The Digital Twins concept continues to generate a significant amount of buzz in the smart building market. This technology, which seeks to create virtual representations of physical structures, offers a tantalizing promise of increased efficiency and sustainability.

At the heart of the digital twin phenomenon is the creation of a dynamic, digital counterpart of a physical entity. In the realm of smart buildings, digital twins offer an opportunity for building owners and facilities managers to streamline operations, maximize energy efficiency, and elevate the overall occupant experience. Achieving this feat through real-time data integration and sophisticated modelling techniques, stakeholders can visualize and monitor building operations.

This technology was thrust into the limelight following its inclusion in Gartner’s 2017 Hype Curve. Since then, predictions about "billions of things" represented by digital twins and their transformational impact on buildings have been plentiful. But the reality is, we're still in the early stages of realizing this potential.

It is crucial to recognize the hurdles the digital twin market faces to generate a nuanced understanding of market prospects for Digital Twin technology. Our most recent analysis conducted as part of the research into the Market for The Internet of Things in Smart Buildings highlights some key indicators.

Hurdles to Smart Building Digital Twins Adoption

Many startups in this sector have only procured early-stage investment (Seed or Series A) thus far, indicating a somewhat cautious investment landscape. Our research also indicates that widespread adoption of standardized use cases remains in their infancy, with few projects progressing beyond the pilot phase. In the face of these challenges, disillusionment may occur, and interest in digital twins may falter if the industry fails to deliver on its promises.

Let's consider how the digital twin industry can surmount these challenges. The first step is to create a rich portfolio of case studies that demonstrate the true benefits and versatility of digital twins. These case studies should span multiple industries and applications, providing compelling evidence of the technology's value proposition. This will not only help in dispelling scepticism but also encourage wider adoption.

Additionally, establishing a culture of collaboration can prove instrumental. By forging partnerships between digital twin companies (such as the Digital Twin Consortium), industry stakeholders, and academia, we can formulate comprehensive use cases, develop industry standards, and inspire innovative solutions. Such collaboration can significantly simplify the understanding and adoption of digital twin technology.

Moreover, the support of large client bodies, governments, and legislative institutions can play a crucial role in validating digital twin technology. By endorsing projects and creating guidelines for implementing digital twins, these entities can generate greater interest, speeding up the adoption process.

Understanding and demystifying the technology is also crucial. By standardizing definitions that highlight potential benefits, best practices, and alignment with sustainability goals, we can enable stakeholders to make informed decisions about the adoption of digital twins.

Lastly, we need to ensure digital twin solutions are user-friendly and accessible, even to non-experts. This can facilitate adoption by making it simpler for users to visualize the impact of digital twins on their operations.

To conclude, digital twins still face considerable barriers to mainstream adoption at scale, but their potential to positively transform the smart building landscape cannot be ignored.

By working together to address the issues outlined in this article, we can pave the way for a future where digital twins play a pivotal role in creating intelligent, efficient, and sustainable buildings. The road ahead still faces significant obstacles, but if they can be overcome, digital twins could indeed prove to be the hero we deserve in the smart building industry.

This article was written by Owen Kell, Senior IoT Research Associate at Memoori.