An Empirical Analysis of Digital Twin Adoption

There has been significant interest in digital twins (DTs) over the past few decades. Comprising a virtual replica of (cyber-)physical systems and a bidirectional connection facilitating data exchange, DTs create a real-time knowledge base of a system and its processes. Yet, the full potential of DTs remains untapped. To understand the reasons for this, it is essential to examine the current industrial adoption rate and emerging trends. This paper presents the results of an online survey conducted with industrial practitioners to assess the current state of DT adoption, existing practices, barriers, and future directions. We provide an overview of potential research avenues to promote the adoption of DTs.