Apr 22, 2026
•3 minute read
SAP Digital Twin
SAP Digital Twin: Strategies, Use Cases and Research for SAP Practitioners
SAP digital twin technology creates virtual models of physical products, processes and services that combine business data, contextual data and sensor data to deliver real-time diagnostics, predictive insights and operational intelligence. As Industry 4.0 technologies — artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and big data — converge, digital twins are evolving from visualization tools into operational decision engines embedded directly in SAP system landscapes. SAPinsider research shows 70% of technology leaders cite increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs as their top priority in 2026. This page covers the use cases, research and tools SAP practitioners need.
What Is SAP Digital Twin?
A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical product, process or service in which sensors using Industry 4.0 technologies — artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and big data — provide real-time conditions, diagnostics and predictions through data analysis. According to Richard Howells, SAP Supply Chain, Digital Economy and IoT thought leader, the virtual representation combines three types of information: business data, contextual data and sensor data. SAP digital twin capabilities include predictive maintenance, cost reduction, improved efficiencies and faster innovation, with SAP IoT on SAP BTP serving as the core platform alongside hyperscaler offerings from Microsoft and AWS.
What Use Cases Are Referenced?
SAP, Accenture and Vodafone Pilot Humanoid Robotics Integrated With SAP EWM in Warehouse Operations
SAP, Accenture and Vodafone Procure & Connect are piloting humanoid robots trained in digital twins and integrated with SAP Extended Warehouse Management to automate inspections, flag safety risks and validate inventory in real time. The pilot, running live in Duisburg, Germany, demonstrates how physical AI closes the gap between supply chain planning and execution by feeding robot insights directly into SAP environments.
SAP Business AI and Uhlmann Drive Manufacturing Resilience
At Hannover Messe 2026, SAP and Uhlmann unveiled PacXplorer, a packaging machine integrating digital twins, condition monitoring and SAP Business AI within the Factory-X data ecosystem. The deployment automates the complete spare parts service workflow and demonstrates how connecting digital twins to live SAP operational data transforms them from visualization tools into resilience-enabling decision engines.
BSH Uses SAP Business Network Global Track and Trace to Build Real-Time Logistics Visibility
BSH Hausgeräte built a digital twin of its transport network using SAP Business Network Global Track and Trace, integrating data from more than 500 logistics providers across more than 50 countries. External ETA signals for ocean, road and rail freight are reconciled in real time with internal planning data and written back into ERP delivery documents, replacing static transit time models.
LESER Deploys SAP BNAC Digital Twins to Boost Safety, Compliance, and Efficiency
LESER GmbH, one of Europe’s largest industrial safety valve manufacturers, deployed SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration digital twin technology to create precise digital models for both new and existing valves. The implementation achieved up to 95% cost savings on initial data recording activities and established a single source of truth for asset data shared with customers and service partners.
Building the Digital Twin Stack
SAPinsider Research Director Kumar Singh explains how a manufacturing execution system serves as the orchestrator in the digital twin architecture, enabling the “create” and “communicate” aspects of a digital twin. The article outlines how SAP technology ecosystems — including SAP IoT on SAP BTP — provide the foundation to build a robust digital twin stack for resilient, agile and optimized manufacturing operations.
What SAPinsider Research Supports This Topic?
Building Intelligent Enterprise With AI, ML and IoT
SAPinsider research with SUSE and Fujitsu found that 55.7 billion connected devices are projected worldwide, with 75% connected to an IoT platform, generating an estimated 73.1 zettabytes of data. A significant portion derives from industrial IoT applications, underscoring the data foundation digital twins require to deliver predictive value in manufacturing and supply chain environments.
Supply Chain Planning in the Cloud Benchmark Research
Based on a survey of 106 SAPinsider community members, this benchmark report found that supply chain planning capabilities have evolved into strategic enablers of business agility and resilience. Digital twin capability was consistently highlighted by SAPinsider members as key to building resilient, agile and optimized manufacturing capability within their SAP technology roadmaps.
Technology Leaders’ Strategic Agenda for 2026
The SAPinsider Technology Leaders’ Strategic Agenda for 2026 report found that 70% of respondents cite increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs as their top priority, while 40% plan to deploy predictive analytics and forecasting and 33% plan AI for supply chain planning and optimization, reinforcing the strategic urgency of digital twin deployments in 2026 SAP roadmaps.
