Product digital twins: An umbrella review and research agenda for understanding their value

Abstract

Product Digital Twins (DTs) are digital representations of a physical asset that update synchronously throughout its lifecycle. Over the past decade, a rich and varied literature on the development of new technologies and approaches to implementing product DTs has emerged. This literature has been reviewed multiple times, but the variety in focus and scope of DT reviews has become so extensive that it is challenging to assess our collective understanding and knowledge of DT theory. We address this issue by conducting a systematic umbrella review of product DT reviews, classifying and analysing review themes to understand strengths and shortcomings of product DT literature. Our analysis reveals a key shortcoming in the product DT literature: There is currently little evidence and understanding of DT value. Understanding how DTs provide value to an organisation is of paramount importance, as it will determine the elements of the DT that truly have an effect on value, as well as the mechanisms by which that value is created. We conclude this work by presenting a five-item research agenda to address these shortcomings and develop our understanding of DT value. Since DTs can be complex and expensive to implement, research and practice should focus on those elements of the DT that provide value to the organisation.