Five Digital Twin Strategies For Industrial Facilities

Published 22 August 2019 by Malavika Tohani & David Metcalfe &

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Executive Summary

A Verdantix survey of 284 managers responsible for operational excellence found that digital twin solutions are viewed as the most significant innovation for the next two years. Thirty-five per cent of the respondents ‘strongly agree’ that digital twins will transform operational excellence over the next five years. To turn these aspirations into reality, firms need to follow one of five digital twin strategies. Descriptive and informative digital twin strategies are a good fit for operations leaders seeking to leverage existing IT systems without incurring significant additional costs or project risk. The predictive digital twin strategy is suitable for  organizations with a robust asset management strategy and investments in APM software. Comprehensive and transformative digital twin strategies are most appropriate for new-build facilities where IoT technologies can be embedded into assets and processes assume digital twin capabilities. No matter which of the digital twin strategies a firm pursues, the project team needs to focus on ROI not just the exciting new technology. 

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Table of contents

Customers Envision A Bright Future For Digital Twins
Asset Management Realities Determine Which Of Five Digital Twin Strategies Will Work
Customers Should Focus On ROI To Make Savvy Investments In Digital Twin Projects

Table of figures

Figure 1. Digital Twins Top The Priority List Of Innovations For 2020 And 2021
Figure 2. Digital Twins Have Transformative Potential Over The Next Five Years

Organisations mentioned

Fluor, Jacobs, South Australian Water Corporation

About the authors

Malavika Tohani

Research Director, Operational Excellence
Malavika leads the Verdantix Operational Excellence practice. Her current research agenda focuses on digital technologies for Operational Excellence including digital twins and software solutions for industrial risk and asset management. Malavika has over 15 years’ experience in research and strategy consulting. Malavika previously worked at Frost & Sullivan, managing and delivering advisory projects for clients involving expansion, acquisition, benchmarking and product development strategies. Malavika holds a MSc in Economics from Madras School of Economics.

David Metcalfe

CEO
David is the CEO of Verdantix and co-founded the firm in 2008. Based on his 20 years of experience in technology strategy and research roles he provides guidance on digital strategies to C-level executives at technology providers, partners at private equity firms and function heads at large corporations. His current focus is on helping clients understand their market opportunity tied to ESG investment trends and their impact on corporate sustainability strategies. During his 12 years running Verdantix – including 4 leading the New York office – he has helped dozens of clients grow their businesses through fund raising, acquisitions and international growth. David was previously SVP Research at Forrester and Head of Analysis & Forecasting at BT. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University and also worked as a Research Associate at the Harvard Business School.

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