See Latest Related Content Below
SAP, Accenture and Vodafone Pilot Humanoid Robotics Integrated With SAP EWM in Warehouse OperationsSAP, Accenture, Vodafone Procure & Connect are piloting humanoid robots integrated with SAP EWM to automate inspections, improve safety and bring real-time execution into warehouse operations.
SAP and Uhlmann Unveil a New Model for Manufacturing Resilience at Hannover Messe 2026At Hannover Messe 2026, SAP and Uhlmann unveiled how embedding SAP Business AI and digital twins into live Factory-X data ecosystems is transforming industrial spare parts service and supply chain resilience.
Apr 20, 2026
•3 minute read
LESER Deploys SAP BNAC Digital Twins to Boost Safety, Compliance, and EfficiencyLESER GmbH & Co. KG has implemented SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration and digital twin technology to digitize asset documentation and collaboration, improving data quality, compliance, operational efficiency, and customer collaboration.
Dec 12, 2025
•3 minute read
Building the Digital Twin StackAs supply chain challenges increase due to increasing supply chain complexities, organizations are increasingly looking at leveraging data and analytics tools and technologies to help them address their supply chain challenges. Manufacturing plays a crucial role in supply chain networks, and recent events have emphasized its importance in building supply chain resiliency and agility. This has been emphasized in our recent supply chain research reports, Supply Chain Planning in The Cloud and Process Automation in Supply Chain. SAPinsiders are increasingly evaluating their portfolio of manufacturing systems and technologies and looking to upgrade to align with the requirements of modern manufacturing. SAPinsder's April 2022 report, Manufacturing Management and Planning Benchmark Report, will explore the pain points SAPinsiders are experiencing with their current systems, the key drivers they are experiencing that are bringing those pain points to the forefront, and their technology roadmap to address those pain points. Digital twins capability has been consistently highlighted by SAPinsiders as key to building resilient, agile, and optimized manufacturing capability. In this article, we will share a high-level overview of how a digital twin stack can be built in SAP technology ecosystems.
Oct 18, 2022
•3 minute read
Building Intelligent Enterprise with AI, ML and IoTAccording to one market research company, it’s predicted that by 2025 there will be 55.7 billion connected devices worldwide, with 75% connected to an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. How much data does that equal? The company estimates that within that timeframe, 73.1 zettabytes of data will be generated from IoT devices, with a significant portion deriving from industrial IoT applications. This poses both an opportunity and a challenge to companies as they pursue integrations of IoT, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) digital technologies in their enterprise. SAPinsider recently sat down with Alan Clarke, SAP Alliance Director for EMEA North for SUSE, and Gerren Mayne, SAP Practice Director for Fujitsu in the UK, to discuss the impact of AI, ML, and IoT on the evolving enterprise and how these digital technologies are enabling a future-proof ecosystem for companies.
Sep 16, 2022
•6 minute read
Digital Twins are on the Rise to Mitigate RiskDigital twin technology is on the rise as operational risks increase and companies search for greater efficiencies. Enterprises are discovering more uses for the data digital twins can generate from a variety of business scenarios. Companies are struggling to make their supply chains resilient. With recent port congestion, freight delays, labor shortages, material shortages, and […]
May 4, 2022
•5 minute read
Three Pillars of Digital Twin SolutionsDigital twin solutions are generally associated with leveraging data generated by sensors on machinery to manage the health of the equipment in manufacturing environments. This capability of leveraging the data captured from the floor or equipments to replicate asset conditions and processes ,drives manufacturing digital twin offerings like SAP IoT, based on the SAP BTP platform. Hyperscalers like Microsoft and AWS also have their offerings, branded as Azure Digital Twins and AWS IoT TwinMaker. With the introduction of their supply chain platforms, these solutions can now be integrated in supply chain platforms. Developing robust digital twin solutions that actually deliver value are less about technology and more about designing optimal process around it, and making sure people roles are defined prudently. In this article, we summarize the aspects of the three key pillars, people, processes and technology for building optimal digital twin capability.
Jul 5, 2021
•2 minute read
Serialization in the Supply Chain for a Deeper Analysis to Identify Bottlenecks and IssuesWe recently interviewed leadership at ACSIS about its serialization capabilities in its Intelligent Product and Asset Traceability solutions. Serialization essentially means separating out the data from each individual product. Here, we share some of our thoughts on serialization with IoT and analytics technologies and how it builds on SAP ERP functionality to contribute to digital […]
Oct 10, 2019
•3 minute read
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