Digital Twins Insights Hub
Gain the insights and tools you need to transform your business with digital twins
What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is a precise digital representation of the physical world that uses dynamic data to simulate, analyse, monitor and optimise performance.
That dynamic part is critical, but it doesn’t mean the data has to be updated in real time. The digital twin only needs to be fed data at the cadence necessary for the object, process or system in question, whether that’s in real time, weekly or monthly. Different digital twins will have different data demands. All that matters is that the digital twin serves your specific business needs.
Digital twins deliver more than just quantifiable business benefits, such as cost reductions, increased revenue and decreased carbon emissions. They also provide a wide range of benefits that help businesses succeed:
- Cost savings by identifying issues early for optimal performance
- Decreased carbon emissions by simulating scenarios in the digital twin to identify and implement the most energy-efficient processes
- Increased revenue driven by reduced downtime, cost savings and accelerated go-to-market strategies
- Enhanced efficiency through insights and predictive analytics
- Longer asset lifespan supported by continuous monitoring and maintenance forecasting
- Improved safety and security with comprehensive monitoring and advanced analytics
- Higher customer satisfaction resulting from superior product quality, improved reliability and proactive service
Digital twins enable organisations to collaborate more effectively, simulate various scenarios and uncover insights that allow people to make better business decisions.
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Your path to digital twin excellence
A digital twin is not a product you purchase off the shelf; it’s a technology stack that can evolve with your business goals. At Hexagon, we help you unlock the full potential of this technology in several ways.
Our precision scanners and sensors accurately capture the physical attributes of your assets, laying the foundation for a comprehensive digital twin. When combined with our spatial technology and artificial intelligence (AI) expertise, your digital twin can provide insights, make predictions and offer recommendations. Digital twins are powerful tools that grow in value as your tech stack expands.
With Hexagon as your trusted partner and expert in digital twin technology, you can confidently navigate the path to innovation to achieve your business’s full potential.
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Most frequently asked questions about digital twins
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How does a digital twin work?
Digital twin technology uses data from sensors and reality capture devices to create an accurate digital replica of your object, process or system. These sensors and reality capture devices can also capture changes to the real item and update the digital twin, ensuring it mirrors the physical world.
Digital twins can simulate various scenarios or predict how a product or process will perform. Your team can then make these changes in real life. Updates are reflected in the twin, creating a virtuous cycle of optimisation.
Integrating your digital twin with AI can supercharge your output by automating tasks and decisions. This means reduced downtime, better product quality and improved innovation.
Hexagon offers all these capabilities under one roof, making it easier for you to implement a digital twin.
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What technology is used in digital twins?
A digital twin is not one ‘thing’ but a collection of technologies working together.
At the heart of this process are sensors and reality capture devices, which take details from the real world and transform it into a digital counterpart. Hexagon’s sensors are known for achieving ultimate precision, allowing for the creation of an accurate digital twin.
Computer-aided design (CAD) systems visually represent an object’s design details. This allows your team to conduct in-depth analysis, simulation and testing in the virtual space. Similarly, 3D modelling software adds depth, creating an immersive and lifelike experience of the digital twin.
IoT devices, or sensors, collect data on the performance and changes of a physical object, feeding data back into the digital twin to ensure it’s up to date. This continuous data flow allows for monitoring and swift interventions when needed.
The data gathered by IoT devices are often stored and managed using cloud-based platforms, providing secure access to information from anywhere and at any time.
Finally, data analytics tools and AI algorithms process the raw data IoT devices collect. They identify patterns to enhance your organisation’s decision-making.
These combined technologies empower you to create, manage and optimise digital twins effectively.
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What are the challenges of digital twins?
While the benefits of a digital twin are undeniable, implementation also presents challenges that include:
- Maintaining high data quality and consistency
- Integrating and ensuring interoperability of data across systems
- Managing the expense of implementing digital twin technology
- Adapting to new and evolving technology
- Protecting data privacy
- Validating, verifying and testing the digital twin
- Managing change effectively
We’re here to help you tackle these challenges directly. With our industry knowledge and customised solutions, you’ll benefit from scalable technologies tailored to your needs, allowing you to use the capabilities of your digital twin fully.
