FUTURE DIGITAL TWIN
It is time we focused on digital transformation – not just technology Rob Kennedy, Global Director – Digital Twin Solutions, Wood
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igitalisation has the power to transform industry and deliver the energy and materials that the world needs efficiently, effectively, and environmentally. Digital twins have a critical role to play, integrating data and systems to form the asset’s digital backbone – the foundation that enables transformation across multiple departments and disciplines, through the full asset lifecycle. In the energy and materials sectors, digital twins are at an inflection point. Over the last five years we’ve proven the technology at increasing scale and created significant expectations around its potential. However, through our work with clients globally, we continue to see repeated failures to unlock this potential, with many asset owners struggling to deliver a return on investment. This isn’t due to technology failings, but because
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businesses are failing to transform considering the new technology.
support they need to be successful.
Evolving processes
We clearly need to address more than just
Trying to implement a new solution around an
the technology to be successful. Decades of
existing process can be challenging, and it’s
experience in integrating digital solutions on our
important to evolve processes alongside new
clients’ assets has taught us that any successful
solutions. Updating processes to prescribe
digital implementation needs to address the
new ways of working can be a highly effective
people, process, and data aspects, as well as the
way of embedding the transformation. It’s also
technology.
important to implement new processes and procedures to maintain and sustain the digital
Investing in people If users do not adopt the solution, it simply won’t
twin and the underlying data.
generate a return for the business. It’s essential
Improving data quality
to develop a deep understanding of users and
Data challenges can manifest differently between
their jobs so that the solution and associated
projects and operations, however a common
processes make their jobs easier. Users must also
challenge is the absence of appropriate data
be empowered through training and given the
standards that serve the full asset lifecycle. These