BIMScaler Blog – The digital twin technologies have opened up some great new ways to make processes more efficient, cut costs and boost productivity. But how can digital twins improve operational efficiency?
The answer is in how they connect the physical and digital worlds.
They give us real-time insights, predictive capabilities, and the power to simulate and optimise complex operations.
By creating a dynamic, data-driven representation of assets, processes, or even entire systems, the digital twins help organisations to identify inefficiencies, test new strategies, and make informed decisions, all within a risk-free virtual environment.
That’s a lot to take in! Let’s break down the answers below.
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ToggleHow Does Technology Improve Operational Efficiency?
Technological innovations have always played a big part in how companies operate. And the use of digital tools is at the heart of how businesses are changing the way they work.
From automation to AI, these new technologies help businesses to make processes more efficient, cut down on human error, and make better, data-driven decisions.
Digital twins, as highlighted by McKinsey in “Digital Twins: What They Can Do for Your Business,” are exemplary in this regard.
By showing us what’s going on in real time, digital twins help us to spot potential problems, make production cycles more efficient and plan maintenance better.
For instance, in manufacturing, predictive maintenance powered by digital twins has cut downtime by 20%, as highlighted in IDC’s paper “IDC’s Cross-Industry Digital Twin Framework: Where Innovation Meets Strategy.”.
In Australia’s energy and construction sectors, tech is helping to cut operational costs while staying on track with sustainability targets. This growing digital integration is key to achieving efficiency without losing quality.
Learn more “Digital Twins Performance Therapy to Get Virtual Asset in Tip-Top Shape.”
How Can Digital Twins Improve Operational Efficiency? The Intersection
The idea behind digital twins is to create a bridge between the physical and digital worlds, using technology to make things more efficient.
Silvia Piai in IDC’s Cross-Industry Digital Twin Framework shows how digital twins reflect real-time operations and also simulate potential scenarios to help with decision-making.
This integration makes it possible to continuously improve operations.
Take predictive analytics in smart cities, for instance. Companies could use digital twins to cut energy use by up to 15%.
And in healthcare, they improve patient flow, which has reduced waiting times in Australian hospitals.
Monitoring, simulating and analysing different operational aspects gives industries complete control over their processes.
Connecting data from different sources – like IoT sensors, building management systems and AI – gives digital twins a detailed view of how systems work. This helps organisations respond quickly and effectively.
Benefits of Digital Twins for Operational Efficiency
There are lots of ways that digital twins can help make processes more efficient.
In manufacturing, digital twins can be used to make production processes more efficient, which helps to cut waste and improve product quality.
For example, a study by Andres Sebastian Cespedes-Cubides and Muhyiddine Jradi in “A review of building digital twins to improve energy efficiency in the building operational stage,” showed how digital twins can cut scrap by 20% in consumer electronics manufacturing.
In healthcare, digital twins can help improve patient care by allowing for more personalised treatment plans and making hospital operations more efficient.
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group is using a digital twin for hospital operations to automate tasks, improve information visualisation and optimise resource allocation, as cited in the IDC framework.
In the transport industry, digital twins can be used to make traffic flow better, improve maintenance and give customers a better experience.
The IDC framework reckons by 2029, 80% of auto insurers using digital twins for claims will cut their casualty claims adjustment costs and fraud losses by 40%.
These examples show how digital twins can transform how we work in different sectors.
Learn more “Warning: The Applications of Digital Twins Cause Efficiency and Profits.”
Implementing Digital Twins for Operational Efficiency
Now, let’s discuss how can digital twins improve operational efficiency, step by step. And first thing first, if you want to get the right results from using a digital twin, you need to think about what you want to use it for first.
It’s not about just using the technology for the hype, but more about making sure it fits with your business goals.
The use case you choose should have a clear and measurable impact on key performance indicators.
This could be anything, from reducing downtime to improving product quality or optimising energy consumption.
As Kimberly Borden says in McKinsey & Company’s advice, “You will also need a suitable use case. Generally, complex or dynamic environments that benefit from real-time optimization are good candidates for an initial use case.”
Also before you get started with digital twins, it’s important to assess how digitally mature your organisation is.
This means looking at your current data set-up, IT capabilities and the skills of your workforce.
If you’re going to use digital twins, you’ll often need a solid data collection system, which includes sensors, communication networks, and data integration capabilities.
The research by Cespedes-Cubides and Jradi shows just how important this is.
They say “A critical aspect shared by both custom and off-the-shelf digital twin solutions is their dependency on a robust data acquisition system.”
Furthermore, make sure your team has the right skills in data engineering, data science, physical modelling, and simulation – that way you can develop and manage the digital twin effectively.
Once you’ve got the basics covered, the implementation process usually has three main stages.
First, you create a digital copy of the physical asset or process, often using technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the AEC industry.
Next, the digital replica is hooked up to real-time data sources, so it can reflect the physical system in real time.
Finally, models and algorithms are created to simulate, analyse and optimise how the system behaves in the digital twin environment.
And the most important thing is getting it out there and making sure it’s constantly being improved.
Once the digital twin is up and running, it’s important to keep an eye on how it’s performing, look at the insights it’s giving us, and make any changes needed to both the digital and physical systems.
This process keeps the digital twin up to date with the latest business needs and makes sure it keeps delivering value in terms of improved efficiency.
How BIM Scaler Supports Your AEC Project Efficiency with Digital Twins
As you might expect, the complexities of digital are real, and sometimes can take your focus away from your core business.
Such complexity is increasingly felt in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.
That’s why let’s forget the buzzwords and the tech overwhelm.
We’re not here to make things more complicated. We’re here to make sure your digital twins are used and not just left in a data silo.
Our BIM Management Services are designed to fit right into your workflow, giving you the power of digital twins without any hassle.
BIMScaler know what it takes – top-quality BIM data, crafted by experts to make sure that every digital twin you use is an accurate, real-time reflection of your project.
No guesswork involved. No mismatches. Just pure digital clarity. Or, what do you think about this?
Your BIM data, combined with IoT sensors and building management systems, creates a dynamic digital twin showing you what’s going on in your project, second by second.
This isn’t just a model on a screen – it’s your project, live and in action, saving you time, cutting delays, and boosting efficiency.
So, please take a look at our BIM Management Support page, or better yet, schedule a lunch with us.
Let’s discuss making those complex digital dreams a reality over a bite to eat.
In Closing
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to improve energy efficiency in buildings, streamline construction projects, or enhance patient care in hospitals – the digital twins benefits are clear.
So, how can digital twins improve operational efficiency? It really depends on how you implement them. That’s why BIM Scaler is ready 24/7 as your support system.