Why Digital Twins Are Key to Sustainability in Business

Did you know the digital twin market is projected to reach $48.2B by 2026. 

Have you ever wished that businesses were greener and not complicated? Here comes an answer: introducing you to digital twins, virtual models of real-world operations that can help companies save waste and energy by operating more efficiently. It is just a digital representation of your business, showing you exactly where improvement can be made.

Digital twins make sustainability more achievable by providing a clear, real-time view of your operations and identifying immediate resource-saving opportunities. Do you want to know how digital twins can make your business more sustainable? 

Let's get started!

Let's start with the basics: A digital twin is a virtual model of a real-world object, system, or process. 

To take this as an example, imagine you're constructing a bridge. Then the digital twin is a virtual copy of the bridge on your computer. If you are building a real bridge at the actual site, then your digital twin will be updating in real-time about what's being done on the actual site.

For instance, when there is excessive rain, the digital twin of the bridge can predict how that water will affect the foundation of the bridge. In that way, it becomes possible to make adjustments in time before real problems arise with the physical bridge. This serves as one of the methods of determining how issues are going and catching them at an early stage without risking the real bridge.

Let's face it: running a business is tough, but sustaining while doing it is much tougher. Most of today's companies are under strain to reduce their carbon footprint, minimize waste, and be more eco-friendly. 

There are three simple reasons why businesses struggle with sustainability:

1. No Clear Plan: A lot of businesses jump into sustainability without a solid plan. They may focus on quick fixes instead of making sustainability a core part of their strategy, which means their efforts don’t last.

2. Not Enough Investment: Going green often requires upfront spending on new tech, processes, or training. Companies that hesitate to invest may find their sustainability efforts falling short.

3. Resistance to Change: Change is hard, and sometimes people within the company resist new ways of doing things. Whether it’s employees or leaders, a lack of willingness to adopt new, sustainable practices can hold a business back.

Without proper insight into where the waste is or how much energy is being consumed, the task looks like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. That's where digital twins step in. They can give business enterprises a completely holistic view of their operation in real time. Companies are no longer left wondering where the inefficiency lies. 

Also Read: Role of Digital Twin in Sustainable Construction

Okay, so how does a digital twin technology help a company go green? Let's break it down with an example that really hits.

You operate a massive warehouse that uses a ton of electricity. Lighting, machines, cooling systems- you name it. Now, as likely you wouldn't notice if one part of your warehouse uses more energy than it should, a digital twin will. This means it will watch everything such as energy usage, temperature fluctuations, and even how many times each machine has worked. If the cooling system runs too frequently, or if that machine chews up power because it is slowing down, the digital twin will raise the alarm before it gets out of hand.

Here’s a simplified version of the table with examples of How Digital Twins Work to Increase Sustainability:

This table highlights how digital twins are being used to improve sustainability, from saving energy to promoting recycling, in simpler terms.

Also Read: Top 7 Digital Twin Consulting Services in 2024

Digital twins can thus be considered as just a new hype technology, while in fact, their value is much more important than saving money or increasing efficiency. Digital twins enable enterprises to make smarter, better sustainable choices. An enterprise can help to:

• Reduce energy usage

• Reduce waste

• Streamline operations

And all of this happens without sacrificing profitability or customer satisfaction. In fact, many businesses that use digital twins report a noticeable boost in both efficiency and customer happiness. This is because they can deliver more reliable, consistent products and services by knowing exactly what’s happening in their operations at any given moment.

While digital twins are used in manufacturing for higher productivity, it's a pretty great technology for sustainability. Here's why digital twin and sustainability is important:

• Save Energy: Digital twins monitor energy consumption in real time. This makes it possible for manufacturers to recognize areas of waste and make the necessary changes to cut down on energy consumption and lower costs.

• Cut Down on Waste: This is where digital twins facilitate showing the waste of resources in production processes. Manufacturers can use that knowledge to decrease scrap and run more effectively.

• Lower Emissions: Digital twins track carbon emissions through the complete production process, allowing a company to determine their areas of need and change to lower their carbon footprint.

• Greener Products: From this 360-degree view of a product's lifecycle, manufacturers will be able to design for more recyclable products and for less harm to the environment.

• Sustainable Supply Chains: This can also optimize supply chains and reduce transport emissions while managing inventory in significantly more sustainable ways.

Making use of digital twins for sustainability, not just for productivity, helps manufacturers reduce their environmental impact while meeting growing consumer and regulatory demands for greener practices.

Also Read: What is the future of digital twins?

Let's discuss how companies already use digital twins to make sustainability much easier.

One such great example of a digital twin in operation is the City of Singapore using digital twin technology to enhance urban planning and sustainability. Working in collaboration with Virtual Singapore, the city used digital twin technology to create a digital version of its entire urban infrastructure. Using this virtual model, planners and engineers are capable of modeling various scenarios that include energy consumption, traffic management, and even predict the environmental impact made by future developments.

For instance, it enables the state of Singapore to keep track of how much energy it has consumed in real time, identify where efficiency could be enhanced, and implement changes to reduce consumption in general. It can simulate traffic flows that could reduce congestion and, thus, lower vehicle emissions. Simulating such flows helps the city design future projects while thinking in terms of sustainability so they can build a cleaner, greener urban space.

This in-life success really demonstrates how digital twins can optimize processes but also make cities more sustainable and livable through energy waste reduction, transportation improvements, and reduction of environmental impact.

Also Read: What’s the action of digital twin in smart city

At Toobler, they assist businesses in making the best out of digital twins for better sustainability and efficiency. Here's a quick glimpse at some of the key takeaways that companies can look forward to when working with us: 

1. Cloud Services

   Toobler offers secure cloud solutions to store and process digital twin data efficiently.

2. Simulation and Modeling

   We create digital simulations to test scenarios, improve performance, and optimize processes.

3. Security and Cybersecurity

   Your digital twin data is protected with robust security and cybersecurity measures.

4. Data Management

   Toobler ensures data quality and accuracy with strong data management strategies.

5. AI and Machine Learning

   We integrate AI and machine learning for better predictions and smarter insights into your digital twin.

6. Customization and Integration

   Our digital twin solutions are customized to fit your business and integrate seamlessly with your systems.

7. Training and Support

   We provide training and ongoing support to help your team manage digital twin technology.

8. Consulting and Strategy

   Toobler offers expert advice on setting up your digital twin strategy and roadmap.

9. Lifecycle Management

   We handle the full lifecycle of your digital twin, from setup to ongoing updates and maintenance.

10. Scalability and Optimization

    Our services ensure your digital twin can grow and handle complex data efficiently.

As this blog highlighted, digital twins are more than just a cool tech tool—they’re the key to making businesses run smarter and greener. Wondering how to get started? Do you know what areas of your operations could benefit most from digital twins? Or how this technology could help you save on costs while boosting sustainability?

These questions might feel like a lot at first, but with the right partner, integrating digital twins can be an impact for your business. Imagine optimizing energy use across your entire operation or reducing waste before it even happens. The potential is huge, and the results can be transformative.

How do you ensure your digital twin strategy sets you apart? It’s all about understanding your business's unique needs and creating tailored sustainable solutions. 

Ready to explore how digital twins can be your path to a greener, more efficient future? Connect with Toobler today and start your journey toward sustainability!