SAP Digital Twin

What is SAP Digital Twin?

A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical product, process, or service whereby sensors utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies (artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and big data) provide real-time conditions, diagnostics, and predictions through data analysis. As many put it, it’s the linkage between the physical and digital worlds.

According to Richard Howells, SAP Supply Chain, Digital Economy, and IoT Thought Leader, “the common theme is that the virtual representation combines three types of information: business data, contextual data, and sensor data.”

Key capabilities of a digital twin include:

• Cost reduction
• Predictive maintenance
• Improved efficiencies
• Faster innovation

Key Considerations for SAPinsiders

What is SAP Digital Twin?

A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical product, process, or service whereby sensors utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies (artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and big data) provide real-time conditions, diagnostics, and predictions through data analysis. As many put it, it’s the linkage between the physical and digital worlds.

According to Richard Howells, SAP Supply Chain, Digital Economy, and IoT Thought Leader, “the common theme is that the virtual representation combines three types of information: business data, contextual data, and sensor data.”

Key capabilities of a digital twin include:

• Cost reduction
• Predictive maintenance
• Improved efficiencies
• Faster innovation

Key Considerations for SAPinsiders

• Establish a digital twin as the next evolution of a manufacturing execution system. A manufacturing execution system (MES) is an ideal foundational starting point for a manufacturer to develop a digital twin, according to Kumar Singh, Research Director for SAPinsider. A digital twin can be considered the next step or evolution of an MES in order for a manufacturer to adapt to the changing technological capabilities of the world around them. “You can envision an MES as being an orchestrator in the digital twin architecture, enabling the ‘create’ and ‘communicate’ aspects. … It is just one of the components but is a critical component in the overall digital twin architecture,” Singh writes. Read the full article to learn more about MES and digital twin technologies.
• Achieve visibility and improvement in logistical networks.Today’s supply chains are already utilizing a vast network of sensors to provide transparency across various segments. Within logistics, there are myriad areas where a digital twin can optimize products and processes. According to Howells, by tracking fleets of connected vehicles, public transportation, and private vehicles, you can gain visibility over all vehiclesin use. “Add to this a spatial dimension by leveraging geo-fencing, track and trace, and other unstructured data, such as weather and road conditions, and you have a 360-degree view of traffic patterns, flow, and disruptions to improve route planning, shipments, and deliveries,” he says.