-structured interviews of DT experts. Our findings indicate that factors driving DT adoption include data access, staying competitive, improved asset management, and management support. The study shows that costs, competence, and lack of incentives are the most significant challenges. Practitioners can use these findings to meet implementation challenges, and to see how benefits of a DT can be realized.