Digital Twins – the Importance of Keeping Up and Navigating the ‘Fear of the Unknown’
When you imagine a Digital Twin, you might envision very expensive 3D models with intricate texturing, coupled with a specialist engineer wearing a VR headset. This kind of stereotypical imagery and complex messaging can make the whole digital twinning process feel very obscure and out of depth for many workforces. Traditionally, within both typical business environments and complex engineering-type environments there are a vast variety of systems with collections of segregated data, this data is then shared across operations in an arguably sub-optimal way, but… it does the job. So, it is unsurprising when a business is hesitant to pursue digital twinning – the intrinsic question for many businesses is - how can our existing systems, (with varying degrees of organised chaos) really be thoroughly replicated without entirely replacing them? Moreover, why try and fix something, that isn’t broken?
The reality is that there is no ‘off-the-shelf’ solution for digital twins like we have seen with previous technology developments. Take, for example, the displacement of typewriters with the release of word processing programs in the 1970s, the acceptance was gradual, as with any new technology. In the early days, only tech-savvy individuals were using the software, while many people continued to use typewriters. However, as personal computers became more prevalent in the workplace, the demand for a more efficient and user-friendly solution for creating written documents increased. This, combined with the growing recognition of the benefits of using word processing software, led to a growing acceptance of the technology. In contrast, digital twins are an undeniably more complex and specialized technology, and the benefits may not be as immediately apparent to a wider audience. They require a higher level of technical expertise and a better understanding of the underlying technology and its capabilities.
But if we provide a direct comparison between the advancement of word processing and the implementation of digital twins – there is a rather large difference. When word processing on computers was originally released, this was coupled with definitive changes to the way everyone worked. However, this was a time where those of working age, were not familiar with any digital technology. It was completely new, and so it was a big learning curve for those making the switch from typewriter to computer. Today, however, the youngest entrants into our job markets are well-versed in all things digital.
The new ‘digital era’ of professionals:
In today's world, technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, and the next generation is playing a major role in shaping the future of our digital world. Young professionals who are entering or about to enter the job market have grown up in the digital world. From the internet and computer software to video games and social media – most young people know this world inside out. There is no doubt that many young people could open a Microsoft word document and know how to work it almost instinctively. Similarly, they can quickly understand more complex software with the help of the many digital resources available to them.
Currently, the curriculum in the UK emphasizes the importance of digital skills and computer science, with a focus on ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Some schools offer courses in data science, data analysis, and programming, while others integrate the teaching of data literacy and critical thinking about data into subjects such as mathematics, science, and social studies. As technology continues to evolve and become more central to daily life, the focus on accelerating digital skills is exponential.
The Importance of ‘Keeping up’:
It is entirely normal that those without a background in digitalisation, data engineering and IoT technology might be daunted by the prospect of a Digital Twin. It truly is an emerging innovation, just as word processing was in the 70s.
However, it is important to recognise the impact of the data-driven young people soon entering the workforce. Not only are they well-equipped to take the lead in developing and implementing digital twins, thanks to their digital literacy and tech-savvy nature. They will also prove invaluable in utilising the data to drive insights and make better decisions in day-to-day business environments. This creative, innovative and entrepreneurial spirit must be fostered in our future digital leaders and keeping on top of the latest technology has a huge part to play in this. The key impetus for change will be driven by a forward-looking perspective, can you imagine if our current workforce was still working from typewriters?
Simplifying the process - Digital Twinning from the top-down:
The benefits of Digital Twinning are widespread, put simply, a Digital Twin can offer increased efficiency, reduced downtime and improved performance, which in turn can drive significant business value. Data is a truly priceless resource to any business and optimising your systems by utilising data will be key to success in many technically advancing industries. But, the aforementioned stereotypes of a Digital Twin truly do make this technology appear unattainable.
EdgeMethods utilise a top-down methodology, working with your existing systems, processes and operations to coordinate the optimal Digital replica. To help our clients to navigate their natural sense of ‘fear of the unknown’ in this complex world, it is crucial for us to lead them up the maturity curve, without the threat of us taking over and replacing their established systems. This is done through a ‘thing’ based model – the ‘thing’ being anything that makes up your current system. We work with a range of clients from a variety of industries using this process, such as pharmaceutical, manufacturing and automotive. Simplifying this often-complex endeavour leads to the best result for our clients, who want to pursue digitalisation, but don’t want to overcomplicate their operations.
To conclude, forward-thinking perspectives are key to not only your business’s long-term efficiency in this technically advancing world, but also to your company’s onboarding of future talent. What remains clear is the ‘fear of the unknown’, but this can be navigated through an open-minded collaboration with us, let us help you achieve the best of both worlds.